Click here to view more beautiful images from Day Two!

Photo Credit: Roger Fitzhardinge

By Roger Fitzhardinge

The second day at Bradgate Park Orange NSW for the Birds Equisports Dressage With Altitude saw a magnificently warm and sunny day. As always the arena was in pristine condition and the competition started very early in the morning with the Hollingrove Warmbloods CDI-Y Individual Test, with a win to Moscow and Elisabeth Hulin with a whopping score of 70.57%. This partnership is really blossoming and the most amazingly immense and expressive tempi changes that score big marks for sure. A very good score and the judges were very complimentary in regards to the riding of these tests and the quality of the horses as is with the second place getter in Grace Kay and the flashy chestnut Karingal Jemirquai by Jive Magic with a score of 66.75%. The stallion by Regardez Moi Mindarah Park Ramadan was ridden competently and confidently by Mary Warren to be a smidgen back in third place.

Photo Credit: Roger Fitzhardinge

It was then on to the Brighton’s Saddlery Advance 5.1 with a win to the expressive and big moving Boronia HG, imported by Breitling, and now ridden by Elliot Patterson. The score of 70.36% was a great percentage, but at times this mare could still be better over the back, and with a little more reach to the bridle. But it gets better with every start, and the canter work was so uphill and expressive. A win in a very hotly contested class.

Second in the test was Georgia Connolly from the Mornington Penninsula. The score of 68.394% included a score over 70% and it was interesting that the side judges both had her first and then Elliot second, which was indicative of the great outline of Georgia’s horse Reventon, and the at times shorter frame of Elliot. The judges from on seeing the flexion and bend and the expressive forehand had all had Elliot’s horse first! Interesting and great horses both of them.

Photo Credit: Roger Fitzhardinge

In third place were Dresden and Alycia Targa, with an unfortunate mistake in a counter canter and change. Likewise, the collected canter coming out of a circle came and went too quickly, and so a big mistake for winning this test that was so tightly contested. 

In fourth place were Lizzie Wilson Fellows and Lets Jazzabit. This mare by Jazz did a great job but at times was a little high in the neck and not so over the back. Time and experience will see this mare come in to her own. David McKinnon was fifth on the flash Black mare with lots of bling and such a pretty face, but perhaps today the girl with the curl and not always totally with David and a little behind the leg at times, but still a well produced performance.

Photo Credit: Roger Fitzhardinge

In the CDN Grand Prix sponsored by Equestrian NSW it was a good win to the Weltmeyer gelding Weltsohn with a 64.1% ridden by Roger Fitzhardinge.  Apparently it was a very well balanced and pleasing test, and easy on the eye.
Roger says about his win:

‘For Weltsohn it has been a long couple of years recovering from an injury and I thought he would not be rideable again, and yet here he is. He is a real friend and I have to thank Ann Slatford for trusting me with a horse that she adored. What this horse has given me is more than any. He was so with me today and when it’s only his third ever Grand Prix test he was simply great, and I had a wonderful ride and the win was simply the icing on the cake. I have to say that having Kate Taylor wheat to groom was a real treat and gave me the chance to focus on my job!!! The comradeship at this show has been fantastic. I could not be more proud, and of course it is Rose Hip Vital that both this old man and Weltsohn take daily, and we have never felt better!!!’

Photo Credit: Roger Fitzhardinge

In second place were Rebecca Walshe and XL Overtime on 63% and a gliche after the pirouette spoilt a great test. Third to Glogau and Victoria Welch from Queensland, another young Grand Prix horse with a 62.38%.  It was a fabulous National class and well represented. The tests at Grand Prix are all on the improve and that is a very positive step for the sport.

The HRC Group Grand Prix CDI was a fabulous win with a seriously classy field to Umbro and Mary Hanna. The test had no low points, and was very consistent from beginning to end. Consistency with no mistakes is the way to go, and today it was indeed an experience: Mary achieved a fabulous score of 72.5%!
 

Photo Credit: Roger Fitzhardinge

In second place was Maree Tomkinson and Diamantina. Although it was a great test, the few mistakes were costly. The trot half pass had more suppleness than ever. Likewise the piaffe was as good as she has shown us here in Australia, especially on the centerline at the end of the test. Changes as always, were great and uphill and forward, however there was an uncharacteristic mistake in the counting. The first pirouette was big to begin, and although the second half was fabulous, it's the whole movement that counts.  The mare has great passage and presence in her work, with a now calm and accepting demeanor.

Third was Sue Hearn and Remmington on 67.98%, again a consistent test with great piaffe and passage. The transitions were again better. Sue and Remmington demonstrate a lovely feel - the harmony between the horse and rider was very apparent, and that’s what dressage is all about.
 

Photo Credit: Roger Fitzhardinge

In fourth position were Heath Ryan and Utopian Cardinal with a 67.38%. Heath rode a consistent test here with this young son of Regardez Moi.

Caro Wagner is always in the mix and again Tango V, with a score of 67.08%. They showed a consistent test that could have won several months ago, however the improvement of some has come along so much, that what can you say except that Caro rides a good test and the horse was good in all movements - but left the ten pirouette that she rode yesterday in the warm up behind. Still, a super job!
 

Photo Credit: Roger Fitzhardinge

Mary again proved her experience with a good score of 66.8% with Hamag W Stroma. A green horse only doing her second test at Grand Prix and although interesting, she is lacking the top line of a Grand Prix horse. In the extended paces she still needs to develop a better uphill feel and she gets a little downward and in to her hand. However, she is definitely a mare full of expression and talent, and with Mary behind the withers she will for sure get better.
 

Photo Credit: Roger Fitzhardinge

What a great, great class and when you think that with talent like Luxor who made a few mistakes and ends up on 65.48% and in 11th place out of 15!!!!!!! There is no question that the sport has gone up a few levels. It is a credit to Australian dressage riders and coaches, owners and trainers and it's very exciting for our sport.  It's also about the fantastic competitions, venues and the surfaces. It's about the camaraderie and the event organisers who are able to make the shows positive and enjoyable to judges, competitors and all who come to the shows. 
 

Click here to view more beautiful images from Day Two!