Lynn Al Redha stole the show in the Advanced and Prix St-George classes at the second Union Properties-sponsored National Dressage Competition held at Emirates Equestrian Centre on Monday November 5.

Two of her star horses, Tartan Special and Macbeth, took the honours in the Advanced class and the Prix St-George test respectively – a reversal of the results from the October 22 competition – as they warmed up for the main event, the FEI World Dressage Challenge on November 17, also sponsored by Union Properties.

Al Redha, while delighted with the result, is keen for the level to be raised even higher, saying: “I was very satisfied with the evening’s work and I look forward to both horses competing a week on Saturday.

“What we need are more horses, competing at Advanced and Prix St-George standard, to come out to the UAE in order to make the class much bigger and therefore more competitive.”

Also continuing her good form was Cristina Calin, who guided the dependable Malthe into first place in both the Novice B and Medium tests.

“I’m very happy as the horse was more relaxed and forward-going in both tests than the previous competition,” she said afterwards.

“I wasn’t sure whether Malthe was about to explode with excitement or not! I feel confident going into the World Dressage Challenge in two weeks.

“Avant Guard, my other horse also performed extremely well, taking second place behind Malthe in the Medium test. I plan to enter him in the Advanced class at the FEI World Dressage Challenge”.

Daniela Schlatterer also enjoyed a good evening, finishing runner-up aboard Senator in the Novice B class, and was also third in the Prix St-George on Espartero XIII.

The Pure Bred Arabs had a chance to show their prowess in the dressage ring with young rider Katinka Bronge on Sugar Creek Willy taking first place.

This top combination have been together for two and half years and were the winners of the FEI Children’s Test last year, a feat that Bronge is keen to achieve again this time around.

To show that this honest horse has what it takes, he was placed again with Katinka in the Novice class and by his new rider Emily Ducasse in the Preliminary Juniors. This was Ducasse’s second show on Sugar Creek Willy and the pairing is sure to be a big contender when the prestigious season-ending National Championships come around in March next year.