Blog: Wellington 2026 - Quick Pop-Over to the National Ring

-- Text and Photos © Astrid Appels - NO REPRODUCTION ALLOWED (no screenshots for social media!)
This article expresses Eurodressage's' eye-witness account and opinion.

My second week in Wellington of the one-month trip is the "national week" where no CDI is taking place, just a few national classes. At the same time on the Derby field a big jumper competition takes place so there is plenty of traffic between the rings.

Friday the 13th

I was only at the venue for five minutes on Friday morning 13 February 2026 and Friday the Thirteenth already popped up its ugly head. During Adrienne Lyle's Prix St Georges test on 10-year old Danish bred Hussmanns TopGun (by Totilas x Belissimo M) a "head's up" was screamed off the top of someone's lungs. A loose jumper horse galloped across the arena, performed a sliding stop, slid and fell into the fence. I turned myself around as I thought the horse would have broken its neck, but it got back up and continued to canter off into the international warm-up ring, where it was caught.  Meanwhile TopGun was on perfect behaviour, didn't get unsettled, and restarted his test in the second movement. 

I snapped some photos of the pairs that caught my interest in the two arenas where a PSG, Intermediaire I and II and a Grand Prix were going. Over in the training ring, several riders brought over horses for some schooling sessions, which was equally fun to watch.  Several pairs in the national ring still had a foam fest going on in their horse's mouth even though the use of marshmallow fluff, derivatives, foam concoctions based on lemon juice, and other witches' brews to make horses foam excessively are no longer allowed and definitely "frowned" upon. Today I saw international riders on new horses, as well as a handful of horses that are showing the ropes of competition with new riders.  Here is a quick photo report of the ones that caught my eye..

Out of the Cave

Life in Wellington has been good these past few days and my social battery charger is more than replenished with wonderful dinner parties and get-togethers. I'm getting fatter here in 10 days time than a goose being force-fed for its foie gras for Christmas. So much temptation. Even though I have been going to the gym every day, the calorie intake is far superior to what I burn off and I'm trying not to get mentally confused by panicking over it.

I have been living in a cave at home this past autumn and winter and it's nice to socialise and see people. Yesterday there were drinks and dinner at the Patio, where a cowboy-like looking fellow named Tom Dave "Doug" Blake, or something like that, sang beautiful a capella songs. Tonight I'm going for good-old American hormone spiked steak.. the best in the world, if you don't eat that too often. Bring it on.. Tomorrow there's another morning of national class photography before I'll whip myself into action at Crunch. Then.. hopefully.. I'll better my life and start making smart food choices... like salads and oysters.. I feel lunch at the Ocean Bar at The Breakers calling my name...

Carpe Diem

Related Links
Blog: Wellington 2026 - What's Your Flava?
Blog: Wellington 2026 - Welcome to the Jungle
Weather Plays "Where's Waldo" as Holzer and Vaughn Win 2026 CDI Wellington Grand Prix Classes
National Rides Draw the Attention at the 2026 CDI Wellington