Equestrian Life April 2018 Issue

dressage
test, a relatively new smartphone will do a
good job. Just make sure that you can zoom
in when the rider is at the far end of the
arena and you can transfer the video to a
computer or upload it to a website.
JUDGES
Dressage Anywhere works with FEI and
British Dressage List 1 and 2 judges, who
have gone through a rigorous education
system. Many are trainers and riders
who have worked through a certification
programme involving further training and
examinations to enable them to judge or to
specialise in a specific areas such as para,
RDA, eventing or young horses.
RESULTS
Every rider will receive a scoresheet with
a summary of their performance. Dressage
Anywhere takes that one step further - as
soon as the judge submits a scoresheet the
competitor will receive an e-mail with a
link to view and download their scoresheet.
There’s no waiting until the end of the
competition and if you think you can
improve on your performance, you can ride
the test again and upload a new entry for
judging.
When the competitions close, results are
finalised on an online scoreboard and
rosettes and prizes issued to all placed
riders. Prizes and rosettes are awarded in
accordance with British Dressage rules, so
rosettes go to one in four riders and prizes
are awarded to a scale dependent on the
number of class entries.
HOW OFTEN DO ONLINE DRESSAGE
COMPETITIONS RUN?
Dressage Anywhere offers monthly
competitions, each one opens on the first
day of the month and closes on the last day
of the month. They run all year round and
there are opportunities for teams to compete
in the annual Team Challenge to win extra
prizes.
WHY CHOOSE DRESSAGE ANYWHERE?
Dressage Anywhere runs its online dressage
competitions as closely to live competitions
as possible, maintaining the high standards
that you would expect, but also to get those
new to dressage ready for live competitions.
Dressage Anywhere has eight years of
experience running online dressage
competitions and has a comprehensive
system to automate as much of it as possible.
Interdressage - A Growing
Global Phenomenon!
Eleven years ago this April,
Interdressage.com quietly slipped
its way onto the internet and into
the hearts of its ever-growing band of
devotees. Interdressage was the first of
its kind to offer riders worldwide the
opportunity to compete in dressage,
jumping and showing classes, not
only for rosettes and prize money
but for outstanding feedback from
carefully selected BD judges, showing
enthusiasts, professional instructors and
experts in the field of Equine Behaviour.
Karina Hawkridge, Equine
Physiotherapist and freelance
instructor, started the site in 2007
as a hobby. In possession of a large,
temperamental young Warmblood and
desperate for constructive advice and
feedback on his work, but conscious
of the fact he was big, strong and
unpredictable, she searched the internet
for a website that offered competition
via video...and found nothing. With
zero knowledge of designing or running
a website, she teamed up with Glynis
Mills, Equestrian Artist, Graphic
Designer, BD judge and lifelong friend
and between them hatched an idea
which a local website designer turned
into a reality.
Other sites have followed, many of
which have not lasted the test of
time! However, Interdressage attracts
increasing numbers of competitors
from around the world, keen to take
advantage of this economical, ethical,
convenient and educational way of
competing.
The last eleven years have seen some
major technological advancements.
In 2007 all competition videos arrived
at the Interdressage office on memory
stick, CD or DVD. Then began the
laborious task of converting, streaming
and uploading. Thankfully, the rapid rise
in popularity of YouTube, now means
all videos are uploaded to YouTube by
competitors who then email the URL
links to Interdressage HQ, for inclusion
on the Interdressage website.
A recent site upgrade has simplified
the entering and payment process.
More riders than ever are now able
to compete via video in monthly
online Dressage, Baroque, Freestyle
Jumping and Showing classes, from the
convenience and safety of their own
arena.
The site has blossomed into a platform
which caters for riders and horse owners
of all abilities and covers a multitude of
disciplines. Although the Dressage and
Baroque style classes form the backbone
of the site, there are opportunities to
compete in Practical Horsemanship and
Equiskills classes where the dexterity,
harmony, confidence and ability of
horse and rider are scored. All the tests
used are unique, video friendly and
written exclusively for Interdressage.
There is also a small selection of
‘showing’ classes with emphasis
on manners, ability, performance,
condition and turnout and there is even
a freestyle jumping class where balance,
straightness, rhythm, technique, rider’s
application of aids and continuity of the
course build are assessed.
So, if you are looking for a cost
effective, convenient and safe way to
compete against riders from around
the world without increasing your
carbon footprint why not check out
Interdressage? More details can be
found at www.interdressage.com.
www.interdressage.com
www.facebook.com/groups/28178262381/
Email. karina@interdressage.com
www.equestrianlifemagazine.co.uk 25