DRESSAGE is to be written with capital letters in Spain. There is no doubt about it. After Can Alzina “Dressage & Music” in March, now fans have another interesting show on the scene. From 23 - 25 May 2013 we will celebrate the DRESSAGE Festival in Madrid with a CDI3* YR, J, Ch, P and several national shows. A hstoric record number of entries demonstrates once more that Spaniards have a heart for Dressage. A total of 278 combinations gather to compete this weekend. “The same procedure as every year” but getting better and better!
Dressage has been growing and just when one thinks we have reached the utmost in difficult times, there is another boost in this discipline. This upcoming weekend not only “Madrileños” - as we call the inhabitants of Madrid - will take a full dive into the dressage world at the Festival. The R.A.C.E., a family sports club with an open heart for horses and riders welcomes, for the first time, international riders offering a CDI3* YR, J, Ch, P, aside from the usual programme which is composed of several national shows, from the highest level CDN3*, CDN2* to the beginners class with a CDT. All will join together during the following days of lovely sunshine and spring temperatures from 23 - 25 May.
In its seventh edition we look back on the beginning together with the show director, Dalia Saliamonas. The “Dressage Festival” is her brainchild. She is a horse lover and an unconditional dressage fan-- although converted from the jumping course to the discipline where we love “watching the grass grow” as a dear friend of mine once stated.
“It is amazing that so many riders support this show. I am overwhelmed with the response and only want to thank everybody for joining the Festival. For the first time a real dream of mine came true. Everybody can compete, from the amateur to the international professional riders. Each of them in their own class, so we are together but not mixed up,” said Dalia.
And fact is it is getting better and better. Already last year, with 240 entries, RACE hit the benchmark. This time again 20% of growth allowed the show to reach 278 participants. The Festival is a huge “fiesta” in Spain. Amongst the participants this show includes international top competition riders, interesting highlights on the spot, for example José Antonio García Mena and his 2010 Spanish WEG team horse Norte. Dressage queen Beatriz Ferrer-Salat will compete with her top horses as well as Sir Radjah at Prix St. Georges level. Portuguese Maria Caetano and her Lusitano horses will not be missing. Further top combinations are Jordí Domingo, Barcelona Horses, Juan Antonio Jimenez, CAVA riding school and many many others. Do not miss the live stream on www.topiberian.com.
The CDI judges panel includes Francis Verbeek-van Rooy (NED), Elke Ebert (GER), Alain Francqueville (FR), Juan Carlos Campos Escribano (President), Miguel Jorda Forteza (ESP), and Claudia Moreira de Mezquita (BRA).
In addition, the Festival will have Saturday night life! And the commercial trade fair is bigger than ever this time with 30 brands on site.
Dressage lovers will not miss this show, which turned into a “must” for the Spanish riders. There has been no competition ever in Spain which could bring the riders’ world together in such numbers. As a selection trial for the youth riders, delegates of the Spanish Federation are on the scene. New technical head of the discipline department, Luis Lucio, will not take his eyes off adults and youth riders as the European Championships are coming closer.
Text and Photo © Katharina Braren/Top Iberian
Related Links
2013 CDN Can Alzina, National Dress Rehearsal for Next Year's International Event
Historic Entry Record at 2012 CDN Festival de Doma Clasica RACE
Come Back Kids Take Centre Stage at 2012 CDI Toledo in Spain