It was an epic 5 days of all things Dressage! First up, the first three days was the fourth installment of the FEI ESEE Solidarity program for Dressage Judging and Coaching and we were delighted to welcome back international FEI experts, Ms. Mercedes Campdera from Mexico and Ms. Maria Ines Garcia from Colombia.
The course was held from 13th – 15th June 2018 whereby the morning theory sessions were held at San Antonio Stables and the practical sessions held in the afternoons at Saddle Valley Stables. All ESEE participants (both coaches & judges) had the opportunity to shadow judge at the FEI World Dressage Challenge held June 16th, a terrific way to put into action all their prior and newly acquired skills.
Course Participants were:
ESEE participant Judges:
- Patrice Stollmeyer
- Sara McCartney
ESEE participant Coaches:
- Natalie Rapier
- Anja Taylor
- Errol Grant
- Amy Costelloe
- Alicia Eiffel (audit)
- Kwesi Clement(audit)
FEI WDC (World Dressage Challenge)
We then moved on to the big and excitement filled day of competition on Saturday, June 16th. First up, bright and early Saturday morning at 8:40 am was the 2018 international FEI WDC (World Dressage Challenge) where team Trinidad & Tobago displayed their very best efforts.
All our riders did a splendid job for team T&T. At the Senior II level, Michelle Sabga-Aboud took first place on Biscuito with a score of 65.18% and Nicola Chatoor on Takeover placed 2nd with a score of 54.32%. Amy Costelloe placed 2nd on Monte Carlo with a score of 59.91% at the Senior 1 Level while Natalie Rapier riding Viking Thunder placed first at the Senior 1 level with a score of 61.43%. This win for Natalie Rapier on Viking Thunder was especially phenomenal as Ms. Rapier states in her own words – “Viking Thunder won his class for the Trini team in the World Dressage Challenge. This horse never lets me down. The love of my life. Despite having a massive 5 hour surgery in February 2018 which was performed by the miraculous Dr. Jonathon White at UWI Veterinary Medicine School, and being off work during his long recovery he still rose to the challenge. With only 3 days of competition preperation training he came through to win the FEI dressage international competition. WHAT A HORSE!”
Congratulations to the Trinidad & Tobago Dressage Team!
We would like to extend a special thanks to our FEI judges – Ms. Mercedes Campderá from Mexico and Ms. Jeanne McDonald from the USA. We would also like to thank FEI expert Ms. Maria Ines Garcia from Colombia for being an amazing coach for the ESEE course along with preparing our T&T riders for the FEI WDC.
TTEA Dressage League 3
Saturday afternoon, June 16th, the TTEA Dressage League 3 got off to a thrilling start at Saddle Valley Stables and the day came to an exhilarating close with the competitors from San Antonio Stables.
On Sunday, June 17th, several of our TTEA riders and coaches then took part in clinic lessons with Ms. Jeanne McDonald in order to learn and improve from their tests and overall riding. Sunday also marked the final competition day for the TTEA Dressage League 3, where riders from Jericho stables and the Mounted Branch competed in USEF dressage tests. A job well done by all our riders and coaches!
Wow, now that was a whirlwind of events and this could not be possible without the assistance from all our volunteers, riders and coaches. Thank you all around especially to Saddle Valley Stables and San Antonio Stables.
Photo 1 – (l-r) – Michelle Sabga-Aboud on Biscoito, FEI Judge Ms. Jeanne McDonald, FEI Judge Ms. Mercedes Campdera, TTEA President Mr. Duglas Watsun, Natalie Rapier on Viking Thunder, FEI ESEE Facilitator Ms. Maria Ines Garcia, Amy Costelloe on Monte Carlo and Nicola Chatoor on Takeover.
Photo 2 – (l-r) 1st Place FEI Senior 2 – Michelle Sabga-Aboud on Biscoito, FEI foreign Judge Ms. Mercedes Campdera and FEI foreign Judge/Ground Jury President Ms. Jeanne McDonald.
Photo 3 – (l-r) 1st Place FEI Senior 1 – Natalie Rapier on Viking Thunder, FEI foreign Judge/Ground Jury President Ms. Jeanne McDonald and FEI foreign Judge Ms. Mercedes Campdera.
Photo 4 – 2nd Place FEI Senior 2 – Nicola Chatoor on Takeover
Photo 5 – (l-r) 2nd Place FEI Senior 1 – FEI foreign Judge/Ground Jury President Ms. Jeanne McDonald , Amy Costelloe on Monte Carlo and FEI foreign Judge Ms. Mercedes Campdera.
Photo 6 – Michelle Sabga-Aboud on Biscoito
Photo 7 – Nicola Chatoor on Takeover
Photo 8 – Amy Costelloe on Monte Carlo
Photo 9 – Halt and Salute – Natalie Rapier on Viking Thunder