by Roger Fitzhardinge

 

It's the first day at the Bradgate Park Thin Line Dressage With Altitude in Orange, a wonderful old mining town with plenty of history here. Orange is a three and a half hours from Sydney CBD and a picturesque drive over the Blue Mountains but as many parts of Australia the country is looking extremely dry, but be assured if there is a way to break a drought it's have a dressage competition as this so let's see!

 

 

 

Bradgate Park is a private property owned by Bev and John Healy. The facilities here are outstanding and although it may be small with only one competition arena, the indoor with excellent footing is always well decorated and each year more and more attention to detail is paid.

 

 

It is one of the few CDI status competitions here in Australia and in it's third year as a three star competition.

 

Gotthilf Riexinger (GER) and Isobel Wessells (GBR) the international judges at the trot up © Equestrian Life/Roger Fitzhardinge

 

With the first competition out of the way and the trot ups done it was Brett Parbery and DP Weltmeiser with a score of 71.3%. In true Brett fashion he made it all look easy and effortless even when there was a degree of disaster looming in the first canter pirouette, Brett calmly finished the pirouette as if all was good. There were no mistakes at all and since Boneo Park he has remembered the number of tempi changes needed, the one tempis (which have been his achilles heel) today looked easy and effortless. The piaffe is still developing but cool brained and confident, the passage modest but in a good rhythm. A great score and a unanimous decision from all judges.

 

Brett Parbery and DP Weltmeiser were in top form © Equestrian Life/Roger Fitzhardinge

 

In second place the ever consummate professional, Heath Ryan on the first of his THREE Grand Prix horses he has here and all produced under his total guidance. Quite a remarkable rider and horseman and "Mr Positive Nice Guy". Johnny Depp was ridden with great accuracy to score 65.8%. He showed accurate positioning with no mistakes, and this was a very fair score. There is no question that this horse is still gaining confidence as he is a very spooky horse. With more confidence, he will allow a greater degree of collection and forwardness, and as a consequence there is plenty of room in all these movements for bigger marks. 

 

In third place, a mere 0.35 points behind was the black stallion, Lauries As, with Tor Van Den Berge. Unfortunately the stallion made some mistakes in the tempi changes which were costly. Some great trot work with expression and cadence. But, as is to be expected at this level, the passage steps, in rhythm and balance, but lacking expression. 

 

The diminutive Alexis Hellyer (as her name says, hell-yeah!) rode one hell of a test on the Weltmyer gelding Wacca W, to score 65.3%. A smooth and fluent test with the piaffe really developing now. Alexis also rode her partner's (Elliot Patterson) Leandro, into 6th place for a very respectable 64.5%, just behind Tor's second ride Donna Bonnita on 64.6%. 

 

The Prydes Easifeed Intermediate A competition concluded with some great riding and horses, and some very respectable percentages, that shows a positive step towards a strong showing in Grand Prix in the future. 

 

Ps. the sky is turning Black so as we say to break the drought have a CDI at Orange. Let's all hope!

 

 

- Rog.

 

For results please click here