ESNZ Para-Equestrian

FEI WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS - PARA DRESSAGE:

Correctness, Harmony—Aachen is one of the great cathedrals of equestrian sport. Over two days, the Para Dressage Grand Prix A Individual Championships produced five new world champions

The outstanding performance came in Grade IV, where America’s Kate Shoemaker and Vianne scored 78.889%.

Shoemaker finished more than four percentage points ahead of Anna-Lena Niehues and Vive l’Amour on 74.639%. Nicola Naylor and Humberto L took bronze with 73.861%.

The qualities that ought to distinguish the best dressage were evident in the leading work: activity that travelled through the whole body, freedom through the shoulders created by engagement behind, an elevated—not artificially shortened—forehand, and a horse remaining sufficiently balanced for the rider’s aids to appear discreet.

Sophie Wells and MSJ Gold Standard won Grade V for Britain on 74.949%, followed by Britney de Jong and Caramba N.O.P. on 73.154%. Regine Mispelkamp and Highlander Delight’s took bronze with 72.974%.

Grade III produced another convincing champion. Rixt van der Horst and Eisma’s Royal Fonq N.O.P. won on a personal-best 77.534%, ahead of Tobias Thorning Jørgensen and Blue Hors Zackorado on 75.100% and Francesca Salvadé with Escari on 74.767%.
Van der Horst’s test was described officially as expressive and containing numerous highlights.

Grade II was the closest championship. Heidemarie Dresing and Poesie recovered from an early spook to win on 75.483%. Katrine Kristensen and Goerklintgaards Quater were only 0.173 behind on 75.310%, while Jemima Green and Fantabulous took bronze on 75.241%.
Dresing’s recovery was horsemanship of a high order: she restored the mare’s confidence and produced particularly harmonious transitions between walk and trot. That ability to resolve a difficulty without allowing tension to dominate the remainder of the test deserves recognition.

In Grade I, Marie Vonderheyden marked her World Championship debut—and her birthday—by winning with Fan Tastico H on 76.709%. Mari Durward-Akhurst and the remarkable 19-year-old Athene Lindebjerg earned silver on 74.542%, only narrowly ahead of Sara Morganti and seven-year-old Bond Girl 18 on 74.459%.
The Grade I result offered an interesting contrast between experience and development: an established championship horse won, an exceptionally experienced mare took silver, and a young horse earned bronze.

Correct para dressage cannot be reduced to spectacle. Purity of rhythm, confident forward intent, accurate lines, relaxation and the rider’s ability to influence the horse without disturbing those qualities remain fundamental.

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FEI WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS – PARA DRESSAGE

After what has been an awesome two weeks of competition so far, the attention now turns to the Para Dressage competition in Aachen.

While New Zealand doesn’t have any riders competing this year, we want to wish all the horse-and-rider combination the very best of luck, but especially our friend Australian Equestrian Team— we’ll be watching and supporting you! 💚💛

Let’s get behind all the teams and cheer them on from New Zealand!

The full programme is below:

We’re pleased to introduce the newly formed Dressage NZ Para Advisory Committee.

The committee has been established to support the ongoing growth of para dressage in New Zealand by providing advice, ideas and recommendations to the Dressage NZ Board. Its focus includes increasing participation, improving accessibility, developing athletes and creating strong pathways for riders at every level.

The committee brings together a wealth of experience from across our sport, and we’re grateful to each member for generously giving their time and expertise.

Meet the committee:

Chair & Officials Representative: Linda Warren-Davey
North Island Rider Representative: Louise Duncan
South Island Rider Representative: Anthea Dixon
Steward Representative: Bob Smith
Coach & Athlete Development / Communications & Marketing Representative: Frankie Webb
Pathways & Performance Representative: To be appointed
South Island Classifier Representative: Sophie Hargreaves
North Island Classifier Representative / NZ Head Classifier: Marjolein Harting

Our committee members are passionate advocates for para dressage and are committed to helping the sport continue to grow. If you have questions about para dressage, would like advice on getting involved, or simply want to learn more, please feel free to reach out to any of us. We’d love to hear from you.

And there’s already something to look forward to! Demo, Dabble and Do-It will be hosting a Para event at Christchurch RDA on 22 August.

