Dressage riders take on international challenge
(CNS Local Life): The Cayman Islands Equestrian Federation (CIEF) last weekend hosted the local leg of the Caribbean Dressage Challenge, annual international equestrian competition which also includes Antigua, Bermuda, Barbados, Jamaica and Trinidad. The challenge, organised by the Caribbean Equestrian Association (CEA) and held Sunday, 17 March, enables riders from CEA member countries to compete against each other without having to travel with their horse.
The judge travels from island to island, scoring each competitor’s ride at an officially organised horse show in each country, which took place in Cayman at the Equestrian Centre in George Town.
Brenda Minor, a Canadian FEI 4* judge, returned to score the event for the second year in a row. With the FEI 4* designation, she is qualified to judge all international competitions other than the Olympics and world championships, and as such, is one of the highest level of judges in all of North America, a CIEF press release said.
“Part of our sport development efforts include bringing in internationally recognised judges to the Cayman Islands for our shows, especially as we are preparing our elite athletes to compete at the Adequan Global Dressage Festival in Wellington, Florida, in 2020 and 2021 and the CAC Games in 2022,” explained Tanya Ziemniak, chairperson of CIEF’s horse show committee.
Riders competing in the CEA Dressage Challenge are ranked both individually and by country team, which comprises the top three adult and top three child riders based upon the difficulty of the test they ride and the scores they receive.
Barbados and the Cayman Islands are the first of the six islands in the CEA to hold their 2019 Dressage Challenge. The final standings of Cayman’s riders individually and for the team will be announced once all of the countries in the CEA have completed their competitions. Last year, the Cayman children’s team placed third overall in the Caribbean, while the Cayman adult team finished fourth.
Based upon this weekend’s results, the CIEF has determined the Cayman team for this year’s challenge. Representing the adults are Jessica McTaggart, Gina Lomas and Cathy Osborne. Kayla Mannisto, Abbey Swartz, and Leah Alberga round out the children’s team.
For the second year in a row, Mannisto, riding Pony Up and McTaggart, riding Jolly Rancher, were named Child and Adult High Point Champions, respectively, of the CEA Dressage Challenge.
Mannisto on Pony Up was also named Child High Point Champion at CIEF’s dressage show held last month.
Sunday’s winners of each of the classes are listed below in order of most-to-least difficult test ridden. Dressage Challenge classes are noted with the words CEA.
| FEI Prix St. Georges (CEA) | Jessica McTaggart-Giuzio riding Loris 7 |
| First Level Test 3 – Adult (CEA) | Jessica McTaggart riding Blue Ridge Dream On |
| First Level Test 3 – Child (CEA) | Kayla Mannisto riding Pony Up |
| First Level Test 1 – Adult | Cathy Osborne riding Joey |
| Training Level Test 3 – Adult (CEA) | Jessica McTaggart riding Jolly Rancher |
| Training Level Test 3 – Child (CEA) | Kayla Mannisto riding Pony Up |
| Training Level Test 1 – Child | Leah Alberga riding Moon Lady |
| Introductory Test C – Child | Olivia Ziemniak riding Zeus |
| Introductory Test C – Adult | Tami Maines riding Partenon |
| Introductory Test B – Child | Rosana Stroh riding Me and My Shadow |
| Introductory Test B – Adult | Tami Maines riding Partenon |
Category: Equestrian, Sports
