H&H dressage editor’s Area Festival video diary 2015: we’ve arrived

Welcome to the second part of Horse & Hound's dressage editor Alice Collins' video diary. Alice and 'Fab' will be competing in the Petplan Equine Medium Restricted Area Final at the NAF Five Star Winter Dressage Championships

In her second video diary, Horse & Hound‘s dressage editor Alice Collins introduces her ‘long-suffering’ trainer Keith Robertson. Keith has helped Alice produce Fab (Faconnable) from an unbacked three-year-old to competing at medium level at the age of eight.

Keith describes Fab as ‘special’ and gives Alice some useful advice during her final lesson and run-through of her test at home before heading off to Hartpury. Fab enjoys a wash and spruce-up, before being wrapped up and loaded on to the lorry. We also meet Fab’s small field companion, Rolo, who isn’t quite as cute as he might first appear!

After just over three hours of driving, Alice pulls into the venue at Hartpury and wastes no time getting Fab settled in to her indoor stable. Fab’s quite happy to be tucking into her feed and looks quite laid back about being away from home. She’s stabled next to top Scottish dressage pony Champagne Bubbles, while Alice is parked looking down on to the outdoor arenas.

Watch Alice and Fab’s first video diary

About the Area Festivals

The Area Festivals were set up to give amateur riders of all levels the opportunity to enjoy taking part in prestigious championship-style dressage shows. There are 19 Petplan Equine Area Festivals held at leading dressage venues across the UK from August to November each year. The shows give amateurs the chance to compete in true championship conditions and enjoy the experience of riding in the atmosphere of a top show.

Competing at the Area Festivals is an achievement in itself and more than 3,000 riders taking part each year. Those riders placed first to fourth at prelim to elementary and riders placed first or second at medium to prix st georges at each Area Festival during are invited to compete at the Area Festival Championships at the NAF Five Star Winter Dressage Championships.

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