This is exactly why we do DDD… and now we’re bringing it to Para Equestrian.
After the incredible feedback from our recent South Island DDD Dressage Day, we’ve been reminded just how powerful a welcoming, low-pressure environment can be for riders.
Riders told us they left feeling:
💬 More confident
💬 More relaxed
💬 Better able to ask questions
💬 Inspired to try something new
💬 And, most importantly, that it was a genuinely positive experience for both horse and rider.
That’s the heart of Demo, Dabble & Do-it - creating a space where you can come along without needing to be “good enough”, knowing everything already, or having it all figured out.
And now we’re taking that same approach into Para Equestrian.
Our upcoming DDD Para Day at Christchurch RDA – Saturday 22 August is an opportunity to come along and discover what Para Equestrian is all about — whether you already ride within Para, think you might be eligible, have questions about classification and compensating aids, or simply want to learn more.
You can:
☕ Connect, chat and ask questions
🎓 Watch demonstrations and hear from passionate Para riders
💡 Learn about classification, adaptive riding and compensating aids
🐴 Have a go with your horse if you want to
👀 Or simply come along off-horse, watch, listen and soak it all up.
And just like our other DDD days, there’s no pressure and no expectation that you have to know where you fit before you arrive.
We’re incredibly excited to have Anthea Dixon and Caitlin Holmes ( pictured ) joining us as our Para ambassadors. They bring a huge amount of knowledge, experience and passion - but, just as importantly, a genuine desire to help people discover what might be possible.
If the feedback from our DDD Dressage day is anything to go by, this is going to be a pretty special day.
Come curious. Ask questions. Have a go. Or just come and see what it’s all about.
Everyone is welcome.
Enter here - https://forms.gle/wReTFPPQLecHKhZA7

Hot off the Press:

𝗔𝗣𝗣𝗢𝗜𝗡𝗧𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗧 | 𝗘𝗦𝗡𝗭 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗲𝗳 𝗘𝘅𝗲𝗰𝘂𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲
The Equestrian Sports New Zealand Board is pleased to announce the appointment of Emily Downes as Chief Executive, effective 7 October 2026.
Emily is an experienced senior executive and sporting system leader, bringing more than a decade of experience across high performance sport, athlete development, organisational leadership and stakeholder engagement.
She joins ESNZ from High Performance Sport New Zealand, where she is currently General Manager - Wellbeing and Leadership and a member of the senior leadership team. During her time there, Emily has worked closely with national sporting organisations and athlete representatives, helping to shape leadership, wellbeing and performance initiatives across the New Zealand sporting system.
ESNZ Board Chair Hannah Walton said Emily stood out through a comprehensive recruitment process for her strong strategic leadership, sporting sector experience, commercial capability and people-focused approach.
"Emily understands the complexity of leading within a national sporting system and has demonstrated an ability to build trusted relationships, navigate competing priorities and translate strategy into action. We are delighted that she has accepted the opportunity to lead ESNZ through its next phase."
Emily said she is honoured to be joining ESNZ and excited to work alongside the organisation and the wider equestrian community.
"Equestrian sport has a proud history in New Zealand, from community participation through to success on the international stage. I am looking forward to building strong relationships across the disciplines and working with the Board, staff and stakeholders to help shape a clear and sustainable future for the sport."
As mentioned above, Emily will commence as Chief Executive on 7 October 2026.
Until that time, current Chief Executive Julian Bowden will continue in the role, providing leadership and stability while supporting a seamless transition. The Board acknowledges Julian's ongoing commitment to ESNZ and thanks him for his continued leadership during this period.
Please join us in welcoming Emily to the ESNZ whānau and wishing her every success in her new role. See also website NEWS for more: https://www.nzequestrian.org.nz/news/

Dressage NZ
ESNZ Jumping & Show Hunter
ESNZ Eventing
ESNZ Endurance
ESNZ Para-Equestrian

Looking forward to this great event! https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1DSTQJqaJS/

𝗜𝗡𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗦𝗖𝗛𝗢𝗢𝗟𝗦 | 𝗙𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸𝘀 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝘆!
The Interschools are a-coming! We’re counting down just under four weeks till one of the largest events on our calendar, the Taupō Equestrian Supplies North Island Secondary Schools Equestrian Cup AND the South Island Secondary Schools Equestrian Cup held concurrently at our NECs. Events like this don’t happen without the support of committed sponsors, many of whom are returning again this year. Taupō Equestrian Supplies is the naming rights holder for the North Island after supporting the event for the past two years. A long-time sponsor, last year the retailer supported the veterinary services that enabled us to run safely co-ordinated competitions. Taupō Equestrian Supplies is the largest equestrian retail store in the Central Plateau area is a family-owned and operated business that offers nationwide shipping and has a huge selection of horse gear, rugs, rider wear, safety products, pet products, horse feed, supplements and more. If you’re coming to the Fiber Fresh NEC in Taupō between 30 August and 3 September, they will be hosting a hospitality venue in the indoor arena, offering a perfect platform to watch the action across the competition week.
Taupo Equestrian Supplies
Dressage NZ
ESNZ Eventing
ESNZ Jumping & Show Hunter
ESNZ Endurance
ESNZ Para-Equestrian
New Zealand Pony Clubs
NZ Mounted Games Association
Fiber Fresh National Equestrian Centre Taupo

