Kenyan riders score highly in world dressage challenge
Judge Hans-Christian Matthiesen (right) decorates Emma Carter’s Dancing Bear. She won the Test Children’s Preliminary at the world Dressage Challenge on October 9. Picture: Chris
One after the other the supple horses strutted to the 60 by 20 metres flat arena with utmost precision under the guidance of their riders.
It was the annual World Dressage Challenge, taking place at the Jamuhuri Showground in Nairobi. Dressage is a method of training a horse to perform tricks in response to the rider’s body signals.
Twenty horses to out do each other in elegance under the watchful eyes of the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) judges Hans-Christian Mattiesen from Denmark and Belgian Freddy Leyman.
The World Dressage Challenge is the only competition where riders in Kenya get an international assessment of their performance and ranking by FEI and the International Horse Federation.
For 20 years, the FEI has run development programmes in emerging equestrian countries — that is, where horseback riding is practised. Kenya has benefited from this programme since 2000, as various experts from FEI have trained riders and also helped to establish the Horse Association of Kenya (HAK).
Alit Manor, riding Prince of Africa, impressed the judges to sweep top honours in two categories — Medium Test and Elementary Test, beating Sarah Trent to second place in both events. Manor, 31, who has been riding since he was seven, amassed 61.27 per cent to prevail in the most complex Medium Test.
Manor, who has competed in major events in South Africa and Guatemala said local riders need more help to enhance their skills. “We don’t have much help in terms of good trainers and that is why this event is important to us,” said Manor.
Mattiesen said Kenya was one of three countries they had been to after Zambia and Zimbabwe.
He noted that there was great improvement in overall presentation especially in the children’s categories.
He underscored the need for more education for trainers who would in turn help riders.
“If Kenya hopes to improve, they should focus on trainers, acquire good horses and get more people into the sport. People all over Africa must popularise the sport so as to get rid of the elitist tag,” said Mattiesen.
HAK chairman David Gray said even though sports associated with horses started in the 1920s, the majority of riders did it for leisure only. HAK has 350 members, 200 of whom participate in competitions. About 50 horses take part in dressage championships locally besides cross country and show jumping. HAK has nine major combined events annually. “Dressage is gradually coming up and that is why we have FEI judges here. I am happy they have scored highly for Kenyan riders even though we have a long way to go before we qualify riders for the Olympic Games,” said Gray. Gray noted that even though not many people competed in dressage, the association always advised on the importance of the sport since it formed the basis of any activities involving horses. “Any horse that is good in show jumping and cross country has to start with dressage so as to be energetic and supple.” Among the challenges HAK faces is getting more locals into cross country, show jumping and dressage and finding sponsorship. However, some are coming along though most prefer polo or show jumping. Among Kenya’s top show jumpers are Mark Mburu, who has 12 horses, Tony Muthama, who runs a riding school in Lang’ata and Taru Mwamto, 11, who is a promising little rider. “One of the discussions we are holding is how to get more children into the sport like Taru Mwamto since there is enthusiasm,” said Gray. “We hope to get education scholarships and sponsorship for them with a condition that they stick to riding and compete in HAK shows for free.” Gray noted that it was quite expensive to keep a horse and run a show hence the need for sponsorship. South African riders, for example, who have qualified for the World Equestrian Championships and Olympic Games, have 3,000 horses to choose from while Kenya has only 400. Most horses used in dressage, polo and safaris are those that have retired from active racing, normally at the age of five or six.
hence the huge disparities.
Results: FEI World Dressage Challenge Preliminary Test:
Class 1c-Children:-
1. Emma Carter (Dhoruba) 57.76 per cent, 2. Courtney Kapanga (Mars) 55.26, 3. Emma Carter (Dancing Bear) 54.91, 4. Katie Smit (Zahabu) 54.14, 5. Natasha Tisminieszky (Mink) 53.79.
