News

Working Pupil Vacancy

Placed on 10-02-2012

A live in Working pupil vacancy available with Dane Rawlins to start at the beginning of March 2012 Please call 01444 882150 for more details

Placed on 03-10-2011

PRESS RELEASE from Dressage at Hickstead 3^rd October 2011

For Immediate release

AS we all know 2012 is Olympic year. Great news for Team GB, but a real problem for many other shows throughout the world. Unfortunately this includes Dressage at Hickstead

Try as we may, we cannot find a suitable date for the International, at least not a date that would be attractive for foreign riders to be able to attend.

SO! After much deliberation we have decided to postpone the CDI until 2013.

22^nd to 28^th July 2013 are the likely dates, these are to be confirmed.

However we still have a comprehensive list of events for 2012

As well as a very busy show season of Affiliated and unaffiliated shows, including the British Para Olympic final trials 18/19 June, The Team London Riding schools championship 11^th July we will also run the premier league 18-20 July and finish on Saturday 21 July with the British young horse championships and an Invitational Grand Prix to music and make the day a Gala event.

To complete the day we are intending to run an Olympic Celebration Ball - Saturday 21^st July

In our time honoured tradition, this will of course be an amazing event to herald the start of

‘London Olympics 2012.’

Eurosport to televise Kur highlights

Placed on 09-03-2011

Eurosport Events teams up with the World Dressage Masters

7 March 2011

Dutch-based company WDM Management BV, organiser of the Word Dressage Masters, has appointed Eurosport Events as the TV Producer and Official Media Partner of the 2011 Word Dressage Masters season.

As part of the partnership agreement, Eurosport Events will be in charge of the TV production of the “Kur to Music” event, a prestigious choreographed competition considered as the pinnacle of dressage execution.
Eurosport Events will be also the licensing agent handling Media rights distribution on a worldwide basis.

The 2011 World Dressage Masters will receive TV coverage on Eurosport, Europe's #1 pan-European TV channel reaching over 123 million homes across 59 countries.
For each of the events on this year's WDM calendar, Eurosport will broadcast a 26-minute highlights magazine as part of the "Wednesday Selection", a weekly prime-time programme featuring a selection of the best action from around the world in golf, sailing and equestrian sports.

The 2011 WDM season features four events: Palm Beach (USA) 9-11 March, Munich (GER) 2-5 June, Falsterbo (SWE) 7-9 July and Hickstead (GBR) 29-31 July.
Eight of the world’s top riders will compete this season, for the 400,000 Euros prize money, making it the world’s richest dressage series.
The World Dressage Masters, presented by Axel Johnson Group, was founded by equestrian innovator Exquis and the international sports marketing agency SportBizz in 2008.

"Eurosport is our partner of choice for worldwide tv coverage” said John van de Laar, managing director of the World Dressage Masters.“I am convinced that partnering with one global media partner that manages all the aspects of television production, distribution and broadcasting will contribute to a rapid growth of the World Dressage Masters. Together with Eurosport we will look into new and innovative possibilities to develop the media exposure and interest in our discipline".

“We are very happy to partner with WDM in order to promote and increase the awareness of dressage and especially the freestyle to music competitions. Our strong equine experience acquired through our collaboration with the Global Champions Tour, the Saut Hermes and the Gucci Masters, will enable us to create an exciting series of programmes featuring these exceptional high-status competitions. As Europe's leading sports entertainment group, Eurosport is delighted to offer the WDM all the group's experience and expertise in international broadcasting and promotion” added Géraldine Filiol, Managing Director of Eurosport Events

Eurosport will show the WDM highlights programme of Palm Beach on Wednesday 6 April at around 9 PM (CET).

Placed on 01-03-2011

A Night in Provence at World Dressage Masters Palm Beach

Showtime - World Dressage Masters 2011

Tuesday, 01 March 2011 02:24

The beauty of Provence will greet guests to the WDM Palm Beach.

Wellington, FL - Preparations are under way to transform the Jim Brandon Equestrian Center in West Palm Beach into a scene straight out of Provence, while the chefs at International Polo Club Catering finalize the dishes and wine pairings for this extravagant gala evening. "This is more than a dressage competition," says WDM Palm Beach producer Wellington Classic Dressage's Noreen O'Sullivan. "It is an experience. The venue is going to look outrageous. For those who know the Jim Brandon Center, they won't recognize it." As they watch top class competition at the World Dressage Masters Palm Beach CDI5*, spectators will be treated to a complete Provençal experience.

A five course meal inspired by the food and wine of Southern France will be served at tables around the edge of the competition arena where 18 of the globe's most highly trained horses perform the Dressage Grand Prix Freestyle to Music on the evening of March 11th, the grand finale of the 2011 World Dressage Masters presented by International Polo Club Palm Beach. Among the riders to appear at the WDM Palm Beach are a number of Olympic and World Equestrian Games veterans, including the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games Freestyle bronze medalist, Steffen Peters of the USA.