Entries are now open for ESNZ's first Para Equestrian Demo, Dabble and Do-it to be held at the Chch RDA. Tell your friends!

𝗣𝗔𝗥𝗔-𝗘𝗤𝗨𝗘𝗦𝗧𝗥𝗜𝗔𝗡 | 𝗪𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗮 𝗞𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗲?
Ever wondered what Para Equestrian is all about? Curious about classification, compensating aids, adaptive riding, or simply keen to learn more about what's possible? Now's your chance to come along, have a go, ask questions and be part of the conversation! 𝗘𝗡𝗧𝗥𝗜𝗘𝗦 𝗔𝗥𝗘 𝗢𝗣𝗘𝗡! 𝗗𝗗𝗗 𝗣𝗔𝗥𝗔 𝗜𝗦 𝗛𝗘𝗥𝗘! Demo, Dabble & Do-it – Para Equestrian is designed to be a fun, welcoming and inclusive day for everyone - whether you're a rider, coach, parent, supporter, health professional, or simply curious about Para Equestrian and want to find out more.
-Coffee, connection & conversation
-Demonstrations and practical learning
-Opportunities to Dabble & Do-it with your horse
-Hear from our passionate ambassadors and riders
-Learn about classification, compensating aids and pathways into the sport
- Plenty of opportunities to participate on or off horse
-𝗖𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗰𝗵𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝗥𝗗𝗔
-𝗦𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝟮𝟮 𝗔𝘂𝗴𝘂𝘀𝘁
Ready to join us? Follow the Facebook event for all the latest and enter by completing the Google Form below. Once we've received your form, we'll send you the TryBooking link so you can select and pay for your chosen riding spot or class.
𝗘𝗡𝗧𝗘𝗥 𝗛𝗘𝗥𝗘: 𝗵𝘁𝘁𝗽𝘀://𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝘀.𝗴𝗹𝗲/𝗩𝗰𝗷𝗛𝗫𝗪𝗣𝗡𝘀𝟵𝘀𝟴𝗱𝗟𝗬𝗠𝗔
Come along, meet some awesome people, learn something new and discover what Para Equestrian could look like for you or someone you know. No experience necessary - just bring your curiosity! We'd absolutely love to see you there!
Dressage NZ
ESNZ Para-Equestrian
ESNZ Coaching
New Zealand Riding for the Disabled

Very cool that ESNZ Demo Dabble & Do-it is inviting riders in the South to learn more about Para:
ESNZ Community

Send a message to learn more

A good resource:

𝗙𝗘𝗜 𝗘𝗤𝗨𝗜𝗡𝗘 𝗪𝗘𝗟𝗙𝗔𝗥𝗘 𝗛𝗨𝗕 | 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲
The FEI has created a new course on the 𝗙𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗗𝗼𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗪𝗲𝗹𝗳𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗙𝗘𝗜 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗛𝗼𝗿𝘀𝗲𝘀 which is now available FREE on FEI Campus. This course was developed as a tailored tool to support FEI Stakeholders in assessing and safeguarding horse welfare from short- and long-term perspectives, at the home yard, when travelling and during competition. The course includes lessons, knowledge tests, as well as recurrent reflections for individual self-assessment. Here's the link: https://campus.fei.org/enrol/index.php?id=821 (you'll need to create an account or log in first but repeating this is FREE).

For further information and additional resources, please visit the FEI Equine Welfare Hub at https://inside.fei.org/fei/equine-welfare-tiles/ or access it via our website: https://www.nzequestrian.org.nz/esnz/programmes/fei-campus/ and there's also the IRT Horse Welfare Hub at https://www.nzequestrian.org.nz/safety/irt-horse-welfare/
IRT
Dressage NZ
ESNZ Eventing
ESNZ Jumping & Show Hunter
ESNZ Endurance
ESNZ Para-Equestrian