2014 Australian Dressage Championships

The Young Rider team of, Courtney Barbera NSW, Tori Stuckey VIC, Morgan Duell VIC and Stuart Archibald VIC won the Quadrille Competition conducted this afternoon. They out rode according to the applause meter, a team representing the Australian Dressage Committee comprising, Roger Fitzhardinge, Liz Owens, Julia Battams and Kerry Mack. They all had the Motor Neuron logo on their saddle cloths courtesy of Maree Tomkinson to raise awareness of the disease.

Emma Flavelle from NSW is pictured aboard the impressive and imported German mare, 'Cabaret C' during the Riders Shoppe Elementary Championship. They went on to claim the National Elementary Reserve Championship.

Co principle of Revelwood Warmblood Stud, Amanda Shoobridge is pictured aboard the Australian bred Hanoverian mare, 'Revelwood Florentine' by Ferrero Rocher during the Riders Shoppe Elementary Championship.

Young NSW rider, Breanna Tillitzki rode Phil Ewart's Australian bred Friesian, 'Cooperpedi' by Gidgee Foxfire in the Riders Shoppe Elementary Championship.

Well known and successful South Australian rider, Ruth Schneeberger is pictured during the Riders Shoppe Elementary Championships riding Sharon Cox's imported Hanoverian mare, 'Franziska' by Furst Nymphenburg.

Half of the van den Berge professional dressage operation, Melissa van den Berge is pictured during the Riders Shoppe Elementary Championship riding Julie Bilson's Isle of Mystique by Isle of Aspen. They took eighth place over all in the Championship.

David Mckinnon is pictured riding Edwina Robert's Don Vino mare, 'Divina' during the Riders Shoppe Elementary Championship.

Annie Simmons from Queensland rode her lovely Florestan mare, 'Florett' to second place in the Mulawa FEI Young Rider Individual test today with a score of 67.60%.

Eloise Devlin , another talented Young Rider from Queensland held her spot at the top of the leader board by winning the Mulawa FEI Young Rider Individual test with 67.84% riding her, Brimstone Anakiwa' by Anamour .

Talented young professional rider and trainer, Daniella Dierks is pictured riding her own Furst Romancier gelding, 'Fursten Hit' showing some impressive extension during the Riders Shoppe Elementary Championship. They took second place in both tests to claim the 2014 National Elementary Championship.

NSW rider, Courtney Larard is pictured riding her own and Glen Pearce's Weltmeyer gelding, 'QEB Wish Me Well' during the Riders Shoppe Elementary Championship.

Popular and successful Victorian rider Judy Smith did not have the test she was hoping for in the IRT Advanced Freestyle and retired. However, she was in the ring long enough to demonstrate the tremendous athletic qualities of Kathryn O'Halloran's Florestan gelding, 'French Open'. The horse displayed plenty of talented at these Championships.

Nicole Tough rode Traci Bolt's charming Dutch import, 'Borsato' by UB40 to win the IRT Advanced Freestyle Championship.

Young Victorian dressage professional, Rebecca Woff produced a good test riding her attractive Jazz gelding, 'Jazzari'. Sadly they were at the mercy of differing judicial opinion, placing from second to eleventh place with an 8% difference in mark. They finished in seventh place with 67.08%.

Successful young NSW rider, Alycia Targa rode Jane Bruce's, 'CP Dresden' by Damsey to take fifth place in the IRT Advanced Freestyle with 68.58%.

Caroline Wagner chose a classical theme and rode her , Jazz gelding, 'Tango V' to fourth place in the Pessoa PDS Grand Prix Freestyle with 69.37%.

Accountant, Mark Arthur would be somewhat confused by the numbers in the judging of the IRT Advanced Freestyle. His Show Master an imported German gelding by Show Star is the horse of the 2014 Nationals. Show Master won both the Advanced 5.2 and 5.3 yesterday and today was first in Freestyle with two judges and tenth with the third judge. with a 7% difference in mark. Despite that they took second place in the freestyle with 70.79%.

Donella Merrett from Queensland is pictured aboard her typey Rotspon gelding, 'Romanos' during the IRT Advanced Freestyle.

