By Roger Fitzhardinge 

Katina Smith

• Read more about Showcase of Riders at the 2019 Australian Dressage Championships

Nominations are called for the 2019 Dressage services to the sport Awards.

• Read more about 2019 Dressage Person of the Year Award Nominations

DNSW is committed to supporting Clubs in regional areas through a series of “Regional Dressage Festival Events Series” in key hubs in regional (country) areas. Funds to support this initiative are provided from Equestrian NSW to Dressage NSW with additional contributions from DNSW.

• Read more about Applications for 2020 Regional Dressage Festival series now open

For four days in October, horses and riders from most Australian States will go head-to-head aiming to take home a National Champion Trophy and Title.  

The Australian Dressage Championships will be held at the Sydney International Equestrian Centre from Thursday, 17 October through to Sunday, 20 October 2019.   

These Championships include an international component with a CDI-W (FEI World Cup Qualifier), CDI-U25 (Grand Prix level competition for riders aged 16 to 25 years) and a CDI-Y (FEI Small Tour level for riders aged 16 to 21 years).  

• Read more about Top class field to contest the 2019 Australian Dressage Championships

Expressions of interest are now open for the Australian leg of the 2019 FEI Dressage World Challenge to be held at Sydney International Equestrian Centre (SIEC) on the 15th & 16thOctober 2019.

The FEI Dressage World Challenge is designed to create a ‘bridge” between the National level and the first FEI level of International competition. This is Australia’s third year holding the long running FEI competition.

Nominations close on 7 September 2019

• Read more about FEI Dressage World Challenge

The EADC has recently become aware of a contradiction in the test sheet for the Advanced Freestyle (1/1/19) and the directives for Freestyles in the current Rule Book (Section 8). 

Movement 12 on the Advanced Freestyle test sheet reads: 

Flying changes of lead every 4^thand/or 3^rdstride – minimum 3 times consecutively. 

Whilst Table 8.12 in Section 8 showing ‘Examples of movements of a higher level deliberately shown’ was amended to reflect the test directives, Rule 8.6.1 (d) was not at the same time changed. 

• Read more about Advanced Freestyle 2019

The European Championships are underway in Rotterdam, the Netherlands but closer to home our attention this week will be on the regional town of Tamworth and the NSW Dressage Championships.

Ten years ago, in 2009 & 2010 the NSW Dressage Championships were held in a regional area at the Australian Equine & Livestock Events Centre (AELEC).  Since then the championships have been held at the Sydney International Equestrian Centre. 

• Read more about The NSW Dressage Championships returns to Tamworth

Photo:  Oh yes it’s Showtime alright as Dorothee Schneider’s leading score with her fabulous gelding secured the advantage for Germany on the opening day today, as they chase down their 24th team title at the Longines FEI Dressage European Championships 2019 in Rotterdam, The Netherlands. (FEI/Liz Gregg)

Battle for Olympic qualifying spots will go right down to the wire

Bt Louisa Parkes

• Read more about Germans already in command after first day of Dressage

Photo caption:  C’mon mum, I’m ready to go! The brilliant mare Bella Rose who won double-gold at last year’s FEI World Equestrian Games™ for German legend Isabell Werth was bursting with excitement at today’s Dressage inspection at the Longines FEI European Championships 2019 in Rotterdam (NED). The phenomenal Werth has won a staggering 21 individual and team medals since competing in her first European Championships back in 1989. (FEI/Kim C Lundin)

Stage set for a fantastic week of sport

By Louise Parkes

• Read more about They're rearing to go in Rotterdam!

Picture caption: The undisputed Queen of international Dressage, Isabell Werth, headlines the stellar German side who go into next week's Longines FEI European Dressage Championships as defending champions. 

By Louise Parkes

When the Longines FEI European Dressage Championships 2019 get underway in Rotterdam, The Netherlands next Monday (19 August) the biggest question will be whether athletes from any other nation can seriously challenge the mighty Germans.

• Read more about And who will claim the Olympic qualifying spots?