For the second year running, Hawkesbury Dressage Festival returned to Sydney International Equestrian Centre with nine days of dressage action. With 512 horses and 378 riders entered – and an incredible 1791 tests ridden – it was an impressive undertaking that was appreciated by all who came along for the ride.

Operating since 1991 with Jan Geary its first president, Hawkesbury Dressage Club (HDC) is run by a very progressive and innovative group of dressage enthusiasts. With Cathy Cupit at the helm, the Sydney International Equestrian Centre (SIEC) – built for the Olympics in 2000 – was first used by the HDC in 2003. They were the first club to go there and have used it ever since. The committee at present is made up of 13 members, with Sally Ann Barbera as President. This is the second year that they’ve had one big competition instead of several small ones, and this one was run over nine days of which seven included competition.

The days of competition were segregated for different championships. The first few days focused on AOR, Young Rider and Junior classes, and the second and biggest session focused on Open and Pony classes. However, there were still Open, Young Rider, AOR, Pony and Para classes over all days. This year was highly successful with 512 horses and 378 riders entered, and an incredible 1791 tests ridden. There were two judges from Hobart who were invited, as well as judges from all over New South Wales. The sponsorship list was huge and there were embroidered kersey wool rugs for all champions, of which there were 30, and prizes were aplenty. The second Friday was totally dedicated to freestyles and all in the indoor. It was a training day for some and a great day to sit and enjoy innovative freestyles at all levels and all in the comfort of the indoor arena.

“This was a much better competition than our first attempt,” says HDC president Sally Ann Barbera. “It ran very smoothly as we all knew what we had to do, we had less overlap of stewards and we were able to slot everyone into their area of expertise from what we found out at our first year.

“The feedback from clubs and competitors, judges and the like was all very, very positive. It is a delightful time of the year weatherwise, and there were some fabulous tests ridden. We had some trade stands, and on the day off we had a professional development clinic and Megan Bryant, who was coach of the year, gave a fabulous masterclass dealing with coaching show horses. We had a lecture on nutrition through Pryde’s EasiFeed, which was well attended and most interesting. We also had a lecture on ulcers by Dr Ben Sykes and sponsored by Kelato, and this was very well explained and again had huge interest. In addition, there was a talk on bit fitting from Bit Bank Australia and also a pasture management talk.

“There were riders from all
over the state and also from
Queensland and Victoria.”

“On Saturday evening we had some pas de deux that were all extremely interesting and a lot of fun. There was a wine tasting after that in the rider’s retreat by Saddlers Creek winery… also a lot of fun! However the most fun was the riders’ party on the last Saturday night and some were still dancing until 2 in the morning; this was sponsored by the wonderful Denise Rogan from Rogan Dressage, one of the most positive dressage movers and shakers who puts her sponsorship and money where her heart is. Unfortunately, she was unable to attend; she is always the life and soul of the party and was missed… but for her sake they did party on! All in all, we were very happy with the competitions and with the way it ran so smoothly; of course, there are always better things to do for next year and we all look forward to that.”

There were riders from all over the state and also from Queensland and Victoria. It was such a fabulous opportunity to gain experience through being able to ride many tests in a short period of time, and it allowed competitors to go back and learn from their mistakes and see if they could better their scores.

Being able to stay on the grounds in fabulous stables and with great warm-up and working facilities saw horses and riders become more confident day after day – especially with the younger horses that became accustomed to the show environment.

As always, the lack of judges in a sport that is growing so fast made it difficult and again there were major discrepancies in scores and placings between judges on the same test. There was much discussion amongst competitors in regard to this, and it seemed that the common denominator for this lack of consistency amongst judges was that there needs to be far more mentoring and far more interest and innovation in judge education. There isn’t time to get educated, as every weekend they are out there judging with no one to really help when discrepancies appear, and as much as they all want to get better and learn from the problems associated with judging, they don’t have the time or the backup crew to assist.

Despite this, there were some fabulous scores and placings. Although the standard and quality of riding, training and the horses themselves have improved so much and there were so many wonderful horses at every level, sometimes the scores didn’t reflect the beauty and consistency of some of these combinations. All the same, every judge is doing the very best they can and they are enthusiastic and are thanked indeed. It’s simply they need to have more feedback on the things they are perhaps being overshadowed by, such as their attention to the smaller mistakes and missing the beauty of the general overall impression of the entire performance of each movement. “Fairly good” is only a 7 and “good” is an 8. If it’s “good”, give an 8 not a 7. It’s often clouded by lack of confidence perhaps, and that’s what needs to become second nature.

STANDOUT STARS

When looking at the champions, there were some fairly outstanding combinations, especially that of Kate Kyros and her two horses, Chemistry and Intro K. With the Australian Youth Dressage Championships a few weeks after this competition, it gave the keen and enthusiastic combinations a great feel for competition savviness and a great warm-up leading into those national championships. Chemistry, the stallion that John Thompson competed successfully for New Zealand and rode at the 2022 FEI World Championships when owned by the Kyros family, looked wonderful with his new rider Kate. Although still feeling the way around the Big Tour tests, Chemistry looked adjustable and so willing and Kate rode with feel and empathy and the stallion looked at ease. Perhaps they could show a little more power, but it’s early days.

