Fiona Stryjewski from Tynholm near Kirkcudbright, Dumfries and Galloway has been competing in Dressage since 2009 and during that time she has been selected for the Scottish Dressage team at different levels and on three different horses.
At the start of June Fiona and her horse Devon-B gained their first grading point at the highest dressage level there is – Grand Prix.
Fiona said ” In April this year we also completed our first Grand Prix Freestyle – this is where we get to put together our own test to music including prescribed movements. The Freestyle tests do not carry any grading points so it is only now do I know we are officially a “Grand Prix” combination.”
In 2014 Fiona was lucky enough to be able to buy her current horse Devon-B . He is a Dutch warmblood meaning he is bred for dressage and she bought him when he was 5 years old.
Fiona said “We have trained together up through the levels over the last 11 years, helped by different coaches on the ground at different stages of our training and we surpassed what was my ultimate dream of riding at Prix St George back in 2020 – this is the level that you are permitted to compete in a tailcoat. We have been working our way through the different grades and have picked up many Regional, Scottish and indeed one National title along the way.
Many of the competitors in dressage do this for a living, I am one of the few at this level who holds down a full time job and competes as a hobby, I can also say that I have produced my horse by myself – without him being sent to a professional to teach him the harder movements.
To my knowledge I am the first in Dumfries and Galloway to have competed at the level and about the 12th person in Scotland over the last 16 years since British Dressage started keeping online records.
We are the current Scottish National Champion at Intermediate 2 level and Scottish Regional Dressage Summer 2024 Inter 1 Silver Champions and this year we have now qualified for the Scottish National Championship at Grand Prix and Grand Prix Freestyle (to music).
Devon is 17 now and we will only have a few more years of competition left – we will be aiming to improve on our scores and enjoy our achievement. I would like to thank everyone who has helped and supported us along our way and in particular Stewartry Sports council who have helped with grants enabling us to attend Championships which are always miles away and to my parents who look after things at home while we are away chasing our dream.
Hopefully what Devon and I have achieved will inspire others and show that if you surround yourself with good coaches, are prepared to listen and work hard, we are proof that your dreams can be achieved.”
