The 2023 Young Dressage Horse Champion of Champions, Selected (4YO), ridden by Elliot Patterson. Image: Roger Fitzhardinge.

DJWTS set to get underway this week

By Equestrian Life

The 2024 edition of Dressage & Jumping with the Stars is set to get underway at Werribee Park National Equestrian Centre in Victoria from Thursday (21-23 March), with young horses and ponies and the sport’s elite competing across dressage, para dressage, eventing and show jumping.

Since its inception in 1998, DJWTS has grown to become the most prestigious young horse event in Australia with countless future stars posting their names on the honour roll over the years.

In addition to the young horse classes across the dressage, show jumping and eventing disciplines, the event also hosts World Cup dressage and show jumping and for the first time this year, a para dressage competition.

Last year's Young Jumping Horse Champion of Champions, Bonita, ridden by Phil Lever. Image by Michelle Telato Photography.

In the dressage arena, the CDI-W Grand Prix will provide combinations with a chance to post scores that count towards qualifying and team nomination for the Paris Olympics. Twenty combinations are entered, including six-time Olympian Mary Hanna (Ivanhoe and CJP Sir Dragonfire II) and Dressage by the Sea winner Jessica Dertell (Cennin and Syriana), among many other exciting combinations.

Young riders competing at Small Tour level will also contest the prestigious Aachen Challenge.

View the DJWTS dressage acceptance list here.

Draws and results for the dressage will be available via Equestrian Hub.

While the para dressage is a national level competition (and therefore not a Paralympic qualifier), it’s fantastic to see these classes included in the DJWTS program. It will be exciting to follow those in contention for Paris as they prepare for the next CPEDI held at Boneo Park next month.

In the show jumping arena, 25 combinations are entered for the CSI-W World Cup. The class is the second Australian League event for the 2024 season, following the first event at Shepparton last weekend where Mattea Davidson finished first and second with Checkamour D and Jaybee Vigilante respectively. Mattea has both horses entered for DJWTS, and with many other elite combinations in action it’s set to be a thrilling event.

View the CSI-W World Cup start list.

Draws and results for the show jumping will be available via Equipe.

View the acceptance lists for the Young Event Horse classes here.

View the acceptance lists for the Ridden Performance Pony classes here.

For more information, head to djwts.org.au

Published 18 March 2024.

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