Flip through the latest issue of Gulf Weekly.
The Twin Palms Dressage League's third show of the season last week was split into two categories, with the first including Best Turned Out, Newcomer, Preliminary and the Working Equitation classes while the second - to be held later this month - includes the Novice, Elementary, Medium and Freestyle-to-Music classes.
Last Friday, the first category dressage classes went exceptionally well, with a fabulous turnout. The winners all went home with amazing prizes, sponsored by eMax, and the top six received rosettes.
Though it was a joint combination of sisters that took home the lion's share of the trophies, Manon Cote and Sirocco, stylishly winning Newcomer, followed swiftly by her older sister Aislinn taking top place in the Junior Preliminary class - but to round off the triple for the family, mum Bernie, not to be outdone, was also placed in the adult preliminary!
The best class for me (although I am biased in this instance ... my boys being in it) was the Working Equitation A. This class tests horse and rider through a range of activities, combining flatwork movements and obstacle tests.
For this particular test riders have to negotiate their horses/ponies round barrels, over trotting poles, and then cleverly navigate them into, out of and round poles placed strategically on the ground.
This is a wonderful class to introduce younger riders to dressage; it's great fun.
We saw a host of incredibly well turned out young riders try so hard; it was captivating to watch parents alongside their trainers/instructors, giving them last minute instructions and encouragement.
These kids went in and gave it their best shot, concentration etched on their faces throughout, but it was the wonderful ear to ear grins as they completed the course and left the arena that made it such a joy to watch.
Well done ALL of you!
However, it was another sister act that took home the prizes for this class with Alix and Clotilde Denner taking podium positions on India and Lord respectively. Their first dressage test had trainer Ariane Van De Velde grinning more than the girls, especially with another of her students Emma Lalande taking third place.
Another class performance came from adult Preliminary winner - the main class of the day - Peter Arfanis, riding his stunning mare Vicky. It was Peter's first dressage outing of this season, and the pair performed brilliantly.
It is marvellous to see men compete in dressage: we saw Reza Al Afoo on his two lovely horses at our last competition, and in previous seasons there have been several men competing, though this season there appears to be a predominant female presence!
A reversal of its origins, considering dressage dates back to Greek horsemanship and the military who trained their horses to perform movements during battle.
The first writings on training horses was by a Greek military commander! Dressage continued to be developed by the military, and during the Renaissance European aristocrats displayed highly-trained horses in their pageants.
Dressage became an Olympic sport in 1912, but only commissioned military officers were eligible to compete. This was until 1952 when rules changed to allow civilians to enter.
Anyway, well done Peter for winning with style, precision and presence and I Iook forward to seeing Peter and Vicky again soon.
