Dressage aficionados were spoilt for choice on Globetrotting Double Dressage Friday, with the Will Rogers Masterclass, high class competition and demonstrations across the day.
Tonight’s dressage showcase, featuring the CDI-W Grand Prix Freestyle and – an EQUITANA first – the CDI-Y entranced an appreciative audience who revelled in the beauty, harmony and talent presented to them.
It was a big night for New South Wales’ McKinnon Sport Horses with David aboard the very powerful Estupendo taking out the CDI-W Grand Prix Freestyle, his wife Roberta on D’Esperanza placing third and their student Maddison Vallender with Rubinell winning the CDI-Y.
Understandably all were ecstatic with the results. David was the last to go in the eight-strong CDI-W. Ahead of him Mary Hanna and Ivanhoe had set the bar at 73.695%, and Roberta 71.06%.
But David and Estupendo owned the arena in a rather full Grand Pavilion, coming out strongly and not letting up with a freestyle and music perfectly suited to his 15-year-old gelding.
“I didn’t expect to win,” said David of their 75.4% personal best. “I really thought Mary would beat me so I am surprised but rapt.”
He’s had the horse two years and been doing the same freestyle for around a year. “He is a very powerful horse to ride and I am not always 100% in control but he is very honest and sweet in nature. The music suits him well and it is such a great freestyle.”
Seventeen-year-old Maddison says she too wasn’t expecting to win but it’s always a tight tussle between her, Jess Dertell and Tia Rose McKenzie. Tonight Maddison and Rubinell took the honours on 71.8% with Jess on Kilimanjaro second on 70.455% and Tia Rose McKenzie aboard Franzisco RW third with 68.35%.
It was the first time Maddison and the mare have done a CDI-Y and she was very pleased with her score. “It is a very big deal for me to win here,” she said. “I have always wanted to do it and to do so in our first year is awesome.”
She’s had the 15-year-old mare for about a year. “She’s beautiful, tries very hard and has a really big personality.”
Two time Australian world champs representative Brett Parbery warmed up the crowd for the Friday Double Dressage Night Show with ‘the hour of power’ mini masterclass where he delved into the link between dressage fundamentals and Grand Prix dressage.
Earlier in the day the Will Rogers’ Masterclass took both audience and riders on a very holistic journey that started with the simplest of things . . . breathing. And while it is the most fundamental of practices, there’s more to it than meets the eye. For those who were mounted it was even more important.
Masterclass rider Javais Ham, who was one of six involved with the class, thoroughly enjoyed bringing her youngster Mayfield Fez into the Grand Pavilion. “It was just awesome out there,” she said. “He hasn’t seen a lot of big atmosphere so it was nice to get out there and some training in.”
Will’s methodology fully resonated with Javais. “His (Fez) happiness is the number one thing for me. Will is very much about their mindset which sits well with me.”
Rochester based Javais broke the horse in and has brought him right through to Prix St Georges and Inter I level. “He’s come up through the young horse classes and done well. We just loved it out there. I have never done a masterclass for us before and it was lovely for us.”
