Dressage News Brief 17 July 2026

Friendships, Fun and Celebrations were woven into every single memory we made this past year at the 2026 Dressage Year of the Horse Awards Dinner – these are the events that hold us together through the highs and lows of the season.

Read the .pdf file  here :  Dressage News Brief 17 July 2026

The Dressage conference was the catalyst for Strategy & Planning, and for Innovative  Discussions. 

Congratulations to Barbara Chalmers (Otago) , elected at Conference to the Training & Development Portfolio and to Maddison (Maddi) Brown appointed to the Marketing & Comms Portfolio 

 Barbara Chalmers:  Message from Barbara

“I am delighted to be joining the Dressage NZ Board as Training and Development Chair. She brings more than 30 years of experience as a Grand Prix rider, trainer, coach, judge, ESNZ High Performance Selector, DNZ National Selector, and administrator, with a long-standing passion for developing riders from grassroots through to high performance.

I am passionate about education and creating positive experiences for everyone involved in the sport. I  look forward to working alongside riders, coaches, officials, and volunteers to strengthen development pathways, support learning opportunities, and help ensure dressage continues to grow as an inclusive, accessible, and sustainable sport throughout New Zealand.”

 

Maddison (Maddi) Brown: Message from Maddi

I am honoured to serve on the Board of Dressage New Zealand with responsibility for the Marketing and Communications portfolio. Dressage has always inspired me because it represents the unique partnership, trust, and harmony between horse and rider. I am passionate about helping shape a sport that is welcoming, inclusive, positive, and firmly committed to horse welfare.

As an F-level judge working towards higher accreditation and an amateur rider, I understand both the challenges and the rewards of participating at a grassroots level. Combined with my professional experience in marketing, communications, and engagement, I hope to strengthen connections across our community and share the stories that make our sport so special. I am excited to help build a sustainable future where dressage continues to grow and inspire people across New Zealand.

 A huge thank you to Andrea Raves and Christine Latch for their mighty contributions to our sport. Christine retains the Sponsorship Manager Contract and we are already hugely excited about the number of sponsors who have signed up again and new initiatives to be revealed soon !  We farewell Custom Logistic from the Super 5 League  after many years of support – Thank you so much to Matt & Alicia.

If you know of any businesses that could be interested in adding their brand to the Dressage portfolio at national level please contact [email protected]

There are many opportunities and levels of partnerships from GrassRoots to Elite available

 

DRESSAGE COMMITTEE MEMBER to the Appointment Panel Leonie Coker was re-elected unopposed 

DRESSAGE BOARD Vacancy 2026-28

It is with much regret the Dressage advises the resignation of Suzanne Inglis from the Dressage Board. Suzanne was a committed member contributing to Governance & Technical matters with a clear vision and sense of humour over the past four years.  
The process for filling this vacancy will be notified as soon as possible.

The 2026 Year of the Horse Awards Dinner was a wonderful evening of Celebration

Free to download high res images are available if your group wishes to use any of them to celebrate your members on your website or social media. It would be appreciated if you would credit San Deavoll 

https://galleries.pixieset.com/collections/118351963/sets/170123428

Congratulations to

Fissenden Trophy for Outstanding Contribution to Dressage NZ: Margs Carline
Official of the Year:  Margs Carline
Judge of the Year: Kristin Cottam (Southland)
Vivant Equi Volunteer of the Year: Seija Parkalli-Glew (Ashburton)
ESNZ Dressage Young Person of the Year: Billie Hughes (Waitemata)
Karmargen Fairplay Award: Lucy Cochrane (Hawkes Bay)
Penelope Pearce Memorial Award: Gemma Lewis (Canterbury)

 

L to R: Billie Hughes, Lucy Cochrane & Karen Trotter, Kristin Cottam & Suzanne Inglis, Gemma Lewis

L to R

Margs Carline & Wendy Hamerton, Seija Parkalli-Glew and
Grace Purdie representing Vivant Equi

 

Livamol NZL leg of FEI Dressage World Challenge 26/27 November- Livamol 10th Anniversary Event
Prior to Canterbury Kiwi Arena Rakes Premier League at Christchurch Dunstan HorseFeeds NEC Dressage is privileged to announce that Livamol is again the naming rights sponsor for this event This is the 10th Anniversary of the Livamol sponsorship of this event!
Other loyal returning sponsors for the event include Quality Presentations, FMG, Syncroflex & Hatton Horsefloats – A huge thanks to these supporters

Judges will be Virginia Creed (AUS) FEI 4* and Leonie Coker (List 1 NZL Bay of Plenty) 

The event is  an exceptional pathway opportunity for riders aiming for FEI events.
FEI horse and rider registration not required, but horses MUST have accurate Identification papers – FEI NZ Warmblood Assn or NZ Hanoverian Society passports, or ESNZ ID papers signed by a VET 

Be prepared !  Have a browse on the FEI page 

https://inside.fei.org/fei/disc/fei-world-challenge/dressage/season-2026

 

 

INCORPORATION & ESNZ AFFILIATION 

Thank you to all those who have completed their Incorporation under the new Act, and completed their ESNZ Affiliation Application 

You should receive confirmation of your Affiliation from ESNZ later in July following the next ESNZ Board Meeting

If you have not yet completed both of these processes, your OC will not be eligible to run ESNZ Dressage Competitions 

Welcome to Waimakariri Riding Club in North Canterbury who have taken over the reins from North Canterbury Dressage (previously a Branch of Dressage Canterbury)  

For Affiliate help,  go to this link which also gives good advice about the current strangles outbreak in the Waikato 

https://www.nzequestrian.org.nz/esnz-affiliate-groups/