There was a draw on Thursday evening to establish the starting order of this competition, and the first  to go is Victorian combination of Samantha Hodges and Party on.  The competition started at 2.10pm.  The judges were at E Joan Matheson (NZL) H Mary Seefried (Aus.), C Dr. Deiter Schüle (Germany) M Joy Charlton (Aus) and B Anne Honner (Aus). 

When a competition is a World Cup qualifying event (CDI-W) the Grand Prix Short test is the one that is ridden.   This is a more compact version and of course it has all of the same difficulty components - so these movements into a condensed test become that little more difficult.   All of the horses in today's competition have qualified to be here by winning or placing at state run competitions during the past twelve months.  No longer can horses qualify for the Nationals by using old and out of date performances, you must have competed successfully during the current competition season (this was not always so).

The notable absence from this class and competition, was Nadine Mereweather from WA on her wonderful Holsteiner stallion Barrabadeen Troubadour.  Nadine has been working extremely hard to prepare for this competition, and was planning to stay on the 'east coast'  for Equitana and Dressage with the Stars.  Troubadour was bitten by an insect/spider or other ... and came up in big 'allergic' lumps.  The anti-histamines seemed to 'clash' with body's immune system, and other complications have been the result. 

Nadine (Niddy) is such a beautiful and effective rider,  I would not have been the only one looking forward to seeing her on the majestic stallion.  I spoke to Niddy on my return to Melbourne, and she says that the horse is still not right, but appears to be on the improve ... Now back to Friday 25th.

This is not a favourite position with the riders - but someone must go first.  In Europe they often elect a 'guinea pig' rider, who is not part of the competition,  to take first ride and to give the judges a chance to 'warm up and get their 'eye in'.

Sam did a pretty good job, and the horse has improved from his early days in Grand Prix

Samantha is a professional instructor/trainer and thoroughly enjoys the challenge of training and riding at this level.

They scored 56.49%which was a little up on the Intermediate ll mark.

Mosman is her up and coming FEI horse,  and the chestnut Ludendorf gelding is still quite inexperienced and 'patchy' in his work.

Sue is a very dedicated rider and will keep training Mosman and ensure that he get every opportunity to mature and develop in his work.  Today they scored 52% and came 18th.

I particularly like the horse as he is very much like my own Boston - probably not surprising as they both have Trakehner blood.

Centaur is by the imported Trakehner stallion   Copernicus, and from Southfalk Fuverlilli.

Until you are experienced at understanding when the long Grand Prix test will be ridden and when the Short Grand Prix test is the one to learn - there is no way of knowing  ... and this one caught Ann. 

Ann began to ride the long Grand Prix test and made an 'error of course' very early into her ride.  After speaking to Dr Deiter Schüle, she understood her mistake and retired.

This will have been a disappointing way to learn some of the procedures of FEI dressage.  Good luck in the future Ann - I really felt for you.

Socrates is by Kassiber (Imp Trakehner) and from Samland (Imp Trakehner) - making him a full brother to the wonderful stallion Solo ll.

The work today was solid but weakness in the piaffe/passage tour is very costly as there are coefficients and transition marks to make this area a very large part of the overall mark..