Equestrian Canada (EC) is pleased to announce the second of its free dressage webinars, Trends in Dressage, featuring Canada’s only FEI 5* Dressage Judges: retired FEI 5* Dressage and Eventing Judge, Cara Whitham and FEI 5* Dressage Judge, Elizabeth (“Lib”) McMullen.

Trends in Dressage

Date: Friday May 22, 2020
Time: 6:00-7:00 p.m. EDT
To Register Click HERE

Has dressage changed over the last few decades? Where do our 5* judges see the sport heading in the future? How do the marks given during a test reflect the idea of the training scale? Find out what the judges’ thoughts are on the latest changes to judging the FEI Childrens Test and if it would be beneficial to have this type of judging for other tests. Our panel looks forward to answering your questions and shedding light on the trends in dressage.

The webinar will be moderated by EC certified Competition Coach Specialist and Dressage Judge, Ron King of Ottawa, ON.

Registration is required. Please note this webinar will be offered in English only. Questions in French are welcome. Questions (in English or French) should be submitted in advance to chmajerus@equestrian.ca. Due to time constraints, it may not be possible to answer all questions during the webinar; however, we will endeavour to respond to unanswered questions by email. The session will be recorded and published at a later date on EC’s social media channels.

For more information, please contact Celine Hutchison Majerus, Coordinator, Dressage, at chmajerus@equestrian.ca.

About Lib McMullen

Lib McMullen of Tottenham, ON, is an accomplished international dressage judge. In addition to having achieved the FEI’s highest accreditation, 5*, Lib is also qualified as an EC Senior Dressage Judge, USEF Senior Dressage Judge and FEI Young Horse Dressage judge.

During her judging career, Lib has judged FEI competitions in England, Poland, Holland, Australia, Italy, Brazil, Ukraine, Russia, Honduras, Costa Rica, Columbia, France, Spain, Germany, USA and Canada.

As a FEI 5* Dressage Judge, Lib is currently one of only 36 Dressage Judges worldwide qualified to judge at World Equestrian Games (WEG) and the Olympic Games. Her judging highlights include: WEG in Normandy, FRA, and Jerez, ESP; The World Cup Finals in Paris, FRA, and Gothenburg, SWE; several North American Youth Championships; and The Pan American, Asian and Central American Games.

As an EC certified High Performance 1 Coach, Lib conducts clinics and seminars throughout Canada, the United States and Central America. As Guatemala’s National Dressage Coach from 2005-2011, Lib guided them to the top of the podium for the Team and Individual Gold at the 2006 Central American Games.

About Cara Witham

Cara has had a celebrated career as a judge and continues to mentor many judges in Canada and around the world. She has held the record of being the only official to obtain FEI 5* judging credentials for both dressage and eventing. Plus, she received FEI status as a Dressage Technical Delegate, Eventing Steward and Dressage Course Director.

Cara’s judging career has taken her around the world and to the very top of the sport. She was appointed Technical Delegate of Dressage for WEG 2018 in Tryon, NC. Cara was appointed to the Dressage Ground Jury for the 2003 and 2011 Pan Am Games, the 2005 European Dressage Championships and WEG 2010.

In addition, Cara has been instrumental to the competition system in Canada. She has organized over 200 national and 30 international competitions and held the position of Technical Advisor for the Coup des Ameriques in Blainville, QC – which was the first FEI dressage team competition held within North or South America. Cara also founded the Canadian FEI Youth Championships and was a leader in introducing the Event and Dressage Young Horse classes in Canada.

A former Manager and Director of Dressage for EC, Cara has given back to the organization throughout her long and illustrious career, providing invaluable service through various volunteer roles, including Chair of the former Dressage Canada Committee and being an EC Category A Member, as well as having been the Chair of the Officials’ Task Force.

About Ron King

Ron spent time living and training in Germany in the nineties with dressage rider Herbert Naeher and jumper Thomas Michel, where he furthered his knowledge of dressage and training horses.

Ron began coaching students from Training to the FEI level when he moved back to Canada in 1998. Shortly thereafter, he opened his own training and coaching business, Blueprint Farm.
Since 2001, Ron has been very active in preparing horses for the famous biannual RCMP Auction. In addition, he taught in the equine program at the former University of Guelph, Kemptville Campus. Ron is an EC certified Dressage Judge and Competition Coach Specialist.