Dear Dressage Rider / Enthusiast,

We, the SADRC Executive Board, are in the process of investigating the possibilities of creating / starting up a SA Dressage Rider's Tour.  By watching the packed halls and exciting atmospheres in Australia, America, UK and Europe during international jumping and dressage competitions when "the circus comes to town", sparked the question: "Can we do something similar in South Africa?"

At present we have the following major dressage shows in SA:
1)  SA Championships (supposed to be different regions each year)
2)  SANEF Competition (in your own region)
3)  FEI World Challenge (currently either KZN or Gauteng)
4)  SA Derby (in Johannesburg)
5)  Each region's provincial championships (in your own region)
6)  There used to be Freestyle Festival in Johannesburg, but sadly that has disappeared.

The principle is very similar to the World Cup Show Jumping Circuit in South Africa: a set number of legs, each one in a different region, the top 80% of the scores/points to count.  The aim is to supply the riders with more "national" exposure, and in the process try and market our sport to the public (getting the riders of all regions to travel and have a proper "tour").  Eventually, this Tour can be replaced by a proper Dressage World Cup Qualifying tour, exactly as Showjumping does.  It must be a platform where riders can earn good prize money, and dressage is brought to the masses (qualifications for the freestyles, etc), maybe hosting a Freestyle Festival in (say) 5 different regions, 4 of which will count towards the final score?

The hardships faced are:
1) funds (sponsors will have to be found),
2) getting the riders to travel to different regions (if the prize money is good enough, we might get them to do it, and maybe even attracting O-level judges or guest riders),
3) making it worthwhile for riders (using the best judges, have enough classes over 3 days or more),
4) getting the public to join in (we will have to market much more than at present, making it exciting for the public, hosting more musical freestyles, getting announcers to liven up the show, getting riders to not worry so much about noise, etc),
5) getting venues to deal with difficult dressage riders (yes, we are known for being rather demanding...) and making sure all the rules and regulations, footing problems, officials, etc etc are taken care of.
6) which levels are we hosting to attract public while still drawing enough entries to make this viable
7) persuading SANEF and our committees that there is a need for such a tour, and to fit it into a busy calendar, and and and...

We would like to hear your views, both positive and negative, and even better, PLANS to make this work.  We appreciate ALL correspondence, and we promise to keep you updated on this matter.

Happy Riding

Your SADRC

Mission statement of the SA Dressage Riders Club:
"To grow and develop the dressage sport in South Africa, with a positive and enthusiastic approach, driven by the riders, for the riders."