wdc-nz-teamandrea-doringcourt-fei-world-challengeWhat a great show - well organised, fantastic atmosphere, great comradeship amongst the riders plus again the weather was on our side. The Organisers did a fantastic job!

I am very proud of my team of horses Limonit, Doringcourt and Northern Fortuous who performed outstandingly taking out 4 firsts, 2 seconds, a fourth and fifth. I qualified on all three horses for the final day of competition but had to drop one horse as the rules only allow two horses per rider to be ridden for the FEI World Challenge final.

All three horses were impeccably behaved and the two Stallions Limonit and Doringcourt were amazing, with perfect show manners, such gentleman!

Doringcourt was overall winner in the Elementary Level winning both warm up tests with over 70% and winning the final day with 70.14%.  I had luck behind me in our final test.  Doringcourt’s shoe came loose in his warm up and went unnoticed.  Looking back on photos, his shoe was hanging off as I rode down the centre line to start my test.  During his medium canter the shoe finally came off, according to spectators, the shoe flew 10 meters into the air landing right by the Judges car at B.  To do over half a test with a shoe nearly off shows Doringcourt’s true honesty and temperament, a real Star!!

I was also very proud to be selected to represent NZ as part of the NZ Team.  New Zealand won the FEI World Dressage Challenge for the second consecutive year just narrowly edging out competitive scores from Hong Kong. The New Zealand Team was myself (Doringcourt) 70.14%, Susan Tomlin (Domino MH) 65.52%, Christine Weal (Landro-L) 64.47% and Jody Hartstone (Marceau) 64.08% - an awesome victory! Thank you to Equine NZ of Otorohanga for supporting the NZ Team and to all the other Sponsors for helping make the FEI World Challenge such a great show!

Thank you to Wayne Williams from Australia for all your wonderful help all weekend especially in the trot up, you did a fantastic job trotting Limonit up - Limonit was such a gentleman with impeccable manners and looked wonderful! Thanks Wayne!

Thank you to Kylie & her team from “Equipro ” for providing us with all your wonderful Hi Form products to help keep our horses in top condition and to Lindsay from “Pure Physio” for helping keep the horses feeling good and to Rachel from “Equine Therapy” for also helping to keep the horses in top shape.

(photos to come)