Her other stallion, Intro K, was outstanding in the Prix St Georges and Inter I, winning with scores around 72%. This wonderfully light-footed bay stallion is quite the perfect Young Rider horse with a work ethic and movement to burn. He can get a little behind the leg, but Kate, under the guidance of Jenny Gehrke, is really starting to get a tune out of this horse and the picture and harmony between the two is really enlightening and is what dressage is all about. Kate’s modesty and happiness is infiltrating!

Olympian Sue Hearn had a successful show with her two Grand Prix horses in Galaxy – aka ‘Barbie’ the palomino – and what a piaffe and passage they have developed. Her other horse, the chestnut Eminent, looked a little underpowered but he is not yet experienced enough at this level for Sue to go all out as yet.

In total, there were 30 individual champions at many levels.

Starting at the top, the Big Tour Open Champion went to Jodie Dunstan and Hollands Bend Highlander, a beautiful bay gelding with lots of power and strength who is getting better all the time. They hail from Albury and what a great hit-out for this grand pair with plenty of power and expression and so good to see country NSW riders attending the Sydney competitions.

In the Medium Tour, the Open Champion was BC Romanov and ridden by Lexy Stansfield. There is no question that this horse has improved a lot of late, and it’s quite an outstanding achievement. Romanov was bred at Bangalow Creek Warmbloods and started with Katina Smith, who was also successful at this show and had many placings with young novice horses through to the FEI ranks on her homebred horses, and also with students attending as well.

The Small Tour Open Champion title went to the Queensland horse Del Piero ZF, ridden by Elliot Patterson and the runner-up was the wonderful Scarlatti Mio VSR for Emma Flavelle-Watts. A great Queensland success and these two riders raved about the facilities. The availability of warm-up opportunities and familiarisation, and how wonderfully the committee had looked after them and allowed the ability to produce good tests day after day and chase qualifying scores for state and national championships. It was professional and worth the trip down. They had a fabulous time with all the added extras to the competition and will be back next year.

Senzation, ridden by Harvey Besley, was the Open Novice Champion… another Queenslander! The Medium Open Champion title in a strongly contested class was Challenger Florian and Rochelle King-Andrews, with Harvey Besley’s ride on Sirsation runner-up for the Queenslander. The Queenslanders certainly were a little thin on the ground, but they were not thin on great results.

“There were 30
individual champions
at many levels.”

In the Elementary, the Open Champion was Axel DC for Deon Stokes. A fantastic horse that is sensitive and was tactfully ridden by the talented Deon; a wonderfully talented horse for the higher levels.

The beautiful chestnut Callum Park Damascus for Susan Elekessy was the Advanced Champion, and Reserve Champion went to Riley Alexander and New Star LP, owned and bred by Glenhill Sporthorses. Damascus is ever improving and from a very well-bred family out of the same mare as CP Dresden, a top Grand Prix horse, and CP Freya. In addition, Susan’s Callum Park Geneva was runner-up Open Big Tour horse.

Of course, the Amateur Owner Rider (AOR) classes were very strong as always with good entries. It was an outstanding win for MacArthur Jinero, ridden by Jocelyn West to claim the Small Tour AOR Champion title. This truly beautiful brown mare by De Niro, with a really expressive trot and a real talent for the future, is one to keep an eye on as her scores and advancement through the levels has been admirable. Jocelyn is one of the many fun and enthusiastic riders in the AOR division.

Rhiannon Isaacs and KC Bellino, by Belissimo, from the Taree area, was Advanced AOR Champion and this chestnut gelding is a real treat to watch. He has a great attitude and was beautifully ridden with the well-positioned Rhiannon.

The Novice Junior/Young Rider Champion was Brooke Gatt riding Favourite MBE. This fabulous Fürstenball mare showed some really wonderful work and was certainly very well ridden by young rider Brooke. She is owned by Rebecca Skinner, who was also competing at the show. In addition, the six-year-old gelding Furst Sir, also by Fürstenball and owned by Rebecca Skinner, was ridden by Caroline Hooper in the Preliminary tests, just gaining experience here with no pressure. What a fabulous place to do it and achieving scores up near 80% and winning both tests in the first week. A wonderful horse for the future. Rebecca also owns the Caroline Hooper-ridden Becks Gold, who was not at this competition but who is preparing for a Big Tour start!

“The 2023 Hawkesbury Dressage
Festival set new benchmarks on
how competitions are run. “

It was good to see that young Queensland rider Abby Weel riding Reitlands Obama to be Elementary Junior/Young Rider Champion, and Celestial for Brooke Gatt – training at Caroline Hooper Dressage – was runner up. Classes went all the way down to the Preparatory tests, and the champion title there went to Megan Bryant and Armani Gold MBE, bred and owned by the Bryant family, and by stallion Amicelli Gold.

So as always, it was HDC with the innovation! The 2023 Hawkesbury Dressage Festival set new benchmarks on how competitions are run. The online program, the updates and social media presence made it a festival to be enjoyed by competitors and spectators alike.

It is obvious to see the amount of work that goes into producing a competition of this level. Never a negative moment. No time for anything but good times and competition. HDC did it very well. Not only with great competition, but also by including great educational sessions and then combined with fun and party times. It was quite a celebration of nine days of dressage enthusiasm. Congratulations must go also to all the sponsors; without sponsors there is no sport. They go very much hand-in-hand. Thanks to all for making this competition what it was and what, for sure, it will become in the future. Well done, Hawkesbury Dressage Festival. EQ

Full results from the 2023 Hawkesbury Dressage Festival can be found here.

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