A Christchurch-based former international equestrienne is on a mission to ensure talented young Kiwi dressage riders have every opportunity to make it to the top.
British dressage representative Brugs Nicholls is part of an initiative to launch the Dressage Academy where talented young riders will be trained and supported to top level.
"The aim of the academy is to provide those riders with the opportunity to become New Zealand's next generation of international stars," says Nicholls.
"Our focus is on talent and with the costs of training and horse covered, we will open the door to those who may not usually have access to either."
On graduation, riders will not only be able to train other horses to FEI Grand Prix (Olympic level) but also to coach other budding young dressage stars, passing their knowledge to up-and-coming riders.
All of their training, as well as the horsepower, is fully funded by the Dressage Academy, through sponsors, benefactors and grants, with the Academy timetable structured to allow riders to also attend university or work.
Each young rider will be partnered with one of the Academy's young horses for the five or more years it will take to bring a horse through to Grand Prix level, and they'll need plenty of tenacity and dedication to stay on course, according to Nicholls.
The Dressage Academy will follow her development programme, integrating the best of her mentor's methods from the Spanish Riding School, with systems and techniques used by many of the top international competitors and trainers today.
Over the past three years, Nicholls has successfully put her program (see http://www.brugs.co.nz/news-results/news-results.html) to the test by
working with 19-year-old Sophie Griffiths and 15-year-old Lily Barrett-Power. Griffiths has gained credible scores in her first year at introductory
international dressage levels (Prix St George), while Barrett-Power is winning at the first national competitive level of dressage on a four-year-old mare
who has only been under saddle for six months. Both young riders have trained these horses themselves from the beginning under Nicholls' direction.
Nicholls has long been passionate about sharing her knowledge with promising young riders through contributing to Dressage New Zealand's Young Rider camps.
Every dream needs a team and to make the Dressage Academy a reality, sponsors and benefactors are needed to partner with Nicholls on her journey to develop New Zealand's talent.
There are no restrictions on who can be part of this team, or on the size and type of contributions - individuals and groups, companies and corporations -
all are needed to take this vision to its completion.
Applications from potential students will be sought later in the year once funding has been established.
For more information, head to www.dressageacademy.co.nz .
Notes to editors -
About Brugs Nicholls
Nicholls has trained and competed three horses to FEI Grand Prix level (the highest in international dressage competition). Her horse Cockley Cley Weatherman was long-listed for the British Olympic Team in the 1980s and she has ridden and trained a number of other horses to Prix St. George level (the start of the international competition levels).
Nicholls represented Great Britain for five years at both young and senior rider levels aboard Cockley Cley Weatherman who she trained from scratch while being coached by Herr Franz Rochowansky, the retired chief rider at the Spanish Riding School. She has loaned her horses to young riders to allow them to continue to follow their dreams of representing their country.
A Horse and Hound article written by Jane Kidd in 1988 identified Nicholls as the youngest rider in the United Kingdom to train their own horse to Grand Prix and then go on to represent the country at international events.
For more information on the Dressage Academy, contact:
Brugs Nicholls on 03 5950215 or email brugs.nicholls@dressageacademy.co.nz
