DRESSAGE: HOURS of painstaking practice and preparation brought a double success for Dianne Breeze and her horse Dietrich II at the Prevac PRO Potential International Dressage Horse contest.
Held at Osbaldeston Riding Centre in Blackburn, Dianne, from Raby won through to the national finals in September and picked up the special prize for highest placed five-year-old mare.
Dianne has been competing in dressage - where horses have to vie in tests to show how athletic they are in their movement - for around 30 years.
She said alot of the sport depends on the relationship between the rider and the horse.
"It is a partnership really and you have to have a lot of trust and understanding, like any team, which builds up over time" Dianne added.
"A lot depends on the personality of the horse and Dietrich is quite hot headed and forward going, but she is quite nice to ride because of that."
In Blackburn, Dianne and Dietrich were tested alongside between 35-40 horses in the same age group.
"We were all in the arena together and we had to do movements around that arena before the judge picks out the horse he thinks has the best chance of making an international dres-sage horse," she said.
"It is like ice skating or dancing really because it is a very technical sport and you are judged on how precise your movements are.
"I was hopeful before we went because she is a very good horse and has been going well, so it was very rewarding when she confirmed her potential in front of the judge and alongside the other horses."
Dietrich II and Dianne will now go on to the national finals in September at Stoneleigh.
Before then she will continue Dietrich's training routine of 45 minutes per day, over four or five days each week. That level of effort is necessary when you consider it takes years to fully train a horse to a high level.
"Dietrich is five so she is still learning the ropes," Dianne explained.
"It can take a long time to train a horse to do all the movements and perform them from novice level up to grand prix. Some horses have talent and from when they are seven they may be working towards advanced level, and then you carry on from seven to 10 to reach a good standard, so it is a long job."
