Dressage ambassador Sally Goldsmith gives feedback to a grassroots rider while the high performance dressage assessments are conducted in the next arena at Demo & Dabble, Dunstan Horsefeeds NEC Christchurch. 22.3.25. Photo credit: Charlotte Rose Photography.

Newcomers and high performance riders were side by side and sharing the same resources when ESNZ hosted its first non-competitive multidiscipline horse event in Christchurch at the weekend.  The equestrian ‘triptych’ featured grassroots riders at Demo & Dabble, a South Island eventing development camp, and a high performance Talent ID assessment day of Dressage, Eventing and Endurance held at the Dunstan Horsefeeds NEC.

It was the first time ESNZ has brought Demo & Dabble – the multi-discipline event for grassroots riders – to the South Island, after a successful event was held in Hamilton last November.  Fifty-three entries from riders of all ages from across the wider Canterbury region took part at the venue, set up with dressage, jumping and eventing courses.

Six advanced riders were invited as ambassadors who mentored the newcomers, demonstrating each riding discipline and sharing top competition tips.  They included Dressage – Sally Goldsmith and Seija Parkkali Glew, Jumping – Katie Gerrets and Gus Taylor, and Eventing – Emily Cammock and Tarryn Jones.

Colette Marsh and Maria Davison receive their Demo & Dabble rugs from jumping ambassadors Gus Taylor and Katie Gerrets at Demo & Dabble, Dunstan Horsefeeds NEC Christchurch. 22.3.25. Photo credit: Charlotte Rose Photography.

Embroidered rugs sponsored by Nztack for horsemanship and sportsmanship were awarded to Colette Marsh on Moonspirit Goldenbug and Maria Davison from Leeston on Alfie.  New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing hosted barbeque luncheons both days.

Equestrian sports was one of several sports codes targeted by Sport NZ, in response to a downturn in physical activity levels since the COVID-19 lockdowns.  ESNZ surveyed 1600 horse riders from across the country and found the need for a recreational/multidiscipline event to encourage more grassroots riders into activity.  A dedicated working group co-designed the bespoke event that gives  riders the opportunity to watch and learn about each discipline, then give it a go under the watchful eye of the ambassadors.

“The Strengthen and Adapt programme is designed to help organisations effectively meet the needs of participants,” says Sport NZ Partnership Manager Karin Adelinger-Smith.

“Equestrian Sport New Zealand has done a great job of responding to participants’ requests for a varied and less competitive offering with the implementation of Demo and Dabble.”

The weekend events marked the first time the same resources were used across all four equestrian disciplines and across the widest range of riding levels over the same period.  High Performance Operations Manager Warrick Allan says it was an intersection of the many platforms of the sport.

“When you see grassroots riders shoulder to shoulder with our high performance development riders you realise the diversity of our programmes and the many levels of which people can be involved in our sport,” says Warrick.