DRESSAGE Ireland further developed its training provision across the country in 2024 with three residential camps – Castle Irvine, Necarne in April, Ballindenisk in July and CoilÓg in September.

Catering for all ages and abilities, riding both able-bodied and Para tests, these camps attracted riders from the Youth Academy programme, as well as Elevate and Para Equestrian Ireland members. Riders had access to training and test riding each day, as well as soft skills, talks and stable management.

Grade V rider Cassandra Morris attended two of the camps and was happy to share her experience with readers, while commenting on the future of Para in Ireland: “The first was in Castle Irvine in April, conveniently before the Wild Atlantic Dressage Festival which, sadly, will not run next year. The more recent was at CoilÓg in September, before the Leinster Dressage-organised Gareth Hughes Masterclass, where I was one of the demo riders.

“New this year, the training camps offered intensive training over the weekend, with four sessions over two days. Together, they offered me the opportunity to gain invaluable feedback from three List 1 judges, viz Vida Tansey, who has recently stepped down as head of the DI judges’ committee, Mark Ruddock, Chairperson of DI, and Joanne Jarden, who is also an FEI 3* eventing judge. Also on the coaching panel were Olympian Anna Merveldt, FEI 5* Para judge Sarah Rogers and HSI’s High Performance Para Dressage Director Debora Pijpers.

“All riders could also avail of a private physiotherapy session with Claire-Maria Currie at the Castle Irvine camp, with PEI kindly sponsoring Para riders who attended with a session. I specifically aimed to include these camps this year, as I was hoping to move up to Medium level. The advice and guidance I received enabled me to recently make that step up successfully.

“PEI was set up to help riders progress from national to international level. However, over the last couple of years things have changed, with HSI taking over the High Performance programme and athletes at international level. This leaves PEI to fill the void at national level, with the training camps being organised this year, thanks in large part to Lucinda Blakiston Houston, acting Chair of PEI and Vice Chair of DI.

“The camps are a welcome offering from PEI to help bridge the gap between national and international. However, with many Para riders starting their journey competing in able-bodied classes initially, I feel there is a missed opportunity to funnel these riders onto the squad pathway, as they may not yet have competed in Para tests, thus not meeting current squad criteria.

“Competing in able-bodied classes helps to educate riders with a strong foundation. This is fundamentally necessary for riders to learn the skills needed to ride a FEI Para test successfully - something the late Adeline Branigan, one of the founding members of PEI, staunchly advocated.

“For Para dressage to grow and build a strong foundation of up-and coming riders, we need to evolve. Before HSI, selectors, usually judges, would note promising combinations at DI shows, who would then be invited to train with the High Performance squad. This helped bridge the gap between High Performance and newer riders.

“Perhaps now, at the beginning of a new Paralympic cycle and with Debora Pijpers, the current High Performance Director of Para at HSI, stepping down from her role to seek new challenges, this is the ideal time. Perhaps that change has already begun, with the recent announcement of online video training with Debora being offered on selected dates for the rest of December and January to all riding members of PEI at no cost to them.

“One principle is paramount though, we must continue to innovate and develop the sport, so that Para can continue to flourish in Ireland.”