Future of Australian Dressage to be reviewed

The Equestrian Australia Board together with the Australian Dressage Committee (ADC) will review dressage sport in Australia in order to align the goals and vision for the future.

To coincide with the next Australian Dressage Committee, a strategic planning day will be held on 23 September, with the ADC and other key groups from the dressage community (such as clubs, athletes, coaches, high performance personnel and event organisers) to attend.

EA Chairman Dr Warwick Vale said the purpose of the strategic planning workshop was to establish common goals and a vision between all key groups within the dressage community.

“The strategic planning day is phase one in what will be a series of steps we’re taking to develop a long term plan for dressage sport in Australia,” he said. 

“This is not just about high performance and our Australian teams, but rather the whole of dressage sport from grassroots clubs right through.

“There are some great things happening in dressage at all levels of the sport and by the ADC – this is about bringing all those groups together to work on some common goals,” said Vale.

ADC Chair Mary Seefried said the ADC was eager to work with the Board and other groups to help lay strong foundations for growth in the sport.

“We want a vision for Dressage sport that will help drive participation, growth as well as build financial sustainability,” she said.

“Having strong business plans to better support clubs, athletes, officials and events will drive positive outcomes for our sport.

“With the ADC meeting happening later this month the timing works well for us all to come together to bring about the change we’re all working to achieve,” said Seefried.

The strategic planning workshop is phase one of the dressage review and will be held in Sydney on 23 September. It will cover a range of topics from grassroots/participation, development of a business plan for dressage sport, fundraising, club/event development and looking at high performance beyond Rio 2016.

Broader consultation with the membership and clubs will be occuring following the strategic planning day.