THE Executive Committee and Board of Dressage Ireland have been busy working on, and implementing, some changes for 2017. Along with new membership incentives, which include discounted fees for members of other Horse Sport Ireland affiliates and free first year registration of native Irish breeds, the rider categories were restructured.

In keeping with chairman Joe Reynolds’ vision of broadening the base to increase the pinnacle and encourage participation in dressage from all level of riders, it was decided to change the previously two-tiered rider category system to three categories, in order to ensure fairer competition at the lower levels.