Posted: 25th January 2018 | Back to news feed
Ideal Combined Training Series proving a big hit with riders around the country.
With 13 of the 19 qualifying dates for the British Dressage Ideal Saddles Combined Training Championship Series already completed, 104 grassroots riders have so far won the prestigious Ideal ‘qualification ticket’ rosettes to the March National Championship Final at Field House EC in Staffordshire, with 48 places still to be fought for.
Tests have been taking place up and down the country at Prelim and Novice level, with show jumping from 70cm to 1metre running alongside.
The qualifiers are open to combinations of any level/grade in any discipline and there’s no requirement for the horse to be registered with BD, so this series is a great way for amateur riders to get out, to have fun and to compete at some of the finest venues in the country.
One success story to emerge is that of 12-year-old Sophia Maston who will be heading to the Final with her mother’s horse Solitaire. Sophia and the five-year-old mare had only jumped a few single fences together before the competition, but felt inspired to give it a go after a chance encounter with title sponsors Ideal Saddles who helped out in providing a saddle for her other ride, a pony called Micklekims Secret who was being ridden bareback due to his tricky shape. After finding out about the Series, Sophia entered and decided to give it a go! Despite their inexperience over fences, Sophia and Solitaire had a very successful outing to the qualifier at Allens Hill resulting in a brilliant win. The young rider’s grandmother Catherine got in touch to share their story with British Dressage, she said “Combined Training was always one of her mother’s favourite competitions, so we’re really pleased it’s back!”
Sophia and Solitaire demonstrate the ethos behind the series – you don’t need to have loads of experience in either discipline to take part! It’s the perfect opportunity to have some fun, get out and about over the winter months and train your horse in two disciplines with the added bonus of a fabulous Championship final at the end.
Find out more about the series here, where you can find information on all the remaining qualifiers, the tests to be ridden and the March Championship Finals at Field House EC.
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