Dressage News Notes Brought to You by Back on Track

News Notes for April 7, 2011 - This week’s News Notes is brought to you by Back on Track, the natural way to a pain-free life. California plays host this weekend to the Golden State Dressage Festival CDI3*. The world’s media spent much of the past days reporting on the sad passing of British dressage rider Jane Gregory. The BBC focused this week on paralympic hopeful Ruth MacCarthy. New Zealand media reported on that country’s hope that it will have three Olympic squads in London next year. Dressage riders in India have gathered with other competitors for a big annual horse show in that country. A British teenager hopes to represent her country in the European Dressage Championships this year. And Singapore officially opens a National Equestrian Park.

More than a dozen dressage competitions will be taking place from Coast to Coast this weekend and even beyond the continental U.S. Hawaii will play host to the Aloha State Dressage Society show in Waimanlalo. The CDI competition for this weekend is in Rancho Murieta, California, which is the site for the Golden State Dressage Festival CDI3*. Dressage competitions are also being held in Somis and Paso Robles, California. Loxahatchee, Florida plays host to the popular Welcome Back to White Fences IV. Florida competitions are also being held in Jacksonville and in Venice and in Georgia, Conyers plays host to the Greater Atlanta Dressage Southern. The Texas Dressage Classic will take place in Tyler and Ohio hosts the Majestic Farm April Adventure. Competitions are also taking place this weekend in Leesburg, Virginia and in Las Vegas.

The leading dressage story in the mainstream media this week was the unexpected passing of top British dressage rider Jane Gregory. Jane died last week at the age of 51 from a suspected heart attack. She was a member of Britain’s dressage team at the 2008 Hong Kong Olympics. Her first Olympic competition was the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. She is survived by her husband Aram, who rides for Hong Kong but lives and trains in Britain. You can read what other riders have had to say about her at [rep6]Here.

And also out of Great Britain, the BBC this past week ran an article on paralympic rider Ruth MacCarthy and her quest to compete in the 2012 London Games in dressage. The Warwickshire resident has been one of Britain’s leading para-dressage riders. Her previous partner is injured and the 26-year-old rider said she is on the hunt for a new one. Selectors for Britain’s paralympic team are expected to start watching riders this summer and hence Ruth is aiming to have a new ride this month. She has been riding since childhood and was injured in a riding accident at the age of 19 when a horse fell on top of her. You can read more Here!

Dressage riders in India are gathered this week at the Delhi Horse Show. The annual show, hosted by the Army Polo and Riding Club and presided over by the Army Chief of Staff, draws over 500 horses competing in several equestrian disciplines, including dressage. This includes classes in novice dressage. The show has been taking place for 25 continuous years and seeks to include all types of riding. The main goal is for riders and horses to gather and have fun. You can read more Here!

Also coming out of Britain this week is a great young rider story in the Grimsby Telegraph. An 18-year-old college student named Amy Woodhead is setting her sights on representing Great Britain in this year’s European Dressage Championships. Amy was a successful competitor with ponies when she was a child but now competes in the big leagues with her stallion Pardon. She spent much of last year training in Germany and Holland. Dressage runs in Amy’s blood. Her family owns a popular riding school called Weelsby Park. Her sister is competitive rider and both her parents were British team trainers. You can read more about her Here!

And finally, from Singapore this past week came news of the opening of that country’s new National Equestrian Park. It was officially opened last week by President S.R. Nathan. The multi-million dollar complex includes competition rings, stadium seating and 40 stables. Construction is still ongoing and planned for later this year are FEI-rated competition facilities, a riding academy, a quarantine and rehabilitation center, a hospital, additional paddocks and riding trails. Said Equestrian Federation of Singapore (EFS) president Melanie Chew of the project, "We have three aims for this Park. First, as a home base for the Singapore equestrian team, and to allow Singaporeans to train to compete in this sport for events like the SEA and Asian Games. It is our hope that we eventually send competitors to the Olympic Games." The new Equestrian Park is located near the Singapore Polo Club and a Riding for the Disabled Center. You can read more about it Here!

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