The World Class Dressage Equine Pathway Assessment day will take place on Monday 7 March 2011 at the Unicorn Trust, Stow on the Wold. The World Class Programme Equine Pathway was introduced in 2007 by the British Equestrian Federation’s World Class Programme.
The Programme is run in conjunction with British Dressage.
The purpose of the Pathway is to provide a method of identifying and providing support to elite young horses that show an indication of the necessary qualities to represent Great Britain at Championship level.
The World Class Programme is funded by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, (National Lottery & Exchequer funding) via UK Sport and this funding exists to increase the number of medals won by Great Britain on the world stage. To give an indication of the level required in order to place GBR on the podium at Championships we must look to consistently achieving over 70% in International Grand Prix.
The Programme will work with and support the riders and the owners of the horses in order to help them maximise their horse’s potential. It is also hoped that the Programme will encourage owners to keep their horses with British riders and will enhance Team GBR chances leading up to and beyond the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio.
Support, which is provided on an individual basis primarily delivered at squad sessions, may include the following:
- Monitoring horses development through observation and communication with the owner/rider
- Veterinary / Farriery monitoring and advice
- Coaching and training advice / support
- Competition planning
- Sports science and medicine advice to the rider, if they are not already on the World Class Programme
- Setting of realistic targets for the year that reflect progression in discussion with the Equine Pathway Manager, World Class Coach and other personnel as appropriate together with the riders/owners of the horses
- Applications are now invited from owners who consider their horse is showing the potential to reach this top class level and wish to attend the Assessment Day.
Suitable horses will be as follows:
- Aged between 6 and 10 years old in 2011
- Able to demonstrate an easy and natural talent for collection
- Able to demonstrate half-steps of piaffe, passage and working canter pirouettes, and a natural ability to transfer the weight back onto active hind legs*
* It is not necessary for younger horses to be established in these exercises; on the contrary, World Class would seek to offer support to ensure the development of the talented horses is progressive and un-forced in order to produce long term results however all horses should be able to show at least the beginnings of such training.
If you think you have a suitable horse for the programme please request an application form from Debbie Lee Email: Debbie.lee@bef.co.uk Telephone: 02476 698876
A DVD of no longer than 5 minutes total viewing time showing the movements specified above and also the horse’s basic paces should be included with your completed application form.
Please return the application form and DVD no later than 21 February to Debbie Lee, the DVD will not be returned.
You will be notified by 28 February if you have been successful or unsuccessful in your application to attend the assessment.
Should you wish to discuss the programme or your application further, please contact Caroline Griffith 07771 758830 – World Class Dressage Equine Pathway Manager.
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