SPORT// EQUESTRIANISM
DRESSAGE
DAYS 3 AND 4
Dressage! A relatively new discipline for 3 out of our 4 team
members; Poppy, now replacing sister Daisy, being our most
experienced rider. Our lack of knowledge soon began to show!
Before we’d even got into an arena, we had to buy 3 new sets
of stirrups, change one bit and check that our spurs were all
legal. Looking back at the scenario, it was quite amusing as we
were flapping and googling sites to see what was permissible;
we are now fully conversant with the rules regarding ‘dressage’
– well almost!
The team all performed above their expectation in the warm
up class with Polly coming joint first on 75%, closely followed
by Poppy and Emily’s in the high sixties! At this stage, we didn’t
let ourselves get over-excited because we thought that the tests
had been favourably marked and that the ‘pure’ dressage riders
hadn’t shown their faces yet. Our hunch was proved correct
the next day, when the team were surrounded by really ‘smart’
dressage horses. However, they all stayed calm and executed
good solid tests; we were so proud of them. Although we
weren’t placed, we all concluded that the discipline of dressage
has improved everyone’s riding and has made the horses more
balanced when jumping; dressage will remain on our agenda!
As the four days of competition drew to a close, we reflected
on how Equestrian at Pocklington is at an exciting stage. This
was our most successful National competition to date and with
many new and young riders, plus the older team members now
on new horses, there is much potential to realise in the future.
THE POCKLINGTONIAN
77