Autumn Champs 2017 Results

Zilco Festival of Future Stars - April 2017

The Dressage Academy congratulates Zilco and Canterbury Dressage for putting on a very successful event.
A special mention goes out to all the volunteers that make the event possible.
A special mention goes out to all the sponsors that support the event (to name a few):

The Dressage Academy is proud to report a successful campaign by the Brugs Nicholls, Sophie Griffith, Ferring, Frangelico F and Hellsy at Zilco Festival of Future Stars.
The Dressage Academy team are incredibly proud of you all.

Support us by donating to the Dressage Academy to allow us to train more Trainers and Riders of the Future.
Can you help?

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Canterbury Champs 2016 Results

Canterbury Dressage Championships - Results

Coverage on Horse and Pony site

The Dressage Academy congratulates Canterbury Dressage Championships for putting on a very successful event.
A special mention goes out to all the volunteers that make the event possible.
A special mention goes out to all the sponsors that support the event.

The Dressage Academy is proud to report a successful campaign by the Sophie Griffith at Canterbury Champs.
Well Done Sophie. The Dressage Academy team are incredibly proud of you.

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Sterling Warmbloods Ltd - Online action for service to Fugato SW

Online action for service to Fugato SW

Congratulations to Carrie Jenkins for winning the service to Fugato SW

ONLINE AUCTION FOR SERVICE TO FUGATO SW to help fund raise for the Dressage Academy.

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Dressage Academy Welcomes Bill Noble to the Team

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Dressage Academy Welcomes Bill Noble to the Team

The newly-established Dressage Academy is welcoming one of New Zealand’s equestrian icons to the team. Bill Noble, a cornerstone of dressage in this country, is now a selector for the academy.

“Bill will be a huge asset to the Academy,” says Nicholls. “We are delighted to have him on board.”

Noble needs little introduction, with an impressive list of accomplishments including five Horse of the Year titles on three different horses, is the only rider to have won three consecutive Dressage Horse of the Year crowns and just this year was inducted into the Horse of the Year Hall of Fame.

Over the years the Waikato rider, coach and mentor has worked with many riders both in New Zealand and the UK, including Sir Mark Todd when he won gold at the Seoul Olympics. He has long been a believer in the quality of New Zealand horses, whilst being an advocate for people learning to ride them a little better.

The Dressage Academy was launched in June 2016 and has quickly attracted the attention of potential students, sponsors and supporters. Students lucky enough to be selected will spend at least five years immersed in training giving them the foundation to be top riders, trainers and coaches.

In addition to providing the immersive experience for selected students, the Dressage Academy will also promote and offer education to amateur dressage riders and to the wider equestrian sport in general.

The Dressage Academy is in the final stages of obtaining charity status and will then begin formal fundraising.

There will be announcements in the near future for what will be the first of many events. Proceeds raised at these events will go to the Dressage Academy. First up will be:

The Horse’s Back- Performance and Therapy – with Nicolett Geldermann (Living Anatomy of the Horse) and Guy Alexander (Specialist Equine Surgeon) - Canterbury
The Truth About Feeding Horses . . . Equine Nutrition Demystified - With Tina Field of Prydes Easifeeds - Canterbury

Keep an eye out on the website for more information on these and other events.

For more information about being a rider, sponsor, or benefactor, head to www.dressageacademy.co.nz

Click here for more Information about The Dressage Academy

Sophie Griffith - 2nd at Nationals CDI-Y

2nd at Nationals CDI-Y

Sophie Griffith

(after competing at Nationals 2 years ago at Level 1)

The Record 25Feb2016

Rapid progress for Selwyn dressage rider

Burnham dressage rider Sophie Griffith is moving towards her goal of riding dressage in the international arena.

Sophie has just returned from the North Island where she rode at her first International Young Rider competition at the National Dressage Championships.

Her best result, on her mount Frangelico, was a second placing in the Young Rider Musical Freestyle event.

Sophie (19) and Frangelico have been on a meteoric rise since they competed at the same event two years ago at level one.

Frangelico, a seven year old warmblood mare, was the youngest horse in her class at the National Dressage Championships. She was imported from Australia as a foal, and Sophie has trained her from a three-year-old with the help of her coach Brugs Nicholls.

"Brugs has been amazing as have my parents who have supported me all the way," Sophie said.

"There are so many people that are helping me along on my journey, including Debbie Rolmanis who always keeps Fran on top of her game, and Lincoln University for allowing me the time off to train and compete."

The Bachelor of Science student has also acquired a new horse, a three-year-old called Ferring, which she is training at the moment.

"Ferring should be out competing by the end of the year and I have high hopes for him to follow in Fran's footsteps.

"To have them both competing at a high level is my goal."

Prior to her journey up North she had been placed overall third at the South Island Dressage Championships at only her second start at the Prix St George level.

Central Canterbury News 26Mar2014

BURNHAM'S SOPHIE Griffith may be just 17, but she is fast making a name for herself on the national dressage scene.

Sophie and her horse Frangelico F travelled to the Bates NZ national dressage championship in Feilding and against all odds returned with three national titles and a second place.

It was our first trip away so I was so pleased. We definitely did not expect that, Sophie said.

She and Frangelico F's 13-hour trip was meant to be about gaining experience and maybe even challenging for a top six spot.

But instead the pair won the CN, C1 and C2 rider category, and came second in their Vetpro prelim class.

Sophie impressed the officials so much, she received a special mention at the nationals cocktail party for being the youngest rider competing at the event.

That caught me by surprise. I was probably a bit embarrassed, but I guess it's pretty exciting.

Frangelico F was imported from Australia at just 6 months old by Sophie's coach and mentor Brugs Nicholls.

Sophie fell in love with the 15.2-hand bay mare and decided to buy her.

I came home and said mum we need to buy her. She didn't get much say in it.

Sophie attributes much of the credit for her success to Ms Nicholls, and the pair have high hopes for Frangelico F.

Click here for more Information about The Dressage Academy

Interesting Videos


Ferring
Young Dressage Horse 4yr	69%	3rd	YDH 4Y
Young Dressage Horse 4yr FEI	67.6%	6th	YDH 4Y FEI

Frangelico F - Reserve Champion Level 7
Level 7	64.145%	2nd	7 FEI Int 1
Level 7	64.875%	2nd	7 MFS

Hells Bells - Champion Level 4 Hells Bells & Sophie Griffith
Level 4	62.656%	2nd	4A
Level 4	65.705%	2nd	4B
Level 4	66.875%	3rd	4D


Ferring - First Ever Test
Level 1	63.077%	10th	1B ( Inc AMS Saddlery Pony & Young Rider Series )

Frangelico F - Reserve Champion Level 6
Level 6	62.713%	3rd	6A ( Inc Prydes SI Young Rider Hi-Point Series )
Level 6 & 7	68.062%	2nd	Zilco MFS
Level 6	65.329%	2nd	PSG 2009 Hobson Horsecoaches Super 5

Hells Bells - Champion Level 1 Hells Bells & Sophie Griffith Congratulations Sophie on picking up two Trophies: Preliminary Champion (June Orbell Trophy) Young Rider on horses, best four %s (Joy Pearce Memorial Challenge Trophy)
Level 1	69.615%	2nd	1A ( Inc Prydes SI Young Rider Hi-Point Series )
Level 1	70.096%	1st	1C Vetpro Super 5 Challenge
Level 1	67.308%	2nd	1B ( Inc AMS Saddlery Pony & Young Rider Series )
Level 1	71.786%	1st	1D

Dressage Academy Welcomes Bill Noble to the Team

Wear a riding helmet...

Lorenzo The Flying Frenchman

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