After what has seemed like a very long start to the year we are looking forward to seeing both old and new faces at our next Unaffiliated Dressage Show on 26th July. Classes to run from Intro to Ele along with a PYO Dressage to music.
Of course, we will be following very strict Covid 19 guidelines but we hope to welcome you all back to having some fun this Summer.
Entries can be made on the website:
Look forward to seeing you then,
Rob, Ben, Rupert & Daisy
🔸UPDATE🔸 Get those hats back on….
Having watched the Prime Minister’s speech on Sunday evening and having taken the time to think about what was said I have decided to start coaching again as of the 1st June. This will be on set days to begin with and will be continually assessed according to the government guidelines.
If you would prefer Zoom lessons will also be available from the same date.
Please contact me to book your lessons.
I am looking forward to welcoming you back to Rob Waine Dressage, if from a 2m distance.
After the Prime Ministers announcement last night we have taken the difficult but sensible decision to close the yard for the next 3 weeks, with a review at the end of that period.
We have a duty of care for not only ourselves, our staff but to the rest of our clients. Therefore we have asked that all non essential personnel stay away from the yard. We will be exercising all of our own and liveries horses as normal.
Although a huge financial impact both Ben and myself have cancelled all of our teaching over this period as we both feel it is non essential and the responsible thing to do.
I would urge others including yard owners or horse owners to think if their horse is on livery do they really need to go and see them, or as a yard owner/manger, do you really need liveries there. We all have a responsibility right now.
A lovely write up in the Hedgerley Village magazine this month about all the goings on here at Rob Waine Dressage.
Back in October Ben Franklin Dressage and I were extremely honoured to be approached by Lendon Gray and Dressage4kids to give a clinic to the incredibly lucky kids that were on her 3 month program. Each year 14 kids apply from all of the USA to spend 3 months in Florida where they receive training each day, lectures and lots of competing! I want to apply!!!
What this lady has done for the youth in America, helping to bridge the gap in our sport and helping to break down the elitist mould, giving them the opportunity in the sport to receive top training, rides and education regardless of their bank account is just amazing and it’s funded by private donations!!
A huge thank you for Jan Lamontagne for having us stay in her beautiful home and showing us around, it really is horse paradise!
The dates have been released for our 2020 Summer Dressage Series. We can’t wait to see you all there for another fab season of competition. Classes will run from Intro through to Elementary along with the hugely popular Dressage to music classes. The first three shows will be Sunshine Tour qualifiers. Don’t forget 2020 will see the return of our exciting league…Who will win the prize fund of over £1000!!!!!! Not to be missed!
A great few days at the British Dressage National championships. It was so lovely to catch up with friends and clients.
Nazareno Vicon made for a more challenging ride then usual. Some small distractions kept his mind off the job in hand, you know what men can be like sometimes!! It’s been a cracking season together so far and I am looking forward to consolidating our work towards Big Tour.
Mari Durward-Akhurst had a good ride on her second mount, Bear. Lots learnt to move forwards for an exciting 12 months ahead.
A huge thank you to Emma for making Nasa look a million dollars and all the girls at home that keep the yard running so smoothly allowing us to go away and compete.
Looking forward to returning for our Fall Tour.
The collection for the Fall Elite Auction is now online! There are some lovely horses both Dressage and jumping along with some mega foals. All horses have been vetted and xrayed which are available for you and your vets to view.
If your interested in trying any of them then please do get in contact. Ben Franklin Dressage will be there before and during the auction, you would be more then welcome to join on our table
Ben Franklin Dressage and clients having fun at the Oldenburger Pferdezuchtverband Elite Foal auction on Sunday. If you’re interested in attending the next auction that will have riding horses both Dressage and Showjumpers and a selection of foals then get in contact, we would love for you to join us.
