Festival Features: Stepping it up a level

The Petplan Area Festival series offers riders a chance to advance through the dressage levels from Prelim to Intermediate, in a supportive environment, all while aiming for an exciting championship. Our two featured riders are doing just that, inspiring others with their journeys alongside their equine partners. 

Pictured above Joshua Bailey and Noraalfee ©Top Shots Photography  

Joshua Bailey and his lovely KWPN Noraalfee attended their first ever Petplan Area Festival at Solihull Riding Club this month. The duo left with incredible results in both the Prelim Silver and Novice Bronze classes, finishing second overall and being the highest placed U21 in both classes.  

The combination has only been a partnership for 20 months, and only began their dressage journey in May 2024, starting at Intro level. Speaking about his experience working up the levels in the early stages of their dressage journey Joshua tells us, “so far it has been extremely rewarding to see my mare produce quality movements and achieve creditable scores.” 

The Area Festival series has been a perfect opportunity for the two of them to work their way through the levels in a friendly environment Joshua’s mother Fiona explains, “the fact Joshua has so much support encouraging him to have a go at the higher level was what made him enter the Area Festivals.” Reflecting on their first Area Festival Fiona shares, “he enjoyed riding in the arena he felt the atmosphere was exciting and encouraging for young horses.” The feedback from the judges following their test also left Joshua feeling a sense of achievement.  

“My favourite moment in the Novice on the Friday was when I walked out of the indoor arena to receive the most positive comments about our medium trot and counter canter,” Joshua added about his standout moment, “I was overwhelmed to hear those comments.” Despite feeling a little deflated after holding on to the lead of the Prelim class for over five hours Joshua shares, “I realised just how well I’d ridden and what fantastic results we received.”  

At home Joshua keeps Noraalfee’s training routine very varied to keep the gorgeous mare interested, alongside having lessons with Keri Bishop and Emma Jablonski.  Training with BD has also been a part of their progress; after attending his first BD training camp in October last year at Bishop Burton, Joshua received comments from those around him that has really inspired him into believing he can really do it.  

“Noraalfee is turned out and exercised every day” Joshua explains, “some days hacking and other days showjumping or cross-country.” When Joshua first got the black mare she had never seen a pole or jumped before and in only 12 months the two of them have been competing in young horse classes, jumping up to 1m15. Fiona tells us about the partnership the two of them have built, “Joshua has not rushed the process and whilst training the two of them have gained more of a bond than you can imagine.”  

Joshua believes that the two of them have come so far in such a short amount of time due to applying the knowledge taught by his coaches and from keeping Noraalfee’s training varied and not always in the arena. Noraalfee is known for being very sensitive Joshua tells us, “if she was a person I would say she wears her heart on her sleeve, she loves to be with other horses and doesn’t like to think she will get left behind!” She will also let Joshua know if she isn’t interested, this is why her varied training is so important to keep her mind active.  

“Joshua’s goal has always been to represent his country” Fiona tells us. The future is exciting for the duo, having such amazing results over the past year, from the most recent at the Area Festival to finishing on the podium when competing in the U25’s at Sheepgate Equestrian last year representing the North and East region, Joshua and Noraalfee are only at the beginning of their journey.  

Pictured above Ruby Walker and Cruz © mhphotos  

Ruby Walker and her super star gelding Cruz competed at Moreton Equestrian’s Petplan Area Festival attempting Medium Bronze level for the first time, finishing inside the ribbons with a very impressive eighth place, as well as a podium result in the Elementary Silver.  

Ruby has produced her  16.3hh grey herself as she describes, “producing Cruz and gradually moving up the levels has been so rewarding, especially because my dressage journey started the same day as his did.” Enjoying the qualification process of the Area Festival series, Ruby took on the challenge of qualifying for two different levels, “it is such a joy to see him qualify at multiple levels, we love the opportunity to attend a high-profile championship.” 

“I often set myself goals,” Ruby shares, “these are against ourselves and not other competitors, for example trying to better our previous championship score because in my eyes when we compete it is only with ourselves.” 

Cruz enjoyed his Christmas break “gaining a few pounds” but the combination have been training hard at home in preparation for their Area Festival. Despite only going out to one competition this year before the big day, the two of them walked away with results to be proud of.  

However, their attendance at the Winter Area Festival was almost curtailed Ruby explains, “after schooling Cruz he didn’t feel 100% and we were pulling our hair out trying to pinpoint the issue. Until I realised he was due a saddle check in the next couple of weeks and of course in true Cruz fashion the upset would come a couple weeks early.” Amazingly with the help of Sam from Colne Saddlery and minor tweaks that were made to Cruz’s saddle, they were able to compete. Ruby shares her gratitude, “we cannot thank Sam enough for being so thorough and Colne Saddlery for making it possible to fit us in before we left.”  

Taking a moment to look back on their two tests, Ruby’s tells us their highlights were definitely the leg yields in the Elementary and both the half passes and shoulder-in throughout their Medium test. “These movements were my favourite due to the continuous progression we have had working hard to better our movement score,” Ruby explains.  

At home Cruz can be a slightly hot horse Ruby tells us, “he can be fiery to ride, often making monsters up in different corners of the arena all depending on what mood he is in!” The cheeky gelding prefers a ‘less is more’ approach when it comes to dressage training, “he will perform much better if he is schooled just once a week rather than two or three times a week and always schools amazingly the day after having a break,” Ruby shares. He also has this big personality in his stable, known on the yard as the ‘Golden Boy’ as Ruby explains, “he wants everything to be done with him first otherwise he becomes opinionated and even more increasingly needy.”  

The two of them have an incredible partnership, Ruby shares an insight of what it is like to own Cruz, “despite his high maintenance ways he is the perfect listener and always has my hand if I have had a bad day in work and just need a cuddle, he just knows.”