No stranger to dressage, IPC has hosted the highly popular Challenge of the Americas for a number of years.
When the WDM Palm Beach was in danger of being cancelled for 2011, the Goodman Family, International Polo Club Palm Beach and its members stepped in to save the American leg of the world's most prestigious dressage competition. In the kind of style that has become expected of any IPC event, no expense has been spared in making the WDM Palm Beach a unique and memorable experience for both participants and spectators.

"As a member of The International Polo Club Palm Beach, I am pleased and grateful for their support of the World Dressage Masters," says Tamara Gerber, who is herself a dressage rider. "It is significant not only for the dressage community, but for the community at large, that this very important international competition will be held in Wellington."

Mason Phelps Jr. has been deeply involved with countless events in South Florida, and he is excited to be part of the plans that are unfolding for the WDM Palm Beach. "International Polo Club is quite literally transforming the Jim Brandon Center for this event. By the time guests arrive to watch this world class dressage competition, they will feel as though they have stepped through the Looking Glass into Southern France."

The menu for the WDM Palm Beach dinner features both the tradition and gourmet splendor of France: from the charcuterie first course to the Deconstructed Suzette Crème Brûlée dessert and final plate du fromage. Each course will be paired with a range of French wines from France's premier wine regions - including Champagne, Sancerre, Bordeaux and Côtes du Rhône. "Spectators arriving for the Friday WDM Palm Beach Freestyle will begin their experience in the South of France the moment they enter," says IPC Catering Founder and CEO, Aaron Menitoff. "An evening of incomparable equestrian skill, exceptional cuisine and wine, and social ambience promises to be a memorable experience."

The Friday evening event is not the only social opportunity for ticket holders, who are invited to attend the reception following the FEI horse inspection on the afternoon of Wednesday March 9th at the Jim Brandon Center, as well as the competitors' party following the Grand Prix competition on Thursday the 10th at the Mallet Grill at IPC. Following the competition and awards presentation on the evening of Friday the 11th, there will be an after-party with a premium cash bar and music provided by Miami's Deejay Smeejay, who is well known as IPC's Polo Sunday deejay.

In addition to 18 competitors from the US, Canada and Europe, Dutch Olympian and Team World Equestrian Games gold medalist Hans Peter Minderhoud will give a Master Class presentation before the Grand Prix Freestyle on Friday evening. Minderhoud, who specializes in helping horses make the transition from Prix St. Georges and Intermediaire to the Grand Prix level, will work with two or three horses and their riders in a demonstration of his methods.

The following rider/horse combinations have confirmed their intention to attend the WDM Palm Beach:

Steffen Peters (USA) - Ravel
Tinne Vilhelmsson Silfven (SWE) - Favourit
Ashley Holzer (CAN) - Pop Art
Tina Konyot (USA) - Calecto V
Michal Rapcewicz (POL) - Randon
Valentina Truppa (ITA) - Chablis or Eremo del Castegno
Anja Ploenzke (GER) - Le Mont d'Or
Christa Laarakkers (NED) - Ovation
Anne Van Olst (DEN) - Exquis Clearwater
Todd Fletrich (USA) - Otto
Pierre St Jacques (USA) - Lucky Tiger
Evi Strasser (CAN) - Quantum Tyme
Shannon Dueck (CAN) - Ayscha
Shawna Harding (USA) - Come On III
Liz Austin (USA) - Olivier
One wild card invitation - name TBA
The first and second placed combinations from the CDI3* Grand Prix test

For information about tables and tickets at the World Dressage Masters Palm Beach presented by International Polo Club Palm Beach, visit http://www.internationalpoloclub.com/
World Dressage Masters Palm Beach Fast Facts:
What: North America's only CDI5*, and part of the richest dressage series in the world. Up to twenty of the world's top dressage stars will compete for 100,000 Euros in prize money at the WDM Palm Beach.
When:
Wednesday March 9th, 1:00 pm: CDI5* horse inspection
Thursday March 10th, 1:00 pm: CDI5* Grand Prix
Friday, March 11th, 1:00 pm: CDI5*Grand Prix Special
Friday, March 11th, 6:00 pm: CDI5* Grand Prix Freestyle

Where:Jim Brandon Equestrian Center
Okeeheelee Park South
7500 Forest Hill Blvd
West Palm Beach, FL 33413

Placed on 15-12-2010

Laura Bechtolsheimer and her triple silver medal winning horse Mistral Hojris became the first Brits to win the Reema Acra FEI World Cup Dressage Grand Prix at Olympia, 14 December 2010. The pair scored an impressive 82.936% at the London International Horse Show, breaking her own personal best and the British grand prix record in the process.

Placed on 15-12-2010

Dressage at Hickstead presents the Laura Bechtolsheimer Master Class

26th January 2011 11am to 3pm

Tickets £30 Per Person