The full Para Dressage team is a cohesive group that supports each other at the barn, in the ring, and everywhere in between.
Photo Credit: Cealy Tetley
The horses – Onyx, Fairuza and Lieutenant Lobin were looking exceptionally good when they came to the inspection on Tuesday. Unlike with able bodied Dressage, the jog is performed by the groom. With all horses past their inspection, the proof was provided they were fit and ready for competition.
Lieutenant Lobin and groom Karis van Essen
Photo Credit: Cealy Tetley
Onyx and groom Courtney Palleson
Photo Credit: Cealy Tetley
Fairuza (“Wonky”) and Groom Rich Neale
Photo Credit: Cealy Tetley
“Things have been going really, really well, said Chef D’Equipe Clive Milkins. “For me, at a competition, it’s all about checking the horse’s welfare, that it is as good as it can be.”
“And all of the horses are looking fantastic,” he continued. “We have a couple of older horses, with the veterinary care we have with Dr. Manning and the support from Equestrian Canada and its sponsors – another trip to Europe for our older horses has not been a problem!”
He also spoke about the importance of Grooms in Para Dressage. “This sport where energy of the athletes is so important,”said Milkins. “They have to trust their grooms 1000%. The grooms become the part time managers, part time trainers. Grooms are more important in some ways than any other part of the team.”
The grooms and the athletes were ready to get the tests started under very sunny skies in the BB Horse Arena on Wednesday, August 10. The Herning world championships site was busy with activity throughout the day with jumping, dressage and vaulting all continuing to have events on site.
First up in competition was Winona Hartvikson riding the 19 year old Hanoverian gelding Onyx (Wolkentaz) that she co -owns with Jane MacDonald. After running into some difficulty prior to entering the ring, she rode well and received a score of 71.893, placing in 8th.
Photo Credit: Cealy Tetley
“It was a bit exciting with a spook going in and then I had to get him back under control and on the centre line. Then I could still feel the tension in him, he did a nice accurate test. If he was a bit more relaxed, I think the score would be higher,” said Hartvikson.
Photo Credit: Cealy Tetley
Jody Schloss went much later in the day with her 18-year-old Danish Warmblood Lieutenant Lobin (Lobster x Fanal Prydsholm) but continued with a solid performance. Making her way around the ring at the walk, she placed 12th with a final score of 68.179.
Next up for Canada will be Roberta Sheffield riding her own Fairuza on Thursday, August 11 at 2:09pm local time in the Grade III Orifarm Healthcare FEI World Para Dressage Individual Championship.