The CDI itself formally began on the Wednesday with veterinary inspection and the Trot-up which went smoothly for us with many compliments on our uniforms (and a few jokes about tea or coffee, chicken or fish - we did look a bit like flight attendants). Later in the evening there was an official welcome party in the VIP marquee where we had a chance to meet some of the other competitors over drinks and nibbles. I left early to pick up my friend, Kellie, who would be my groom for the show, at the train station. To my total surprise she had persuaded my husband to come along, which was really wonderful. I couldn't believe my eyes!

Meeting the Japanese team at the welcome party.

Competition began on the Thursday, and we were lucky with the draw that we could all watch each other ride. Mr B did not warm up quite as well as he had gone in training, and felt slightly apprehensive and ‘looky’ as we entered the indoor arena. Things were going quite well in the test and we had begun the canter work, when he glimpsed a movement in the stands, and got his tongue over the bits right in front of the judges on the short side, as I was preparing for the canter half pirouettes. His head went up for a moment, and I had to go very carefully, managing to keep him in the pirouettes until he sorted himself out. He felt a little backed off after that, and we paid for it in the final score with 62.579% and 16th place in a field of 31. Lisa rode a safe test to place 11th on 64.053%, the winner was Rozzie Ryan on Jive Magic with 69.947%.

In the Intermediare II, held outdoors, Nicole (Queensland based Kiwi rider) rode a sweet, sparky test on her little Jaybee Anzac (Zac) to place 5th (62.474%). Karen was 12th after some mistakes in the changes and uncharacteristically sticky piaffe work. Rachael Sanna won on Jaybee Alabaster with 70.000%.

On the Friday we went indoors again for the Intermediare I and this time I was ready! There were no tongue mishaps, and lots of energy, though I was still having to ride him forward especially on the diagonal lines. Because of this we went a little too ‘quick’. There were a couple of mistakes involving changes, but more costly was the walk which had some tension, and with a coefficient of 2 on both the collected and extended walk, this really dragged our score down. Our final score was a rather disappointing 62.105% but they were marking low in this test, so it was enough for 12th position, the final precious qualifying spot for the Freestyle. Lisa returned full of excitement from a wonderful ride on Prestige, with better energy than the day before, to finish 8th on 63.947%. First place to Rozzie again with 68.895%.

In the big outdoor, the Grand Prix was contested, this time the winner was Brett Parbery on Victory Salute, who by all accounts showed everyone how it should be, gaining 70.340%. Nicole rode another expressive, forward test to place 9th and Karen, although more energetic than the day before unfortunately missed a couple of changes and dropped down to 15th place, missing the cut for the Freestyle to music, but going through to the Grand Prix Special instead.

On Friday evening I took the opportunity to have a scheduled practice session with my music in the indoor, and it was a great booster for both of us to have that short session, to hear the music and how it would ride. It meant we were late joining all the other NZers for dinner, but it was well worth it, as when Saturday evening came around, Mr B had found his confidence, and was brimming with excitement. This was the most fun I have had so far in any competition – the indoor was lit up, and there was a considerable buzz from the stands even though they were probably only about 2/3 full, but Mr B rose to the occasion and was bursting with energy (in a good way!). He did a little bound out of the first halt straight into the 2 tempis, and he carried me through the test in a light and easy way. I was really pleased with how he listened in the trot let me bring his footfalls in time with the music. We missed one of the 3 tempis on the curved line, but nailed them the second time, and unfortunately lost the rhythm in the first extended trot (we both got over enthused!). With one of the judges seemingly not seeing our line of 2 tempi’s and giving us only a 3 where the others were on 7’s and a 6, our final score was 64.600% for 9th place, just behind Lisa who was 8th on 65.350%. The winner again was Rozzie Ryan, with 71.950%.

Mr B and I in the Freestyle.

Rozzie it seemed could do no wrong all weekend, as she also took out first place in the International Prix St Georges Derby earlier on the Saturday. Karen and I represented NZ in the Derby and unfortunately we both drew rather difficult rides. Karen found out later that her horse had scored about 53% in the Young Riders PSG with his owner, and had never been in the indoor before! She did a great job to make 10th place, and I came in just behind in 11th position, riding a very sensitive, highly strung mare with (it seemed) a broken “stop” button, and issues with the flying changes. On about 53% it would have to have been my lowest PSG score in a very long time! This was rather disappointing for us as we had hoped to do better for NZ, but unfortunately that is the way with derbys. The Aussie team (Rozzie and Brett Parbery) won in front of Japan, Great Britain, Canada, Singapore and Team Kiwi unlucky last.

Farewell to Nations - this was such a blast!

Just prior to the Derby, Karen had ridden the Grand Prix Special, and did a super job (it was her first time riding the new Special!) to win on 61.958%. It was a nice, mistake-free test (although the chief judge did have an error, ringing the bell when it wasn't warranted! Karen and Ammo remained unfazed) they really seemed to find their "zone" in this test. It was a lovely moment for them to hear the anthem, and take their lap of honour.

One of the biggest highlights of the weekend was watching the Grand Prix Freestyle, which was the showcase of Saturday night in the indoor. The top combination Brett Parbery on Victory Salute, was truly inspiring, making all the work look so easy. The piaffe – passage transitions flowed seamlessly, never faltering in the rhythm, the changes were expressive, the pirouettes so balanced and controlled, he clearly deserved the win (73.600%). Our NZ representative Nicole Magoffin put it all out there with an ambitious routine which didn’t always pay off, but Jaybee Anzac seemed really happy to try his little heart out. After some expensive errors in the changes and some untidy piaffe passage work, they finally ranked 9th on 62.350%. The atmosphere in the indoor was electric, and the capacity crowd quite exuberant. The riders put on a great show for them, including a lengthy and complicated lap of honour / impromptu quadrille at the prizegiving, to uproarious applause.

Post-competition we had plenty of time to wind down, having been informed by IRT that our flight scheduled for Monday afternoon would be delayed until Wednesday. After some hasty negotiations on the part of our chef d’equipe, we were able to remain on site until our departure, in spite of 300+ Western Pleasure horses coming onto the grounds for their National Championships that week. Rebecca and I stayed behind with the horses and spent the time hacking out, cleaning gear and eating chips and chocolate. It was a great relief to finally make it home to Auckland and meet the horses off the plane. Mr B and I stayed the night at Kumeu again, and one flat tyre later, were on our way home to Rotorua.

Overall it was a hugely positive experience, to expose ourselves to some very tough competition over there. Although I had hoped for a personal best, this was not to be, but I was pleased nonetheless that Mr B and I improved on each test, and continued to learn and grow. I was also delighted with the way he traveled and settled, and coped extremely well with the atmosphere.

A huge, huge, huge THANK YOU to all who made it possible for me to take Mr B to this incredible event, especially my family and friends for your ongoing support, Dressage Rotorua for support, assistance and putting together a fantastic fundraising effort, everyone who helped, donated or bought at the auction and my sponsors www.tackshop.co.nz. Special thanks to Kellie for being “supergroom” (and super friend), Celia Grant, Bill Noble, and Brooklands Park our home away from home. Thanks also to my NZ team mates who were fantastic, and Wendy for doing a great job as chef. I really appreciate all of your enthusiasm and support in what was a truly wonderful adventure.