BD looks at dressage with 20:20 vision

Join us at Hartpury College in Gloucestershire 24 – 25 November as we celebrate our 20th anniversary with 2018’s British Dressage National Convention supported by Harrison Clark Rickerbys.

This year, we’ll be looking at dressage with ‘20:20 vision’, from the viewpoint of a panel of leading experts including elite riders and trainers Emile Faurie, Gareth Hughes, Sophie Wells plus FEI 4* Judge Peter Storr and Dr Rachel Murray, Senior Orthopaedic Advisor at the Animal Health Trust. 

The term 20:20 vision is used to indicate perfect sight, which is what dressage riders, coaches and judges spend their careers striving for, in their attempt to achieve total harmony between horse and rider. The perfect ten, achieved through excellence, clarity, flawlessness… That’s always the focus but a number of different factors are involved in making it happen:

Rider: our own skill, our ability to train and realise potential and our aptitude to constantly evolve and learn in any given situation.

Coach: the talent for imparting knowledge with great clarity, reading a situation and capability of bringing the best out of both horse and rider.

Judge: seeing the complete picture, the knack of providing feedback in the right tone to encourage and providing riders with a fair measure of their training progress.

Support: veterinary, physiotherapy, nutrition, medical, psychology all have a key part to play.

Getting the best from horse and rider in modern times is all about taking a holistic approach for an all-round ‘team’ effort. It’s not just a rider in an arena; it’s a series of processes, a systematic methodology and a great deal of time.
We’ll take you on a journey through the career path of both horse and rider as they start at Novice before moving up the levels towards the ultimate aim, Grand Prix. With the year 2020 on the horizon, hear the inside track from three top riders on their plans for producing their top horses to peak for Tokyo and the associated challenges, alongside tips, advice and knowledge for anyone involved in dressage.

To celebrate 20 years, our present to you is a new early-bird ticket rate on weekend and daily tickets available now until Sunday 23 September. All tickets are just £72 for a weekend pass or £45 to join us on one of the days. After this, prices rise with rates for BD members, BHS members and non-members. Also, we’re offering tickets at this rate for anyone under 25 throughout the booking process. You can book online via the BD online shop at www.britishdressage.co.uk or over the phone by calling 02476 698833/831. Please note that under 25 tickets must be booked by phone to verify age.
 
BD Training Director Paul Hayler commented; “We had to mark our 20th anniversary in some fashion and I’m proud to be able to bring five of Britain’s leading minds to one great weekend to give an all-round analysis of dressage. All of our presenters will bring their own style and beliefs to the sessions and these five will certainly get you thinking, whatever your role in dressage. Our new early bird offer gives you the chance to save 10% on ticket prices which is excellent news – but act quickly, as you only have until the Sunday of the Nationals to take advantage. We look forward to welcoming you to Hartpury for what promises to be a fantastic weekend.” 

Provisional timetable:

Saturday 24 November

10:00 Welcome and Introduction Paul Hayler, BD Training Director

10:00 -12:45 Building blocks - Novice to Small Tour
Expectations, turning potential to success and managing horse and rider.
Emile Faurie, Peter Storr and Rachel Murray

14:15 Para production
Discovering the ability in riders with a disability and producing medal winning combinations.
Sophie Wells, Peter Storr and Rachel Murray

14:45 Inter inspiration
Increasing the intensity, looking towards international ambition and the increased demands on combinations.
Gareth Hughes, Peter Storr and Rachel Murray

15:15 GP goals
The evolution of the sport’s elite level, developing the equine athlete and the challenges of management for peak performances. 
Emile Faurie, Gareth Hughes, Peter Storr and Rachel Murray

16:15 Closing comments
Questions, highlights and learnings from the day. Paul Hayler, Emile Faurie, Gareth Hughes, Peter Storr and Rachel Murray
 
Sunday 25 November

10:00 – 12:45 Performing precisely
Novice to Small Tour
Test riding from the view of the rider, coach and judge.
Emile Faurie, Peter Storr and Rachel Murray

14:30 Inter intent
Test riding, bridging the gap to Grand Prix and management of the elite quine athlete.
Gareth Hughes, Peter Storr and Rachel Murray

15:15 Freestyle formula
Evolution of the GP freestyle to dancing horse status, preparing a medal winning floorplan and balancing technical and artistic to wow the judges.
Emile Faurie, Gareth Hughes, Peter Storr and Rachel Murray

16:15 Closing comments
Questions, highlights and learnings from the day. Paul Hayler, Emile Faurie, Gareth Hughes, Peter Storr and Rachel Murray