March Show Highlights & Feedback from Judge Bronwyn Baillon
The first leg of the Dressage Online League, held on 3 March, kicked off with great enthusiasm and strong support from riders across the region. The league is an exciting initiative designed to break down geographical barriers, allowing riders to compete from anywhere – even from their own backyard arenas.
Online dressage shows are rapidly growing in popularity because they create an accessible and supportive competition environment. Riders can participate without the cost and logistics of travel, while still enjoying the structure of a formal competition. Most importantly, competitors receive valuable, constructive feedback from experienced judges, helping them improve and progress on their dressage journey.
The March show also demonstrated the international reach of the format, with a strong contingent of riders joining from Namibia, adding an exciting dimension to the competition.
Judged by National Panel Judge Bronwyn Baillon
The March show was judged by Bronwyn Baillon from KwaZulu-Natal, an experienced and respected figure in South African dressage who was recently promoted to the National Level 1 Judges Panel.
Bronwyn has loved horses for as long as she can remember and first learned to ride at the age of 12. As a junior she was an active member of Pony Club, initially focusing on show jumping and traditional Pony Club activities. As a young adult she continued competing in show jumping, showing and eventing, at a time when dressage was still considered more of a supporting discipline rather than a main sport.
Over time she began to realise the importance of good flatwork in producing better jumping horses, which ultimately sparked a deeper interest in dressage. Her dressage journey began when a talented Thoroughbred mare named Jane Furse entered her life. Bred by well-known KwaZulu-Natal breeder George Rowles, Jane Furse had exceptional movement and quickly introduced Bronwyn to the world of dressage and showing under the guidance of trainer Jackie Bridel, a National Level 2 judge.
Sadly, Jane Furse suffered a catastrophic tendon injury and was lost, bringing Bronwyn’s competitive riding career to a close. However, rather than stepping away from the sport, she decided to remain involved by pursuing dressage judging.
Originally intending to judge only up to Elementary level, her mentor, the late FEI judge Liz Day, encouraged her to aim higher and continue developing her judging career. Under the guidance and support of Sylvia Bruckner, Bronwyn was promoted last year to the National Level 1 Judges Panel—a remarkable progression from her original modest goals.
Over the years she has judged everything from training classes (Walk/Trot) through to national championship classes and even Grand Prix, bringing extensive experience and insight to the judging box.
One of the highlights of her judging career came in 2023, when she was selected as the South African judge for an international Pony Club challenge conducted on a virtual platform. Riders from South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, the United Kingdom, Zimbabwe and Canada competed in Elementary tests.
Bronwyn continues to enjoy judging riders and their “beautiful dancing partners” and looks forward to many more highlights in her judging career.
Judge’s Feedback from the March Show
Bronwyn shared an overall positive impression of the entries in the first Dressage Online League show.
She commented that most riders were well presented and produced well-executed tests, which impressed her greatly.
However, she also offered constructive guidance for riders looking to improve:
- Some horses would benefit from more time to settle at the level they are competing at, allowing them to develop balance and confidence.
- Riders should continue to work on suppleness, which she emphasised is essential for correct dressage work.
- Being through and over the back is particularly important, especially as riders move into the more advanced tests.
- In higher level tests, riders should ensure they position the horse correctly for each movement and follow the textbook requirements for those movements.
Positive Online Judging Experience
Bronwyn also commented on the experience of judging in an online format. She reported that the judging process ran smoothly without technical glitches, making the experience both efficient and enjoyable.
One area where riders could improve, however, is video quality. Bronwyn noted that better camera positioning and zooming would help judges clearly see the movements. When movements are difficult to see on video, riders may unintentionally lose marks, so submitting the best possible footage is important.
The good news for competitors is that Bronwyn thoroughly enjoyed the experience and has indicated that she would happily judge again for Dressage Online Shows in the future.
Team Competition Results
The team competition saw strong participation from Namibia, with riders delivering impressive performances.
First Place – “Dressurediven” (208.34 points)
- Kate Alison with Cheval Dansant Demarchelier (Patrick)
- Melanie Harrison with Seeis Anicia
- Julia Aschenborn with Seeis Echo
Second Place – “Die Wusten Reiter”
- Kate Alison with her jumper-turned-dressage stallion Chianti OT Lowlands Z
- Julia Aschenborn
- Lee Ann Smith with Esamini
Third Place – Wildcard Team from KwaZulu-Natal
- Tiffany Jane Herron with her young off-the-track Thoroughbred Royal Sequoia, competing in his first ever dressage test
- Kaylyn van der Berg with Star Crossed Romeo
- Shane Hopkins riding her daughter’s horse Boston
Just outside the placings was the Western Cape team, featuring:
- Louise Brown with her impressive Medium horses Compton Remember and Southerncross Auburn who also won the Medium 2 Class
- Her pupil Terry Lynn Barge, who rode her first ever dressage test on the Thoroughbred Polly Flinders. Well done Terry Lynn!
The League Has Begun
This event marked the first leg of the Dressage Online League, where riders accumulate points across the season toward year-end awards.
A heartfelt thank you to all riders who entered. It is incredibly encouraging to see the growing support for the shows, and the organisers are excited to continue expanding the league while providing riders with a positive and confidence-building competition experience.
Entries Open for the Next Show
Entries for the next Dressage Online League show close on 6 April, with tests available from Walk–Trot all the way through to Medium Tests 1 and 2.
Sponsorship Opportunities
Those looking to support dressage are invited to contribute sponsored prizes or items for rider prize boxes.
Any support is greatly appreciated.
