Four local Dressage riders won top honors at the Sierra Nevada Chapter of the California Dressage Society’s Year End Awards Event for the 2017 competition season.
Brooke Hodge and her horse Oliver won first place in the First Level Junior/Young Rider category.
Tina Burke and her gelding Altanero were named Champion for the Adult Amateur First Level division and Jamie Matsuura (formerly of Winnemucca) and her mare Gracie took first place for the Second Level Adult Amateurs. Sarah Silva, who trains all of these pairs, won the Trainer of the Year award.
The term dressage is derived from the French and means “training.” According to the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) rulebook, the ultimate purpose of dressage is the harmonious development of the physique and ability of a horse.
This is done by working the horse through the pyramid of training, which at the earlier stages emphasizes rhythm, relaxation, and connection, and as the horse advances, emphasizes impulsion, straightness, and collection. The correct training also results in the horse maintaining a calm and attentive demeanor.
Currently, competitive dressage involves progressively difficult levels incorporating multiple tests within each level. Each test is a series of movements that must be performed by horse and rider in a specific pattern. Each movement is scored by a judge on a scale of zero to 10.
Silva’s team competes at U.S. Dressage Federation (USDF)/U.S. Equestrian Federation (USEF) sanctioned shows, mostly in Reno and occasionally in California. Silva is herself a USDF gold medalist, meaning she and her mount (a self-trained mare named Camilla) have achieved the required number of scores and tests at the Grand Prix level, the highest level in dressage.
