Urgent survey

Dear dressage enthusiast,

A lot of discussion is going on over the controversy of the level of dressage riding in SA.  On recommendation of the advanced riders, and after a petition from the riding community, a decision was made by the National Committee to raise the level at the SA Championships to Intermediate II-level and Grand Prix Freestyle since 2007.  In 2007, 6 riders entered and the I2 was won on 62% and the GP Freestyle on 66%.  In 2008 6 riders entered again (2 new horses, 2 horses did not enter), with scores 58% in the I2 and 67% in the GP Freestyle.  Some issues were raised regarding the standard of this new level, and that it might be better for the SA dressage sport to revert back to Intermediate 1-level or even lower, to Prix St Georges level. 

The Rider's Club Executive Committee (Jaco Fourie, Adriaan v Wyk, Candice Hobday, Lillian Moller) would like to conduct a survey with regards to the views of the SA dressage community.  We would like you to comment on the issue of either deciding the SA Individual Championship at Intermediate II-level & Grand Prix Freestyle (big tour), or at Intermediate I-level & I-1 freestyle (small tour).  We will briefly outline the pro's and cons of each scenario:

Big Tour

Pro's: 
 

• SA Dressage community moving closer to international standard of Grand Prix & Grand Prix Special
• Riders learn to ride these movement in competition, making them more proficient trainers for the future
   
• Judges get exposure to higher levels, thus helping them guide competitors in lower levels better
   
• Incentive is there for riders with younger horses to train the advanced movements at an earlier stage of schooling
• The new "wave" of horses coming into small tour will not stagnate in small tour
• The eventual SA Champion is a horse and rider combination who competed at the highest level, doing piaffe, passage and 1-time flying changes.
   

Cons:
 

• The scores for the next 5 years are likely to be lower than 60%, and might look out of their depth during this time
   
• Fewer riders will be able to contend for this title, especially in the immediate future
• Local instructors will have to start furthering their own education to help riders attain this level
• Provincial and even training shows at this level will have to be hosted
   
• Serious plans re finding a suitable national coach will have to be drawn up and seen through
   
• Controversial  discussions and  in-fighting  in committees will continue until the scores and number of competitors at this level improve
   

SMALL TOUR
Pros:
 

• More horses and riders get a chance to contend for this title, without looking out of their depth
   
• Scores likely to be higher than 60%, making uneducated public's perception of our sport better
   
• The dressage community does not have to further education for all our officials and committees any further, thus saving money
   
• Fund raising for a national instructor does not have to be initiated
• The already full show calender does not have to change
   

Cons:
 

• Regression, instead of progression, with regards to aiming for international levels
• Judges, instructors and riders stagnate at this now-comfortable level
• Controversy and in-fighting between riders and officials will continue until either the sport dies out, or the bar is raised
   

Please can you return your answer in the following format:
1) Name:
2) If a competitive rider, highest level competed since 2005:
3) If an official, highest level officiated since 2005:
4) If non of the above, please state whether non-competitive dressage rider, dressage enthusiast, rider from another discipline (and which discipline) or other:
5) Small tour or Big tour:
6) Should riders with a non-SA passport be allowed to competed at the SA Championships (Yes / No):
6) Remarks (please keep these VERY concise):

We will then take all the above info, process it into a proper survey-format and present it to the National Committee, in an anonymous format (thus your name and remarks will not appear).  Please note that your remarks and opinions will not be disclosed to any other party.

Please forward this mail to as many of your horsey friends as possible, as we would like to get as wide a response as possible.  Closing date for this survey to be returned is Monday 4 August 2008.

Regards

Your SADRC