National Convention 2022 riders announced

With just a few days to go until the National Convention, in association with Harrison Clark Rickerbys, we’re excited to announce the rider line-up for the weekend.

Saturday

Saturday 26 November is all about the process of producing dressage horses from the early years through to Grand Prix, with the end goal of a happy, healthy athlete. 

First to join hosts Gareth Hughes and Michael Eilberg will be Hughes stable rider and groom Angharad Harries, presenting Claire Gordon's four year old Nonovanck, alongside Fay Lai with her Grand Prix ride Bengal II. We're excited to present a new concept in the opening session of the day, where those in the audience can enjoy studying a horse at the very start of the dressage journey, in sync one reaching the very pinnacle. 

As we progress through the morning sessions, and through the young horse age categories, we'll be joined by Alice Oppenheimer with the Novice and Elementary Winter Champion Headmore Flintstone, U25s European Championship team rider Lucy Amy presenting Millenium Falcon I and Alex Harrison with the exciting British-bred prospect MSJ Bachelor. Gareth Hughes' daughter Ruby Hughes makes her National Convention debut on board new ride World Exclusive, whilst Greg Sims is a great addition to the line-up with his FEI World Breeding Championship partner Waverley Fellini. 

Host Michael Eilberg works in hand with one of his own rides to kick off the first of three Grand Prix sessions, before Fay Lai returns and Alice Oppenheimer closes the day with her superstar Headmore Bella Ruby, who recently made her Grand Prix debut. 

Combination details

Fay Lai with her own bay gelding Bengal II (2009).

Angharad Harries with Claire Gordon's gelding Nonovanck (2019, Painted Black x San Remo).

Lucy Amy with her own Millenium Falcon I (2017).

Alex Harrison with Emma Blundell's chestnut gelding MSJ Bachelor (2016, Bordeaux X Don Gregory).

Alice Oppenheimer with Sarah Oppenheimer, Richard and Marnie Lovejoy's dark bay gelding Headmore Flintstone (2015, Rubinstein) and Sarah Oppenheimer's liver chestnut mare Headmore Bella Ruby (2012, Belissimo M x Rubinstein).

Ruby Hughes with Kate Lister's chestnut gelding World Exclusive (2006, World of Dreams x Rohdiamant).

Greg Sims with his own and Stena Hoerner's bay gelding Waverley Fellini (2015, Furstenball x Sandro Hit).

Natalie Tsuchiya with her own dark brown gelding Fearless II (2010, Diarado X Tokyo).

Sunday

On Sunday 27 November it's all about the basics and focusing on our members competing from Prelim to Medium, in the vast range of grassroots championships in the BD offering. We'll be considering how to improve paces for a range of different horses, and how to make those small adjustments in the training environment for big reward in the competition arena. 

Natalie Woodward and General Custard will be joined by BD Foundation Academy combination Sophia Marston and E-mail for the first session of the day, where we'll again be looking at two horses at different points in their training journey. Angela Collins will present her Welsh Section D Thistledown I See Fire alongside National Champion Sarah Wilkinson in the second session of the day, before Michael Eilberg headlines the third programme feature focusing on lungeing and long reining for fitness gains at home. 

After lunch, Charlotte Blain and Frodo take us through lengthening and collection, before we get ready for a fascinating 'compare and contrast' session where Izzy Palmer steps up alongside special guest presenter Sophie Wells to demonstrate lateral work and discuss the differences between able-bodied and para training. Sophia Marston is back to work on collection before Georgie Rockingham and September Song, winners of the Petplan Equine Medium Freestyle Bronze Championships, demonstrate a medium freestyle showcase to end the day. 

Combination details

Natalie Woodward with Sarah Arkell's bay gelding General Custard (2008, TB X Connemara).

Sophia Marston with Kim Murray and Seonaidh O'Neill's bay gelding E-mail (2009, Jazz).

Angela Collins with her own bay gelding Thistledown I. See. Fire (2017, Thistledown Thriller X Starcrest Sovereign).

Charlotte Blain with her own bay gelding Frodo (2013, Fidertanz X Ferro).

Izzy Palmer with Cat Austin's black mare Je Suis Adiva (2014, Negro X Fabriano).

Georgie Rockingham with her own bay gelding September Song (2011).

Tickets to join us are still on sale! Visit the National Convention at Hartpury College in person, for one day or the whole weekend.

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