PONY DRESSAGE
** NEWS  -  OFFICIAL ADULT EFA PONY DRESSAGE STARTS ON 1ST JANUARY, 2005 **

There has recently been a great show of interest in Official EFA Open and Junior Pony Dressage and this interest is now growing very rapidly Australia wide. Many junior and adult riders are now looking for somewhere to compete their ponies, other than the show ring.

In definition, Pony Dressage is for horses that are under the minimum EFA height allowance of 14.2hh (without shoes - 14.2hh with shoes).

Official Pony Dressage tests with grading points is available to Junior riders (aged from the beginning of the year they turn 10 until the end of the year they turn 16). Official Pony Dressage for Open riders aged 17 and over will become available from the 1st January, 2005.

In the past Pony Dressage events, whether official or associate (unofficial) have been very few and far between with more emphasis placed on the Young Rider Competitions (aged 16 to 21 years), where riders often compete on the larger Warmblood/Thoroughbred horses. This basically left the small rider, once they reached the age of 16 with little choice except to ride a big horse and in the competition dressage world today, big means BIG - 16hh plus. With smaller framed teenagers and adults this is basically akin to putting a 6-8 year old on a 15hh horse - looks ridiculous apart from being unsafe.
While Pony Dressage seems to suggest that only ponies can compete in these competitions, it does in fact include small Galloways up to 14.2hh and a huge number of adults choose to ride and compete on smaller horses, be it by personal choice or a matter of necessity. Many breeders of performance ponies also choose to train and ride these ponies themselves, thrilling to what can be achieved on a pony correctly trained in the classic dressage movements. However, many breeders and trainers of these ponies do not have access to junior riders that are experienced enough to be able to compete these ponies at a high level (and this is without even considering the difficulties raised by insurance by putting someone other than yourself on your horse).

One of the major factors for introducing Official Pony Dressage for adults is that Australia DOES NOT have a big choice or range of pony mounts for junior riders to compete and learn on. Europe is way in front of the rest of the world in having highly educated "school master" ponies for youngsters to learn the basics on. A small junior rider just cannot learn properly on a big horse, regardless of how correct that big horse is. Balance and learning an independent seat and position cannot be obtained while bouncing around on a horse that is far too big for the rider.

We must also realise that here in Australia nearly everybody who chooses to do so has the ability to own and keep a horse. In Europe many prospective and possibly very talented riders don't. Also, Europe provides a lot more funding and opportunity to those who are able and can afford to aim to a high standard. Australia does not. With the provision and availability of well trained dressage ponies, future riders will have mounts available to them, that are proven in competition and do not cost the earth.

The Australian Equestrian fraternity needs to take a good look at just why Australia is lagging way behind Europe in the training of young riders (leaving aside the issue of sponsorship availability and the generally very low recognition that equestrian sports in general get Australia wide.) In order for us to provide those juniors with suitably sized mounts trained to a high standard, then Official Pony Dressage for adults is a must. it will grow and begin to provide a wide range of proven ponies for these young riders to go on with. The previous lack of Open Pony Dressage also disallowed dressage pony breeders from competing their stallions, although there appears to be no rule against juniors riding stallions in pony dressage, who would send out a young junior rider on a stallion?

Please feel free to join the discussion on the new world of Pony Dressage at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AustPonyDressage

For more information on Pony Dressage visit the Australian Sports Pony Registry Inc. and the EFA National web site
Australian Stud Saddle Ponies and Dressage
Several of our registered Australian Stud Saddle Ponies are constantly out and about competing in Dressage. These ponies are proving that size is no barrier.

Matitojo Sherdan

Cobram/Barooga HRCAV Dressage Comp. - Level 2 Jackpot Champion
Goulburn Valley Arab Club Dressage Comp. - 1st & & Res. Champion
                                                                                          HRCAV Dressage Horse
                                                                                     - 1st & 2nd in Novice & Champ. Novice
                                                                               - Best Registered Novice Arabian
CARABI Assoc. Dressage Comp.                   - 1st & 3rd in Novice & Champion
                                                                                       Novice Horse
                                                                                  - Best Registered Novice Arabian
Dressage NSW Pony Dressage Spectacular  - 2 x 4th in Novice
                                                                                     - 2nd Freestyle Novice


          




If you have a registered ASSP and are competing in dressage
(Official, Assoc., HRCAV or Pony Club)
please email the ASSPS and we will post your results here
Photo's more than welcome!!