Uploading equine fun

THE competition for dressage lovers is stepping up online thanks to a competitive website aimed at attracting the equine community into regular action.

Members of the Twins Palms Riding School have put their talents to the test and the videoed performances have been scrutinised by a panel of expert judges.

We found out about Dressage Anywhere after the last BREEF (Bahrain Royal Equestrian and Endurance Federation) dressage event. Christine Khairallah and Denise Vertigen from Dubai came here to judge and spoke to members about it.

Riders use it to participate in monthly scheduled virtual dressage competitions and to improve their training. It already boasts members from more than 50 countries, and now Bahrain has been added to the list.

Dressage Anywhere holds monthly competitions for all levels of dressage and there are also tests for Riding for the Disabled Association, Pony Club, FEI Under-21s, and FEI PARA, FEI Eventing and British Eventing classes.

There is absolutely something for everyone, and what’s more, as we found out at Twin Palms Riding Centre, it’s really easy to ‘have a go’.

Readers can register for free online. Go to the Know How menu for easy to follow instructions on video formats and uploading. Once uploaded, sit and wait for your test to be judged by either an British Dressage or FEI judge. You will receive a notification once your score sheet is ready to be downloaded. 

If you have entered the monthly competition your score is put onto their master score sheet, winners of the monthly competitions get both prizes and rosettes.

There is also an option for training classes, enabling people to choose any current British dressage test including Freestyle to Music, once you have entered this you will receive the judges score sheet and additional comments to help you improve your performance. What a wonderful way to practice for a forthcoming dressage event.

There is also an option for teams to enter, with a minimum of three members you can create your own team, the team enter their tests and the top three scores are taken to give an average.

The rules are clear and concise and the competitors’ page lists the leagues, team challenges, a glossary of technical terms, the principals of dressage, how to get dressage tests online, and information about the judges. 

Two of us from Twin Palms initially gave it a go and we were pleasantly surprised by our results. Initially we were not sure if our video would be accepted, as we are unable to ride into our dressage arena, which is what the instructions indicated. We are already in the arena and had to come from one side to the other to ride centre line, however, it was fine and everything went smoothly.

The judging came back promptly and the scoring was extremely fair. The comments were also positive and encouraging. 

The tests inspired more riders to have a go and last month there were five judged. Coming out top from Twin Palms Riding Centre was Kat Rushton, who rode an excellent test on Duke.
This month has seen Twin Palms Riding Centre put together a team for the dressage challenges, registered so far are Yvonne Addison, Maggie Andersson, Virginie Dreyer, Kat Rushton, Lydia Martin, Lucy Lunt Bell, Kate Addison, Nina Owen and me.

The whole concept is simply fabulous, it’s a brilliant way of doing dressage from the comfort of your own stable, yard or paddock and getting feedback and information to help you and your horse improve. 

For more details, check out the website www.dressageanywhere.com or visit its Facebook page. 

Currently here in Bahrain there is no opportunity for dressage events/competitions to be held on a monthly basis, and this may be a perfect way of competing and improving your riding and the level of your horse.