WHAT IS IT?
It is a dressage leaderboard competition only open to ARCA-affiliated members, sponsored by Victoria Hamilton of VH Saddlery. It runs from 1 Jan 2022-19 Nov 2022, and each ARCA-affiliated club can nominate one event they are running to be counted towards the leaderboard. The nominated event must be open to all ARCA members: closed (club-only) events are not eligible for leaderboard points. Official events may be nominated for the leaderboard, provided they are run by an ARCA-affiliated club, and offer ARCA-only classes. For these events, only the ARCA-only classes will be eligible for points. Please note: this leaderboard is open to all ARCA members, including non-EA ARCA.
It is independent of the EA Dressage Adult Riders leaderboard.
It is independent of the EA Dressage Adult Riders leaderboard.
GRADES & PRIZES
Grades are Prep, Preliminary, Novice, Elementary, Medium and Advanced. The winners from each grade, and the second place getters from Prep, Preliminary, Novice and Elementary win a one-day clinic with Victoria Hamilton, valued at $135. Riders may choose a clinic date and type that suits them. Please note: clinic to be claimed and booked by 31 August 2023. Offer may be used to credit one day of a two-day clinic, or for full payment of a single day clinic.
POINTS
Points are allocated as follows:
1st place: 6 points 4th place: 3 points
2nd place: 5 points 5th place: 2 points
3rd place: 4 points 6th place: 1 point
Tests must receive a minimum of 55% to be eligible for placing points. In addition, riders receive 1 participation point per test ridden at eligible events, provided they are not eliminated or retire during the test. At events with more than one test at the same level (ie 2A and 2B), points from both tests count towards the leaderboard. Points are not transferrable between grades. HC tests are not eligible for points.
All events hosted at country clubs (deemed >90km from the CBD) are worth double points. Country ARCA clubs (as of 2021) are: Avon, Dryandra, Eastern Wheatbelt, Moora and Murray.
The ARCA Dressage challenge is worth double points.
1st place: 6 points 4th place: 3 points
2nd place: 5 points 5th place: 2 points
3rd place: 4 points 6th place: 1 point
Tests must receive a minimum of 55% to be eligible for placing points. In addition, riders receive 1 participation point per test ridden at eligible events, provided they are not eliminated or retire during the test. At events with more than one test at the same level (ie 2A and 2B), points from both tests count towards the leaderboard. Points are not transferrable between grades. HC tests are not eligible for points.
All events hosted at country clubs (deemed >90km from the CBD) are worth double points. Country ARCA clubs (as of 2021) are: Avon, Dryandra, Eastern Wheatbelt, Moora and Murray.
The ARCA Dressage challenge is worth double points.
NOTES FOR ORGANISERS
Please refer to the leaderboard as “The VH Saddlery ARCA Dressage Leaderboard”. Please include VH Saddlery as a listed sponsor at events. Logo and website info included in this email to be included in entry forms, programs and advertising of the event. It is the hope of the organisers of the leaderboard that it will encourage greater ARCA participation in dressage events, and boost competitor numbers entering the events that are part of the leaderboard.
Nominations for events to be included in the leaderboard must be received no later than Sunday 27th February 2022. ARCA will publish all included events after this date, and will regularly post about the leaderboard, eligible events and entry information throughout the year. There will be a VH Saddlery ARCA Saddlery leaderboard post on the ARCA (WA) website listing the competition dates for the year, leaderboard rules and showing the running scores. Please forward full results to Meredith Kessell, at [email protected], within 14 days of the event finishing. Your club does not need to calculate the points, but please send full results (including percentages and placings for all classes), preferably in excel, word, or acrobat format.
Nominations for events to be included in the leaderboard must be received no later than Sunday 27th February 2022. ARCA will publish all included events after this date, and will regularly post about the leaderboard, eligible events and entry information throughout the year. There will be a VH Saddlery ARCA Saddlery leaderboard post on the ARCA (WA) website listing the competition dates for the year, leaderboard rules and showing the running scores. Please forward full results to Meredith Kessell, at [email protected], within 14 days of the event finishing. Your club does not need to calculate the points, but please send full results (including percentages and placings for all classes), preferably in excel, word, or acrobat format.
INTRODUCING
VICTORIA HAMILTON
Dr Victoria Hamilton is a veterinarian, international level rider and dressage coach who has been involved with the equestrian industry for more than 30 years. She has trained and competed throughout Australian and overseas, winning numerous State and National Championships, including two Australian World Challenge Finals and two Australian Dressage Leaderboard Titles. But she says the highlight of her career to date was being awarded the runner-up in the World Final of the PSI/FEI World Dressage Challenge in Germany in 2001. Victoria founded the WA Dressage Young Rider Association in 2006, before retiring as head coach in 2017 to focus on competing.
As a petite rider on large horses with exuberant movement, she struggled to find a saddle to suit and began searching for a solution through extensive research into saddlery. Unsatisfied with the options available in Australia, she started developing her own range of saddles and importing expert-made saddles from overseas, and thus VH Saddlery was born. Even though Victoria enjoys coaching top-level riders, she has always been passionate about supporting those at grassroots levels, as she believes they are among the most genuine, enthusiastic and dedicated riders, with unlimited potential to progress under the guidance of a knowledgeable coach. She recently launched her new Equest Connect three-step development program, which helps all riders develop amazing feel, balance, and the ability to effectively communicate with their horse, regardless of level or discipline. Victoria offered to support adult riders through the ARCA VH Dressage Leaderboard because she believes all riders and their horses deserve access to the highest quality saddlery, best advice and expert knowledge. “Everyone starts somewhere. Where you finish… is up to you.”
As a petite rider on large horses with exuberant movement, she struggled to find a saddle to suit and began searching for a solution through extensive research into saddlery. Unsatisfied with the options available in Australia, she started developing her own range of saddles and importing expert-made saddles from overseas, and thus VH Saddlery was born. Even though Victoria enjoys coaching top-level riders, she has always been passionate about supporting those at grassroots levels, as she believes they are among the most genuine, enthusiastic and dedicated riders, with unlimited potential to progress under the guidance of a knowledgeable coach. She recently launched her new Equest Connect three-step development program, which helps all riders develop amazing feel, balance, and the ability to effectively communicate with their horse, regardless of level or discipline. Victoria offered to support adult riders through the ARCA VH Dressage Leaderboard because she believes all riders and their horses deserve access to the highest quality saddlery, best advice and expert knowledge. “Everyone starts somewhere. Where you finish… is up to you.”
