THE popular and fast-growing Wild Atlantic Dressage Festival (WADF) will not take place in 2025. Simone Hession announced the news on social media this week, citing Dressage Ireland’s (DI) rule that individuals are not permitted to run shows or events.

“That’s it in a nutshell,” Hession told Irish Horse World. “Presently, there is no structure in place in Dressage Ireland to allow an individual or venue to run a Dressage Ireland show.”

Hession made a proposal to the board of DI in 2018 to create and run the festival, which she did for four years. “The region at that stage wasn’t in position to take on such a task. I said I would take on the financial risk and I got the go ahead. We had four successful years,” Hession said.

“Coming up to this year’s festival, 10 days before, I was made aware there was an issue. We ran the show and I was made aware at that stage that, going forward, it wouldn’t run in the same format and that Dressage Ireland will support regions to run shows or festival, but not an individual.

“Showjumping Ireland and Eventing Ireland rely on individuals and venues to run the shows for them. I feel once DI move in that direction, then we are going to be moving forward. There is good enough venues and people out there, the structure needs to be modified to allow it.”

Hession said the Midland and Western region is having discussion about running a festival next year.

“I didn’t truly appreciate how popular it (WADF) was until the post went up on social media. It had become a big community, that is the reason for the success. I’ve received numerous phone calls from riders at all levels across the board, who haven’t commented on Facebook, all of the same opinion that there was a certain feel and atmosphere at the show, there was huge enjoyment but it was serious dressage, of a level you wouldn’t normally get in the west.”

Growing sport

Hession said she started the festival because she wanted to see the sport grow and progress. She was a director on the board of Dressage Ireland up until the end of April this year, when she resigned.

“The reason I joined the Board of Dressage Ireland was for the riders who needed more representation at board level; and that is why we ran the festival. From that perspective, I am disappointed it has come to this,” Hession commented, adding that she has been asked if she would run the event unaffiliated. “Is that really going to be beneficial to dressage and the membership and the growth of the sport?” she asked.

“I am a rider and coach and I still feel I can support the sport that way. It is definitely parked for the minute. I have been asked if the structure was to change could it get back on track... I wouldn’t be too quick to jump back in at the minute!”

Hession said the festival raised the guts of €12,000 for charities over the four years. There was a huge outpouring of sadness following the news, with Dressage Ireland members commenting on social media that it was among the highlights of the year and one of the best run shows in the country.

Dressage Ireland chairperson, Mark Ruddock, confirmed that the reason the festival will no longer go ahead is that Dressage Ireland do not allow individuals to run events. He added it is something the board of DI will have to look at going forward.