Small Horse Dressage Show Circuit Established in New Zealand

Dressage

New Zealand

The New Zealand Equestrian Federation has created a dressage show circuit for small horses, titled "The Sterling Warmbloods Small Stars Top Ten League."

The Small Stars Top Ten League has been created to promote dressage competitions and breeding of smaller horses acknowledging their trainability and suitability for all riders.

This series is inspired from a United States Small horse competition and has immediately struck a very positive chord with a huge number of the NZL members.

Horses must be standing over 148cm and not exceeding 163cm and riders must turn at least 12yrs in the calendar year of the beginning of the competition.
Points can be accrued from 1 August 2018 until 30 April 2019, in three divisions: Bronze (Levels 1 & 2), Silver (Levels 3 & 4), Gold (Level 5 & above).

Dressage New Zealand recognises the many benefits of this new series; encouraging correct training and giving riders the belief that big is not necessarily better; wider participation, encouraging the smooth transition from ponies to horses and encouraging riders to ride a horse they love and feel comfortable on in addition to the benefits for our breeding industry.

"We’re taking nothing away from the star quality of the bigger horses; they will continue to shine in their own right," said Dressage NZ.

The circuit is sponsored by Sterling Warmbloods. “Dermot and I at Sterling Warmbloods Ltd are delighted that we have an opportunity to sponsor the new Small Stars League. As a devoted rider of a small Grand Prix horse and a breeder who finds it difficult to sell talented small horses, we thought we should get involved in an initiative that will help to promote small dressage horses. All breeders inevitably will breed a small one occasionally and this league will provide a national competition for them to shine like the wee stars they are, competing against their peers. There has been considerable interest already in this league and we are very excited and grateful to help make it happen in conjunction with Dressage NZ.”