Sophie Wells’ dressage blog: Farewell 2014
We have finally finished the competition season for 2014. It seems to have been a long year so it feels nice to take a deep breath and not be going out all the time!
Jorge (Fatal Attraction) is now qualified for the regionals at medium and medium freestyle, as well as the para winter championships alongside Reece (Valerius) who qualified automatically from the World Equestrian Games (WEG).
Noki (Pinocchio) and I did our first grand prix special at Vale View high profile show and it felt awesome. I was beaming all the way round as he felt enthusiastic and really tried hard, if not a little tired after the seven minute test! Reece also won the inter 1 at the show — only his second able-bodied test of the year, as we have been focusing on WEG for paras, so it was nice to freshen him up to end the season.
So although we have finished competing for 2014 I am now planning all the shows for 2015. My list writing has begun and the diary is already looking very busy. Having three rides and also helping Emma Sheardown with her horses means that we are looking jam-packed throughout the year.
We’ve also had our last squad training of the year — a final chance for the support team (pictured with some of my team at WEG) to see the horses before 2015 starts. It’s scary to think soon it will be the year before Rio!
I’ve had a few meetings with my current sponsors during the past couple of weeks, and it’s great to renew a few deals with Toggi, Champion and Weatherbeeta. My sponsors are such a massive part of the team and to have such good working relationships makes it a real pleasure. I’m looking forward to working on next year’s marketing plans.
Right, did someone mention Christmas? It would seem I need to write another list!
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Sophie Wells is a talented young dressage rider who has represented her country in both able-bodied and paralympic championships, winning team gold and two individual Grade IV silver medals at the London 2012 Paralympic Games.