DRESSAGE Ireland have disclosed the names of two more demo riders who will take part in this year’s DI judges’ gala. Sonya McCormack will ride the current five-year-old national champion Sosha Jakama, an Oldenburg-registered mare by Taurus. This combination recently competed at the CDIYH in Deauville, France, where they scored 77% to finish second in the preliminary test. They later placed fourth in the final on 68.9%.

Sorrell Klatzko, meanwhile, will demonstrate the Grand Prix work with Gladiator, whom she bred from her former Grand Prix horse Highlight. By the Millennium son Sir Sansibar, Gladiator took part in the judges’ gala as a five-year-old, and will offer judges the opportunity to assess the progression of a horse through the training system. The identities of two of the three remaining exhibition riders will be revealed next Saturday.

The guest presenter at this year’s gala, which is organised by the judges’ committee of DI but is open to all, is the 5* FEI Olympic judge Katrina Wuest, who will speak on ‘Principles in Practice - how to arrive at a mark’. The charge of €60 for judges and €65 for non-judges covers a full day’s training in both the lecture hall and indoor arena, and includes lunch. The gala will take place on October 10th in Kildalton College.