CWA's programme manager of Equine Studies, Emma Pewter, won both Individual and Team silver medals at the MCI (Masters Cheval Iberique) European Dressage Championships, held recently in Paris.
The four day-long annual competition sees national teams from Belgium, the Netherlands, France, Italy and Spain compete against each other for the MCI European Champion titles.
Emma had to perform two separate tests; a dressage test, followed by a freestyle test set to music the next day. Scores from each were combined to decide the overall individual European champion. Emma took silver after missing out narrowly – by just 1% - to a competitor from Italy.
Her score in the individual went towards the overall Team MCI GB score, which placed them in silver medal position with the Belgian team and the French team taking gold and bronze respectively.
Emma competed with her horse, San Rafael, a 21-year-old Lusitano stallion which is owned and trained by herself.
Emma is the Programme Manager for Equine Studies at CWA’S Cambridge Campus where she has regularly taken ‘Rafa’ to be handled by students, who have prepared him for competitions.
Emma said:
“I could not be more proud of my horse. I’m also delighted that the CWA students got so involved in following our success. They found the professional videos of my tests and the opening and medal ceremonies on YouTube so were all congratulating me when I got back. Hopefully this has motivated and inspired them and shown that you do not need a mega expensive horse to follow your dreams – you can make them come true through correct training and dedication.
A few days after we returned from Paris, we won the Prix St Georges and Advanced Medium Lusitano Championships at the Nettex British Dressage Associated Championships at Bury Farm, Bedfordshire, to finish off our competition season in style. Rafa will now have a well-deserved break from competing over the winter, and I will see how he feels in the Spring before deciding whether we will aim for the MCI European Championships in Milan next year."
