MEDICINE HAT, AB — Dressage made its debut at the Dunmore Equestrian Centre Saturday.
The lesser known sport has a military background.
It was created based on the movements that cavalry needed to master before hitting the battlefield.
Riders are scored on their partnership with the horse. The less it seems they’re guiding their equine friend, the better.
Competitors are judged on each stage of the certain test they’re doing and given a percentage. Anything over 70 is considered a good ride.
Twelve people are taking part in the event and organizer Siobhan O’Connor says it’s a big two days for the sport here.
“It’s the first specific dressage show that’s ever been held in Medicine Hat,” she said. “Before this event was created people from the Medicine Hat area would have to travel as far as Calgary or Claresholm as the closest competition.”
Holding events like the dressage one this weekend was one of the main reasons the Dunmore Equestrian Society wanted to have a centre says president Blair Reid.
“Today feels real good to see people coming from south of Lethbridge, Nanton, all over the west, Swift Current, Maple Creek. It’s about the community and it’s bringing tourism into Medicine Hat.”
One rider who had a good Saturday was Max Simonton.
The 13-year-old from just south of Raymond was riding his horse More Bounce to the Ounce and the two were in sync.
Simonton has been competing in dressage for seven years. He says he enjoys being one of the few males that does the discipline, but most of all he enjoys the connection it builds between him and his horses.
“I can walk up to it (one of my horses) when it’s sleeping and have a little nap on it, it doesn’t care,” he says. “The horse follows me all the time and the bond is strong.”
Medicine Hat rider Laura Callaghan meanwhile calls dressage the most rewarding of the horse disciplines.
“My horse is currently quite the project that’s coming along,” she said Saturday with a laugh. “When you get those good moments in there it really feels good, it boosts your confidence to know you’ve actually been working with this huge animal and getting him to actually dance with you in a way, it’s really quite beautiful.”
The event wraps up Sunday and anyone who’s interested in taking up the sport locally can learn more here.
