A pair of Caymanian junior dressage riders recently excelled in the US.
The Cayman Islands Equestrian Federation sent two youngsters to represent Cayman at the 2011 Children of the Americas Dressage Invitational in Concord, Massachusetts. Polly Serpell, 13 and Charlotte Hinds, 14, participated in the week-long event along with children from Peru, the US, Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, England, Ecuador and Puerto Rico.
Based on the number of competitors, the invitational can pride itself on bringing young riders from different countries together to serve one purpose – ride dressage.
The competition provided young riders the opportunity to ride borrowed horses from local owners. The young riders benefitted from some of the best trainers in the world like Nancy Later from the US and Gerrit-Claes Bierenbroodspot from Holland, who were Polly and Charlotte’s trainers respectively. Leading up to the event, days were spent receiving lessons on the borrowed horses, general horse care and rider relations.
On day one the horse draw saw riders and horses names randomly pulled and matched. Charlotte drew ATE, a 16-hand black Friesian while Polly had a 16-hand grey warm blood called Beau. From there Polly and Charlotte took part in the preliminary test. Polly scored 63.261 per cent. Charlotte rode in the Hors de Concourse (a French term meaning ‘out of competition’) category and scored 65.435 per cent, which was the highest score in her group.
Day two saw the riders perform a dressage routine to music called Freestyle. The scoring of this event is slightly different and allows marks to be given for musical interpretation and creativity as well as technical style. Charlotte scored 59.554 per cent, which was the second highest mark in her segment. Polly was the very last rider of the day and had an excellent energetic ride that scored 69.018 per cent – the highest score in her category and the highest mark of the day for all categories.
Overall in the event, Polly’s combined score of 66.139 per cent placed her in fourth position while Charlotte’s overall mark was 62.495 per cent, the highest score in her category. Both girls state they were pleased with their performances.
“I felt so sad when it finished, it is an experience that I will remember and treasure forever,” Polly said. “Meeting children from other countries was wonderful and everyone got on so well. Even though we were all competing against each other we were all very supportive and friendly. My horse Beau was magnificent and one the nicest horses I have ever had the opportunity of riding.
“I cannot believe how generous his owner, Judy Wright, was to let me ride him. The instruction and guidance I received from my coaches Nancy and Gina was really helpful.”
“The horses we got to ride were highly trained, which was an opportunity we could not have had otherwise,” Charlotte said. “I too am sad that it is over, but we made lasting friendships. As for my horse ATE, he was a Friesian, the first one I ever rode as we do not have this breed in Cayman. I am truly grateful to Micaela Garzoni for lending him. I thought he was the best horse there.”
The local equestrian federation is proud of its riders and is now preparing its members for the World Dressage Challenge scheduled for February 2012 in Grand Cayman.
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