It’s exciting times for dressage with the announcement of the first squads selected under the new criteria and pathway.
ESNZ high performance general manager Jock Paget and dressage high performance manager Penny Pearce are looking forward to the continued progress of the discipline thanks to the reviewed and revamped squad programme selections.
Jock says it is to be expected that it is “thinner” at the top, with just three in the High Performance Futures Squad. “That said, it is great to see the depth in our development squads and the quality of our high performance combinations,” said Jock.
His sentiments are reiterated by Penny who says the more holistic approach has garnered good feedback from the riders. “This is next level huge for dressage,” she says. “Dressage is lifting – the top ones created great excitement last year and that is helping to lift the sport from the bottom up.”
Under the new criteria, Talent ID Squad hopefuls are the only ones to apply, with the rest selected using a broader brush.
By Diana Dobson – HP Media Liaison