After rainout, new riders shine at dressage show
First-time competitor Zarah Dispell–Powell rode Mr Bean to a second-place finish
(CNS): After a week’s delay due to bad weather, Cayman Riding School (CRS) held its Dressage Training Show 18 June. Tracey Surrey, owner and riding instructor at the school, explained, “Whilst we were disappointed to postpone the competition when our riders should have been performing in front of Ms. Merrilyn Griffin – a visiting judge from Wellington, Florida – the whole idea of these training shows is for our riders to enjoy themselves, have fun and realise that competing is not quite as scary as they think.”
Conditions for the rescheduled show were perfect. The day started with the more- experienced junior and senior riders competing together in the same class.
Amara Thompson rode her own horse, Second Kiss, and continued their winning form for the 2016 season in the Training Level 3 class, whilst Meagan Slattery obtained a personal best score on a pony CRS lent her to come a very close second.
Slattery competed in the same class on a second pony, Max a Million, again lent by CRS, to take third place. Harry, ridden by both Kayla Godwin and Tanja Slattery came fourth and fifth, respectfully.
Godwin went on to win the Training level 1 class with Olivia Kluyver coming seond on her own pony, Shirley Temple.
The dressage arena was then adjusted for the USDF Introductory Tests, in which a record number of 16 entries participated.
Jardae Barnes competed on her new horse, Austin, to win the USDF B test, whilst Zahra Dispell-Powell had a very successful day – competing for the first time ever to take second place on Mr Bean. Kyra Slattery also rode Mr Bean to take third place; fourth place went to Norah Hughes who showed great improvement riding Narnia.
George Smith competed in his first-ever horse show, also on Narnia, and was more than delighted to take fifth place, with the sixth spot going to Bella Finlay, riding Austin.
Honorary mentions were awarded to Amber McMillan riding Joe and Ethan Lavis and Lydia Smith who competed in their very first horse competition.
The last class of the day, the USDF C Test, was again won by Barnes riding Austin, with Kluyver and Shirley Temple coming second, Norah Hughes and Narnia third, Bella Finlay and Austin fourth and Amber McMillan and Joe fifth.
“Whilst competing is definitely not our main objective at Cayman Riding School – we have had an extremely successful year when it comes to the show ring,” said Surrey. “Our horses will now take it easy over the summer until we start competing again in September. We have a very busy season planned with the introduction of a new show jumping league and participation in the international dressage competitions with the British Pony Club.”
Category: Equestrian
The article never mentions who the judge was. Cayman has no qualified dressage judge on island and dressage shows should always be done In front of a trained eye. Without one, the scores (not mentioned), are not realistic and meaningful. Jumping judges are not qualified to judge dressage.