Dressage-News

HICKSTEAD, England, Oct. 3–Dressage at Hickstead announced Monday the cancellation of the 2012 CDI, one of the premier events on the European summer calendar, because of a conflict with the London Olympics beginning the end of July, about the same time as Hickstead usually is scheduled.

Dane Rawlins, organizer of Dressage at Hickstead that is held simultaneously with the Royal International Horse Show for jumpers on the same property, said in a statement:

“As we all know 2012 is Olympic year. Great news for Team GB, but a real problem for many other shows throughout the world. Unfortunately, this includes Dressage at Hickstead

“Try as we may, we cannot find a suitable date for the International, at least not a date that would be attractive for foreign riders to be able to attend.

“SO! After much deliberation we have decided to postpone the CDI until 2013.”

The likely but still-to-be confirmed dates for the 2013 CDI are July 22-28, said Dane, an international rider as well as show organizer.

Dressage at Hickstead, less than an hour from central London, was founded by Dane in 1993 and has become one of the top outdoor competitions in Europe.

Hickstead hosted the highly successful European Championships in 2003 and in 2009 was one of the founding venues for the World Dressage Masters that attracted Edward Gal and Moorlands Totilas in the first year and other leading combinations from Britain, continental Europe and North America. Cancelation of the CDI for 2012 reduces to three the number of WDM CDI5* events for 2012.

He said Hickstead still will host a comprehensive list of events for 2012.

Among shows scheduled for next year are the British Para Olympic final trials June 18-19, the Team London Riding schools championship July 11, the premier league July 18-20 finishing with the British young horse championships and an invitational Grand Prix to music to make July 21 a gala event capped by an Olympic Celebration Ball that Saturday night to herald the start of the Games.