News

The FEI President has welcomed the announcement by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) that Equestrian sport is offi cially confi rmed in the Initial Sports Programme for Los Angeles 2028.

This followed the announcement by the IOC in December 2021 that equestrian sport was amongst the 28 sports proposed.

“We are delighted with this confi rmation, which is a glowing endorsement of the valuable contribution and legacy that equestrian sport brings to the Olympic movement,” FEI President Ingmar De Vos said.

The equestrian disciplines for LA2028 will be decided mid-2023 and the equestrian events and the quota for Los Angeles will only be fi nalised after Paris 2024.

PENNY POLLARD It is with great sadness that British Dressage has learned of the passing of our former Chairman, Penny Pollard, at the has learned of the passing of our former Chairman, Penny Pollard, at the age of 63, following a long and brave battle with cancer.

Penny dedicated ten years to British Dressage as a Board level volunteer, until forced to stand down from her position as Chairman in 2018 due to her ongoing illness. The news of Penny’s passing has been met with sorrow by all who had the honour and privilege of working alongside her. Our heartfelt thoughts and deepest sympathy go to her husband Keith, as well as her family, friends and former colleagues. A full tribute will appear in the next issue of British Dressage Magazine.

British Dressage has unveiled a new partnership with the market leader in dressage scoring software Black Horse One (BHO), which will revolutionise how British judges develop and learn.

Throughout 2021 BHO and BD worked together to deliver digital seminars to British judges and facilitate judge examinations online when Covid prohibited face to face interaction.

BHO has worked with BD to develop an innovative digital platform that enables all BD listed and trainee judges to virtually score a test using digital test sheets while watching a test video. The comments and scores can instantly then be gauged against a range of senior master judges.

Each judge will have their own personalised dashboard on the platform that acts as their ‘portfolio’ where their tests can be reviewed, which will be an integral part of the new Judge Education System and ongoing CPD activity.

Initially, judges will access the platform by attending an online judge seminar where they can set up their own account, and over the course of the spring this year it will be rolled out to all BD judges.

Applications for the 2022 Foundation Academies will be opening in the spring. If you’re a B, B+ or A Squad rider, competing consistently at a minimum of 66% at Elementary (or equivalent at ageappropriate levels on young horses aged seven years or under), this could be for you! Selected riders will receive coaching and performance development sessions, both mounted and unmounted, over two twoday camps running through autumn/winter.

We will announce when applications open via the BD website news and across our social media channels, so watch this space! All information can be found on britishdressage.co.uk/

youth-academies and more information about 2022 applications will be available in the spring. If you have any questions about the 2022 entry criteria, please contact Hannah James, Youth Development Offi cer at hannah.james@ britishdressage.co.uk