Bermuda’s riders will compete in the Federation Equestre Internacionale World Dressage Challenge at the National Equestrian Centre at Vesey Street.

Two judges from the FEI, Anders Sucksdorff, of Finland, and Elke Elbert, of Germany, will visit Bermuda for the event which takes place tomorrow and Thursday.

Sucksdorff and Elbert will also travel to Haiti, Trinidad, Barbados, Cayman Islands and Jamaica, the other Caribbean nations competing in the challenge, over the next few months to access their riders.

The challenge, which will include 20 tests and 19 horse/rider combinations from preliminary to Prix St. George’s, is divided into 12 geographical zones, with the Caribbean region falling into zone ten.

Bermuda’s Dawn Fox claimed victory at the highest level of last year’s competition, the Prix St. George’s, on her horse Lancelot. She will be defending her title at this week’s event.

The aim of the competition is to give less experienced dressage riders who, under normal circumstances are unable take part in international competitions, the opportunity to compete at the top level without having to leave their own country.

All riders are judged on the same tests and by the same ground jury within each geographical zone. The challenge is a qualifier for the Central American and Caribbean competition.

Bermuda’s competitors:

Prix St-Georges

Paula George (Wiriana), Dawn Fox (Lancelot)

FEI World Dressage Challenge Preliminary — Children

Casey Truran (The Guardian), Elizabeth Madeiros (Mr Bentley) Courtney Bromby (Hey Dude), Hannah Simmons (Maximus), Robin Stempel (Happy Feet)

FEI World Dressage Challenge Preliminary — Adult

Erin Smith (Project Runway), Kelly Glazebrook (Carrot), Sarah Tomlinson (In Fashion), Ann Lindroth (Carolina Gold), Mary France Gaglio (Midori WF), Angela Halloran Smith (Finnomenal), Claire Salmon (G.P. Sophia)

FEI World Dressage Challenge Elementary — Children

Zoe Oleksak (Limited Edition)

FEI World Dressage Challenge Elementary

Michelle Ingham (Roseland), Angela Halloran Smith (Finnomenal), Cindy Redford (24 Carrot)

FEI World Dressage Challenge Medium

Dawn Fox (Landtango), Michael Rodrigues (Southern Eclipse)