Ideal Combined Training Series proving a big hit with riders around the country.
Do you have what it takes to become Champion?
A total of 13 out of the 19 qualifying dates for the British Dressage Ideal Saddles Combined Training Series Championship Series have now been completed. So far, 104 grassroots riders have won the prestigious ‘qualification ticket’ to the March National Championship Final, with 48 places still to be fought for.
Tests have been taking place up and down the country at Prelim and Novice level, with showjumping from 70cm to 1 metre running alongside.
The qualifiers are open to combinations of any level/grade in any discipline and there’s no requirement for the horse to be registered with British Dressage. The series is a great way for amateur riders to get out, to have fun and to compete at some of the finest venues in the country.
One success story to emerge is that of 12-year-old Sophia Maston, who will be heading to the Final with her mother’s horse, Solitaire. Sophia and the five-year-old mare had only jumped a few single fences together before the competition, but felt inspired to give it a go after a chance encounter with title sponsors Ideal Saddles. After finding out about the Series, Sophia entered and decided to give it a go. Despite their inexperience over fences, Sophia and Solitaire had a very successful outing to the qualifier at Allens Hill resulting in a brilliant win. The young rider’s grandmother Catherine got in touch to share their story with British Dressage, she said “Combined Training was always one of her mother’s favourite competitions, so we’re really pleased it’s back!”
Sophia and Solitaire demonstrate the ethos behind the series – you don’t need to have loads of experience in either discipline to take part. It’s the perfect opportunity to have some fun, get out and about over the winter months and train your horse in two disciplines with the added bonus of a fabulous Championship final at the end.
Find out more about the Combined Training Series here, where you can find information on all the remaining qualifiers, the tests to be ridden and the March Championship Finals.
Suzanne Ashton, Founder of Everything Horse (Est, 2012), has a BA Hons in Marketing Management and a Diploma in Equine Science. Suzanne has ridden and owned horses all her life and has twelve years of experience in marketing, writing, design, SEO, and website creation.