As yesterday was our final show of the series it was also the finale of the 2019 league. It’s been a bitter fought battle for the top spot and prize fund of over £1000
but……the clear winner for this year was Caroline Pluck.🥇🥇🥇🥇 2nd place was Katharine Wall 🥈🥈🥈 and 3rd place was Lotte Harris-Turner🥉🥉🥉🥉 Each of these lovely ladies have won fantastic prizes donated by our incredible sponsors whom without their support the shows wouldn’t be what they are, so a HUGE thank you to them.
We also had one special prize to award, The Simple Equine most improved rider for 2019. This was an individual that the judges felt had gone away, done their homework and improved massively over the series. This years winner was, Scout Stalham (Rebecca Stalham) Scout has won some lovely products from our very kind sponsor The Simple Equine.
2019 sponsors: Equine Essentials Direct, Stuart Equine, Equilibrium Products, Stübben UK & Ireland, Chiltern Vet Physio, The Simple Equine, Protexin Equine Premium, Hannah Freeland Photography ABIPP
Finally a massive thank you to all of you guys for supporting them, we look forward to welcoming you back in 2020
Mari Durward-Akhurst Para Dressage Rider had a cracking week scoring personal best scores in all of her tests culminating in a 75% score for a 4th place in the freestyle, two judges had her for the bronze medal!!!! What an achievement for someone that isn’t on any national squad!! We have chipped away, worked hard and pulled in the results making that Silver medal even more satisfying.
The support we have had from the World Class Team during our time in Rotterdam has been super. You can see why Team GB are a force to be reckoned with. Huge thanks to Angela Weiss and Nina Venables for their eyes on the ground help.
Lots learnt ready for the rest of the season and the 12 months ahead.
They did it!! Team Silver! What an amazing achievement for a team with three rookies!! Not that far behind the Dutch either!!
A fantastic round in the Team Test yesterday for Mari, much more relaxed and so skilfully ridden giving a good 70% anchor score for the team!! What an experience! Another amazing round from Georgia Wilson and Sophie Wells puts them in contention!!! Fingers toes and everything crossed that they medal
So proud of Mari Durward-Akhurst Para Dressage Rider yesterday. A 70% score at her first major championship!! What an achievement! A trend of 74% until a slight notch of tension came in but Mari rode so well to keep him in line! A day off today with some training before the Team test on tomorrow
Through the trot up!
Great result today at the The College Equestrian Centre, Keysoe Summer regionals. Maria Dent’s Nazareno Vicon posted a 69% in the PSG for 6th place. Much better after our Int 1 yesterday where we were not quite on the same hymn sheet. Ben Franklin Dressage also had a fantastic show with Rosemary Mckerrell’s De Angelis scoring 70% in a hotly contested Elementary Gold for 6th place
We were extremely honoured to welcome the Oldenburger Pferdezuchtverband on Monday to grade this years arrival. I am so happy to say that RWD Spring Sensation aka Pumpkin (Foundation x Sarkozy x Lauries Crusador) received the Premium Award, over the moon for our first foal. Huge thank you to those on the day for their support, Rosemary for the lovely photos and the girls on the yard for having it all run smoothly.
Working in the equine industry you sometimes get some very proud moments and today is most certainly one of those!!! 3 years ago my phone rang and a lady asked if I wouldn’t mind taking on the training of her daughter who competed in Para Dressage and had high aspirations. I have to admit that I didn’t know a lot about Para having only stepped into that world a little. We meet, chatted about her aspirations about riding for her country and being awarded that red Union Jack badge.
We started our quest, throwing ourselves in at the deep end, watching each test, taking away the comments, working hard to improve and she did improve, the scores went up, the placings went up. The recognition that was deserved came from the powers that be and today I am so so soooooo proud to say that she has been selected to represent her country and the European Championships in Rotterdam!! They say that dreams can come true and this is a prime example. We are looking forward to working with the rest of the team in what will be a super fun trip!!
A fun and different afternoon today at the yard. We were very honoured to welcome a group of Chinese visitors that have been staying in the U.K. for the Summer. Nazareno was the perfect demo horse as we gave an interactive demo on how we choose music for freestyle. Pumpkin was a huge hit as always charming everyone is her way.
