The first dressage competition a grand success

The first officially recognized dressage competition in Sri Lanka brought to fore a host of new talents recently, astride their favourite horses to compete for the national event, which was held at the Premadasa Riding School, Nugegoda recently.

The Sri Lanka Equestrian Association, the National Federation for Equestrian Sports looks forward to improve sports such as Dressage, Endurance, Driving, Show Jumping, Valuting in the island. All being Olympic sports, at an international level. Sri Lanka has a long way to go before joining its neighbours and global level.

Dressage at its best in harmonious, beautiful and artistic, a true partnership between horse and rider as they complete a series of movements on a 20ft x 40ft area or 20ft x 60ft area, 20ft x 80ft or 20ft x 120ft area.

Often referred to as equine ballet because of its beauty and elegance, dressage represents the highest level of training a horse which can achieve and in its essence illustrates subtle control and compulsory movements of the horse and rider. It involves the training of a horse to become agile and obedient to a rider's directions, and capable of performing intricate movements to subtle commands.

In light of the rainy weather preceding the event, it was a nervous crowd that gathered to witness the big day? But the weather was good, the riders confident, and the horses performed marvellously. The three categories (category A - Under 11 years, Category, B - 11yrs to 22yrs, Category C - 23yrs above), were represented by a healthy group of 16 riders, each of them astride thoroughbred horses, marwari horses and half bred horses.

Dressage competitions are gruelling tests of stamina, concentration and communication between horse and rider and SLEA and the Premadasa Riding School has taken the first step in ensuing that Sri Lanka has a base for dressage. "For such successes we require participation and interest to grow in the equestrian field" says Suranjith Premadasa, President of SLEA. "Increasing interest in riding and increasing horse ownership are big pushes towards organizing such competitions."