The Dressage Development Committee is a sub-commitee of ESNZ Dressage 

The Committee Purpose:   To manage the Development of Riders, Horses and Coaches on behalf of the DNZ, board, enabling understanding and fulfilment of responsibilities to members.
Development Committee Chair:
The Development Officer of the DNZ Board will be the chair of the Development Committee. The Chair of the Development Committee shall report to and/or make recommendations to the next DNZ Board meeting following each Development Committee meeting unless it is appropriate to report sooner

Current Members:

  • Barbara Chalmers: Dressage NZ Development Board member (Chair of the Committee)
  • Margs Carline: Dressage NZ Chair of Selectors
  • Catherine West: Rider Representative (To be competing at level 5 or above)
  • Andrea Raves: Coach representative
  • Kris Hughes (NI) & Brugs Nicholls (SI) Youth Rider Convenors (one from each island)
  •  

Fiora Au: Dressage NZ Chair (standing invitation)
Carol Bloomfield: Dressage NZ Finance Officer (ex officio)
Christine Weal:  ESNZ Dressage HP Manager – by invitation

Administrative Support: 
Naomi Murfitt – DC Secretary / Administrator 
Wendy Hamerton – Dressage Sport Manager

2026 New Member Profiles

Barbara Chalmers – Chair  

 “I’m Barbara Chalmers, and I’m delighted to be joining the Dressage NZ Board as Training and Development Chair. We have new faces on the Dressage Board, and Catherine West has joined us on the Dressage Development Committee, so I’m sure there will be lots of opportunities to work together and create positive outcomes for our sport.

For those who don’t know me, I have competed in eventing, showjumping and show hunter to advanced levels before concentrating on dressage. I have many years of experience coaching riders from grassroots and pony club level upwards, and I’m very proud to see some of my pupils now competing successfully on the international stage in their own professional careers.

An interesting fact, with the World Dressage Challenge coming up in November: I have represented New Zealand as a rider in the team at this competition, officiated as a judge, and also been involved as a selector. You can guess which role was the most nerve-wracking!

I am a Grand Prix rider, trainer, coach, A-level dressage judge, ESNZ High Performance Selector, DNZ National Selector and administrator, with a long-standing commitment to developing riders from grassroots through to high performance.

I’m passionate about education and creating positive experiences for everyone involved in our 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.

I’m really looking forward to getting started and working with everyone across our dressage community. I’d love to hear from you too, so please feel free to get in touch if you have ideas, thoughts or suggestions that you think could benefit our riders, coaches and wider dressage community. I’m always happy to listen and have a chat!”

No photo description available.Catherine West – Rider Rep 
 “I am extremely grateful to have been appointed as Rider Representative on the Dressage New Zealand Development Committee. Having been involved in dressage for a number of years now, including previous involvement in Dressage NZ and High Performance Squad programmes, I am passionate about our rider development and fostering a supportive and connected dressage community.

You may have recently seen me out and about on the competition scene with Matapiro Baseline, but prior to this I have competed at Grand Prix level, enjoyed success as a Young Rider in FEI CDI-Y competitions, as well as trained a number of horses through the levels.

I am excited to represent riders from across New Zealand, help ensure their perspectives are heard, and contribute to initiatives that help to strengthen communication and engagement within our sport.

I look forward to working alongside the committee and the wider dressage community!”

Catherine & Matapiro Baseline were winners of the Bates NZ Medium Championship 2026 

Andrea Raves – Coach Rep 

No photo description available.This is my second term as the Coach Representative on the Development Committee,  after leading the Committee it for six years as Chair & Board Member of Dressage 

I have been part of the ESNZ Coach Development Program since its beginnings in the 1990’s and it is a true passion of mine to assist all coaches to gain knowledge. So when this position on the Development Committee came up, I felt that I would love to be part of this portfolio once again.

I am Looking forward to work with the Committee and the DNZ Board.  I would like us to focus on widening the DNZ Coach Data Base, to look into developing a DNZ specific Coach Program as well as offering other training opportunities in the future.