Courtney Barbera from Queensland is pictured aboard her imported German gelding, 'Revalentino' by Rubunero during the Riders Shoppe Elementary Championship.

Well known and successful NSW rider, Susan Elekessy rode her own lovely, imported Belgian gelding, 'Callum Park Starbucks by Sarkozy in the Riders Shoppe Elementary Championship.

Kerry Mack, Victorian breeder, rider and doctor took fourth place overall in the Riders Shoppe Elementary Championship riding her talented home bred Whisper gelding, Mayfield Limelight.

Elizabeth Sonter is pictured aboard her Trakhener stallion, 'Widgee Total Eclipse' by Korrit during the Riders Shoppe Elementary Championship.

Hannah Newland from NSW is pictured aboard a rare animal; an FEI Thoroughbred dressage horse and a lovely one too. 'Peace Train'. The subject of a Horse Deals Magazine Off The Track story a couple of years ago, Peace Train produced a lovely test, proving that the TBs can move. They took ninth place with 67.30% in the Agnes Banks Equine Clinic Intermediate Freestyle.

One of the few combinations to match movement and music, Gina Montgomery rode the Revelwood Warmblood Stud's beautiful Sandro Hit stallion, 'Stedinger' to win the Agnes Banks Equine Clinic Intermediate Freestyle with 71.32%. "Steed" was imported to Australia in October 2013. He had not competed for five years before his arrival in Australia and Gina was asked to ride the horse at Revelwood Open Day, as David Shoobridge had MC duties on the day. Basically Gina loved the stallion and never got off. He had his first competition in May and had to do the requires four advanced tests before he could go Small Tour. He did this and at the end of July he was declared Brisbane CDI Small Tour Champion. He is beautiful, talented and has a great temperament and we look forward to seeing much more of him.

Holly Cutler rode the imported Don Schufro mare, 'Diva Royale' to take third place in the Agnes Banks Equine Clinic Intermediate Freestyle with 69.47%.

Deon Stokes from WA is taking in the National Dressage Championships before he attends the Adelaide International Three Day Event, or he is taking in the Adelaide Event on his way home from the Dressage Nationals. Whatever, he has had a successful few days including winning the Gow Gates EA FEI Medium Tour Freestyle riding Kate Barton's Royal Olymp stallion, 'Royal Oak II' with 67.80%.

Successful young Victorian rider, Lilah Nieuwland is pictured aboard her Man About Town gelding, 'Greenoaks Weltman' during the EA FEI Medium Tour Freestyle. They took third place in the class that is a Medium Tour/Intermediate 1 1/2 level test and not a Medium Freestyle as some thought before the class until passage came in to play!

Former Youth Olympics Dressage Gold Medallist, Victoria Welch from Queensland rode her Gymnastic Star mare, 'Glogau' to take second place in the Gow Gates EA FEI Medium Tour Freestyle with 62.45%

Making some impressive first steps in the Big Tour, Katharine Farrell rode the Farrell Family's super, Londonderry gelding, 'Luxor 118' to take seventh place in the Pessoa PDS Grand Prix Freestyle on the gala Saturday night at the 2014 Saddleworld Australian Dressage Championships.

"Regardez Moi is 19 years old" commented Heath Ryan, "and he is not confident he will be back at the Nationals next year. We hope he is, but if he is not, he goes out on a high as 2014 National Grand Prix Champion. They won the Pessoa PDS Grand Prix Freestyle with 72.37%.

Mary Hanna is not missing a beat following her great showing at the WEG in Normandy with Sancette that remains in Europe. She stepped aboard her Australian based Jazz gelding, 'Umbro' to take second place in the Pessoa PDS Grand Prix Freestyle with 72.22%.

Well known National dressage rider, Sue Hearn rode her River Dance gelding, 'Remmington' to fifth place in the Pessoa PDS Grand Prix Freestyle with 69.32%.

Susie Duddy's, 'DP Weltmieser' by Weltmeyer is just making his first steps in the Big Tour and with popular rider, Brett Parbery in the saddle he is given every opportunity to advance. They claimed third place in the Pessoa PDS Grand Prix Freestyle with 70.90%