14/9/21
From: Dressage NZ Board
Dear Riders
Expressions of interest for campaign towards potential selection to the ECCO FEI World Dressage Championships Herning, Denmark 6- 14 August 2022
This is an Open Letter to all ESNZ | Dressage New Zealand [‘DNZ’] members who are riding at Small Tour and above.
This is an exciting period for dressage. The ECCO FEI World Championships Herning, Denmark 2022 [‘WCH’] is less than 12 months away. Paris 2024, WCH 2026, Los Angeles 2028, WCH 2030 and Brisbane 2032 are also on the horizon. With this in mind, Dressage New Zealand is piloting a new and transparent process for gauging rider interest in participating in international competitions.
DNZ is making plans to support a team of Grand Prix dressage combinations at WCH 2022. As a starting point, DNZ is seeking Expressions of Interest from riders who wish to campaign towards potential selection to the WCH 2022. This will be followed up with information sessions so that all interested combinations can be confident of the steps necessary to be in contention for consideration by the ESNZ Dressage High Performance Selectors. The selection of team members is entirely a matter for the ESNZ High Performance.
We are sending this Open Letter in the hope that as many riders as possible will indicate their interest in campaigning for potential selection to the WCH 2022. This Expression of Interest process is not obligatory. Its purpose is to obtain information from riders as early as possible for support and planning purposes. If you know someone who might be interested, but who has not received this Open Letter, please feel free to let us know or to email the Open Letter to them.
We aren’t forgetting about our wider dressage community either. We know they will be 100% behind our WCH 2022 dressage team. DNZ will also be putting this Open Letter on the DNZ Website and will be sending it to potential sponsors.
Support
While DNZ is not in a financial position to provide campaign funding, the Board has already committed funding at a minimum of $20,000 in support of costs for each of the team riders who are travelling to Denmark following their selection for New Zealand’s WCH 2022 dressage team. The payment will be made upon receipt of approved expenses incurred or by direct payment to external providers as required.
The proceeds of official fundraising activities will also be offered to the riders who are selected. The team will also receive some logistical support from ESNZ High Performance.
Next steps
This Open Letter is intended as an invitation for Expressions of Interest from riders who wish to campaign towards potential selection for the New Zealand Dressage Team for the WCH 2022. If you are interested, here is what to do next:
Step 1: RSVP with your Expression of Interest
Please email [email protected] by 30 September 2021 confirming your interest in campaigning for the WCH 2022.
Please confirm your full name and a contact phone number.
Please tell us if you want your Expression of Interest to remain confidential to the DNZ Board and ESNZ High Performance Selectors prior to the WCH 2022 selection date. If you don’t get your Expression of Interest in by 30 September 2021, or don’t want to follow this process, don’t worry. You can put your name forward to be considered for selection at any time. DNZ simply wants to reach as many riders as possible, and to do so as early as possible.
Step 2: Information sheet
We will circulate a general information sheet explaining the selection criteria, the selection process and the timelines.
Step 3 : General information meeting
We know you will have questions about next steps and how to prepare for your campaign. The DNZ Board and ESNZ High Performance Selectors are planning to hold Zoom meetings to connect with riders and share information regularly. These sessions will review the selection criteria, the selection process and the timelines. You will have the opportunity to submit questions in advance or to ask questions or raise issues that the Board may need to think about. If you can’t make it, the session will be recorded and can be accessed afterwards.
Step 4: Individual information meetings
We are happy to engage with individual riders to provide more specific information.
We are looking forward to hearing from you.
Bring on a kiwi dressage team for WCH 2022 on our way to Paris.
Yours faithfully
Dressage NZ Board