Kaikoura Pony Club welcomes all South Island Pony Clubs to participate in BP2Go Kaikoura Springston Trophy 2011 from Friday to Sunday, October 14 to 16.

Friday will see the start of the dressage phase of the South Island Springston Pony Club teams three-day event.

Planning, organising and staging this big event is a huge undertaking for a little club like Kaikoura and club members hope there will be plenty of support from the local community as they count down to day one and look forward to welcoming teams from all over the South Island.

The dressage phase of this event is often overlooked by the general public but in actual fact it's apple in the pie, for without dressage training for horse and rider, precision show and cross country jumping can be a calamity in the making.

In recent years New Zealand's international riders have made huge strides in this discipline and are now once again well up with the rest of the world.

This year the club will be lucky enough to have 12 very highly qualified dressage judges from outside Kaikoura. They will be looking for the horse's rhythm, balance, suppleness, calmness and obedience in all paces plus that special X-factor which shows the horse is enjoying his work, is responsive to his rider and keen to move freely forward when asked.

They also look for the rider's sympathetic rapport with the horse, correct use of the aids (hands and legs), a balanced, correct riding position (and hopefully a lovely smile at the end of the test).

In short, it's all pretty similar to training a dancer or an athlete. The rider has to work gradually through the grades to gain the required skills. There are no short cuts and there are two to train, horse and rider.

There will be six dressage arenas at the showground, all in use at the same time.

Sourced from: http://www.stuff.co.nz/marlborough-express/news/kaikoura/5172971/Pony-club-looking-for-support