This weekend marks the start of the 2013 Be the Influence Equestrian Grand Final qualifying series

David Shoobridge and OO Seven at the 2012 Sydney CDI 

Photograph:Julie Wilson.

Dressage and Jumping with the Stars, held at the Werribee Park Equestrian Centre, is the stage for this first dressage qualifier and there are four finalists from last year’s Grand Final among the list of accepted entries. 

2012 finalists David Shoobridge (OO Seven), Kerry Mack (Mayfield Pzazz), Gitte Donvig (Port Said 10) and Susan Paix (Sheer Etiquette) are among 11 combinations set to contest the opening round of the qualification series.

Riders will be looking to put a good score on the board in the first of the four round series which also includes the Sydney CDI3*, Brisbane CDI-W and NSW State Dressage Championships.  

The 12 combinations with the highest Grand Prix Freestlye scores from the four qualifying events will automatically qualify for the Final. Combinations must also post a score greater than 64 percent.

New South Wales combination David Shoobridge and KWPN stallion OO Seven were in fine form at the recent Boneo Park CDI-W, achieving a personal best Grand Prix score, however they couldn’t replicate this result in the Freestyle after something upset the 17 year old and the duo were forced to retire.

“He always has the most fun in the Freestyle but at Boneo he must have seen something that I didn’t because he became really unsettled, which is out of character for him. Normally he loves an audience and he was great at last year’s Grand Final where there was a huge audience. 

“At Boneo we scored over 68 precent in the Grand Prix, which is a first for us so we’ll be striving to go even better this weekend. We’d like to crack 70 precent before the end of the year and we’ll be working really hard to achieve this.”

“Since Boneo our training’s been going well and he feels great so hopefully we can achieve a good result this weekend,” Shoobridge said.

A strong field is expected to stand for this year’s Sydney Royal CSI1*-W which will take place on Wednesday 27^th March. The event marks the start of the 2013/2014 Australian league of the FEI World Cup and is also one of eight qualifying events for this year’s Be the Influence Equestrian Grand Final – Jumping.

The Be the Influence Equestrian Grand Final returns to New South Wales in 2013 when EQUITANA Sydney is staged at Sydney Showground from 7-10 November.