In 1984 Arnold Morgan, the husband of List 1 & FEI 'O' Int Judge
Domini Morgan, suggested that she should find a way to give young
people opportunities to show how much interest and talent they had
for dressage, even if their parents were not able to buy them a trained
horse to compete in the very few competitions of that era. At first
the committee were dubious, but eventually agreed that this idea
could provide riders for the future and asked her to formulate a
plan which, when publicised, would show whether there was enough
interest. To everyone's surprise, when the competition was announced
in 1985 the dressage office received over 200 entries!In the first
years, each rider could bring any horse, as long as it was sound,
to one of several equestrian centres around the U.K., which were
made freely available. After the welcome, they rode two at a time
in front of the two assessors, both of whom had competed at a high
level, some of them internationally.After watching them "riding
in" for a few minutes, they asked each rider to show their horse
in an easy Novice test which was commanded for them and, immediately
afterwards, to come to the assessors and tell them what the horse
had done well and what they had found difficult. The test was marked
normally and marks were also awarded for the understanding and "feel" shown
by the summing up. One rider from every ten riders was offered a
free 2-day course the following spring, again with a current or former
Advanced rider on the first day and joined on the second by another
equally experienced assessor. Both gave their marks for an easy Novice
test and for the summary of their performance, with the benefit of
the advice they had received to help them. One rider from each course
qualified for the Final later in the year: all riders were given
some positive suggestions to work on. With enormous enthusiasm Pammy
Hutton and her Mother, Molly Sivewright, generously provided Talland
Equestrian Centre's horses, which the competitors had never ridden,
together with competition facilities, for many years. The same format
was followed, albeit with a more difficult novice test, each rider
riding 2 horses, After lunch, the 2 highest placed riders from the
morning session each rode 2 trained horses and were asked to try
some more difficult transitions and movements and, afterwards, to
sum up the good points and any problems that had arisen to the two
fresh assessors, who also were current or former Advanced competitors
as well as top level judges. Prizes of training vouchers ensured
that placed riders could continue to "iron out"
any problems with little financial outlay. This system gave about
30 riders the chance to catch the eye of experts on 3 days and the
last 8 on 4 occasions. It influenced the careers of Daniel Sheriff,
who has produced many Advanced horses, of John Bowen, who has become
a respected trainer, Joanna Jackson and Carl Hester, both of whom
were given top horses to ride internationally and for whom many doors
were opened. Paul Hayler who was narrowly beaten in the Final one
year is also training and encouraging young riders himself.
For assessors, the amount of natural
talent, and above all "feel"
which was shown by riders who had had little or no tuition on inexperienced
horses was an inspiration every year. Many people were surprised at
how much it shone out.
In 1994 Ian Woodhead set up a Pony Spotting
scheme similar to the Talent Spotting, for pony riders between 8-16
yrs riding ponies of 14.2hh &
under. Riders who were 'spotted' at the days went straight through
to the Final which was held at the Talland School of Equitation, but
riders rode their own ponies, with the exception of one or two who
were kindly lent to them by Talland.
A new format of the Talent Spotting
scheme was introduced in 2002. This new format amalgamates all age
groups with riders performing a special test that was specifically
written for this purpose by Jane Kidd.
The age groups are from 10 - 16 yrs
(riding ponies only), 14 -18 yrs, 18 - 21 yrs. The age groups are as
close to F.E.I. levels as possible with the exception, that pony riders
can take part at 10 yrs old rather than 12.
The British Dressage Supporters Club
has been involved with Talent Spotting since its fruition and sponsor
the training grants awarded to riders at the Final.
BDSC would be very happy to hear from
any past Talent Spotters as to what they are doing now
