Kaye Ah Sam named Rider of the Year

Kaye Ah Sam received the prestigious award at the organisation's annual prize-giving ceremony in Whangarei last month as recognition for her performances both domestically and further afield.

In the past 12 months, the 32-year-old has won Dressage Northland championships in level 5 and level 2, and also reserve champion in level 2, while riding four thoroughbreds from Matthews Hanoverians ("Dressage horses bred to perform") in Awanui: Dante MH, Diva's Glory MH, Sandrina MH and Bardot MH.

The award capped off a highly successful 12 months for Ah Sam and Dante MH in particular, the pair also winning a national title in the Musical Freestyle discipline in the New Zealand-wide Accumulator Series, as well as winning musical freestyle at three different championship shows during the season.

Dante also finished runner-up at the recent Horse of the Year Show.

Many in the province know the Rider of the Year title was just reward for the work Ah Sam has put in to upping her dressage game, having only been competing in this class for less than two years since returning home from an extended stint in Australia during the past decade where she was working with horses and riding competitively,

One who has witnessed her rapid development was national instructor, hilip Oxenius, Bereita FN. At Matthews Hanoverians last week delivering a dressage clinic for riders from throughout the region, the German-born Oxenius said Ah Sam's rapid learning curve over the past 18 months since the pair had begun working together was an impressive one.

"She has started to ride the horse, she sits on the horse, getting a feel for the horse. Training the muscles which help the horse become strong, more athletic, lighter - not heavier - on its feet," said Oxenius, adding that he had only recently returned from working with top riders and horses in Europe and the United States.

"The improvement is really noticeable. [Dressage is about] Doing it again and again and again ..."

Dressage Northland presented five awards on the night for Rider of the Year, Young Rider of the Year (Rebecca Donovan of Kaitaia), Judge of the Year (Carol Going), Best Newcomer (Ella Thomas) and Most Improved Combination (Kerry Holland of Broadwood).

The ceremony was held at Barge Park in conjunction with the annual prize-givings for the three other equestrian groups in Northland: showjumping, showhunter and eventing; and more on the other Far North winners will feature shortly.