Dressage Canterbury

Once again a huge thanks to the volunteer team that set up the arenas this afternoon in just over an hour, many hands make light work! congratulations to Lorraine Ward-Smith who won the draw for the Team Pearson Equestrian Therapy rug treatment, Archie might be fighting her for it too!

Just a heads up there have been quite a few scratchings today due to the forecast so the draw has just been updated and sent out to riders again, please check your times and be prepared to ride earlier if the weather isn't our friend tomorrow.

Unfortunately you might need to pack a raincoat on Sunday, joys of Canterbury Spring weather! At least auntie niks cafe will be there to supply hot drinks and eats for everyone.

Writing for a class might be a good way to stay dry, thank you to those that have already helped with this, it really does take a village, we still have these spots to fill:
Arena 4: 8.30-11.08
Arena 5: 10.10-12.10

Let's hope our photographers can keep their cameras dry and can capture you starting out on your new season adventures:
Tarsh Harris Photography – www.tarshharrisphotography.co.nz
Olivia Skidmore – www.oliviaskidmorephotography.co.nz
Sarah Rowbottom – www.sarahrobothamphotography.com

For our newer riders the ESNZ membership/registration system can be confusing, if you are still unsure if you have it right for this weekend and the season ahead please read the following, and ring ESNZ today to check or correct, they are very helpful, and too annoying to turn up at a competition and find you cant ride because something is not right:
ESNZ Membership information:
https://www.nzequestrian.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/27290-ESNZ-Dressage_Roadmap_2026.pdf

Fingers crossed the forecast improves, but doesnt hurt to practice competing in the rain, who knows what the weather will be for the Premier League shows coming up! See you on the day and best wishes to all the riders for a great start to the new season!

Everyone should now have their provisional draw for the weekend and hopefully all your plans for a successful day are coming together.

We are lucky enough to have two judges on most arenas this weekend, especially the graded classes, but it does mean we need a few more writers.

Writing for a dressage judge is one of the best volunteer jobs because it gives you a front-row seat to learn how tests are actually evaluated. You can gain a good perspective of the judge’s real-time thoughts and reasoning for why a score is a 6 instead of an 8. Hearing what judges like or dislike helps you spot those exact strengths and flaws in your own riding. You gain an understanding of terms like 'impulsion' 'rhythm' or 'submission' and what they actually look like from the judge's view.

Riders here is your opportunity! Please comment below which gaps you can fill, or if you have a friend that isn't riding but also loves to learn, please ask if they are available:
Arena 1
13.00-14.10

Arena 2
9.30-10.38
11.00-11.53 FILLED
13.00-13.58 FILLED
15.00-15.32 FILLED

Arena 4
8.30-12.39

Arena 5
8.30-9.39 FILLED
10.10-12.10
13.15-16.05

Thank you so much in advance!!!

We are all looking forward to kicking off the 'season proper' on Sunday at the first of our Spring Days, once again these events don't run themselves so calling all members, riders and supporters to put up their hand for volunteers tasks.

Arena Set up will be Saturday 2 pm, Dunstan Horsefeeds NEC - Christchurch five arenas to do and once again all helpers with this will go in the draw for a Blanket Therapy treatment for their horse, many thanks Cherie Team Pearson Equestrian. Please comment below if you can help or fill in the spreadsheet.

Please if you have a current First Aid Certificate put your name down on this list so we have cover for the whole day, also if anyone has an interest in Health and Safety we need a Coordinator at the moment with Chris Lewis away overseas.

We always need writers, helpers in the kitchen, and in the office/scoring, please fill in the volunteer spreadsheet as soon as you have your draw tomorrow, when you know what time you can give us.


https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1nD8h01hN1DUFsEe1xnSKE-Y4p5-wJocZumcH1LNbFlI/edit?gid=944665079 =944665079

Wow what an awesome group of people we have in Canterbury, 90 minutes to put up all those arenas, such a great turn out today gave us a big team of helpers for this Dressage Canterbury fundraiser for Canterbury Champs, and what a gorgeous spring day to boot!

We look forward to seeing you all at our Dressage Canterbury Spring Series 2026 September Day 1, at Dunstan Horsefeeds NEC - Christchurch, the Spring Series is a great start to the dressage season for everyone, it is a Championship Series with Graded, Non-graded, Para and pony classes, so something for everyone, go to EvoEvents NZ you only have a few hours left to enter!

Don't miss out, entries close tonight!

Just a few days before the entries close for the first day of our Spring Series, the new look EvoEvents NZ is up and running, if you aren't sure how it all works just touch base with Anne, our Entries Secretary, at [email protected] and she can help you if you have any questions, or cant quite work it out.

Remember to join Dressage Canterbury when you enter, to get your $5 discount at all DC shows, or use the 'Join a Club' button on EvoEvents NZ.

This next event is the first of our Season Accumulator Championships that run over the whole season for Dressage Canterbury Members, with all the awards presented at our End of Season Prize Giving next year, dont miss out, enter today!

UPDATE ON OUR FUNDRAISER:
We have moved this to Saturday 2 pm at Dunstan Horsefeeds NEC - Christchurch, hope this suits a few more helpers, please can we have a hands up for volunteering to help with putting up 7 arenas for the schools event.
This is an easy $500 fundraiser for Dressage Canterbury to go towards running our Premier League Champs later in the year.
Cherie is coordinating this, and once again all volunteers will go in the draw for a Therapy Blanket treatment for your horse.
Please comment below so she can have an idea of numbers.
If you can help, many thanks in advance!

Hi all, please can we have a hands up for volunteering to help with putting up 7 arenas next Friday 10 am for the schools event.
This is an easy $500 fundraiser for Dressage Canterbury to go towards running our Premier League Champs later in the year.
Cherie is coordinating this so please comment below so she can have an idea of numbers.
If you can help, many thanks in advance!