Competitive spirit is what we enjoy most in our equestrian sports, whether it is at the elite level at world-class venues or down-to-earth Aussie grit at the local showgrounds.
From the ozone-infused panoramas of Bawley Point and the Mornington Peninsula – to a sleepy outpost in the Hunter region – competitive riding is alive and kicking across Australia. Does it get any better than Mary Hanna and Jayden Brown in full flight at Willinga Park’s Dressage by the Sea? Mary and Syriana rose to the occasion while Jayden flew the flag high for Willinga Park across all the classes. They both clocked up their MERs and were happy to share their excitement with Adele Severs, who was on the scene for us.
Clocking those MERs was clear-cut for them, but not for several others, as Heath Ryan explains in his Ryan’s Rave column. Was the JSP asleep at the wheel, and did it take intervention from the riders to correct the scores? Read on, Heath is all over this!
Mary, by the way, has thrown her support behind the revised Aachen Challenge. As Susie Hoevenaars explains, 25 years since its inception, the challenge is still a valuable springboard for one lucky young dressage rider to earn a trip to CHIO Aachen.
Back at Boneo Park earlier last month, there was plenty of excitement at the Australian Jumping Championships. Queenslander Olivia Hamood tells us her victory in the Senior title on her delightfully named Belgian warmblood mare – Jane Fonda DVD – is still sinking in. We also catch up with Madeline Sinderberry, who at 21 has added to her crowded trophy cabinet by taking out the Young Rider Championship in a thrilling jump-off, and nailing the Future Stars Final.
Over in Europe, Australian dressage star Lyndal Oatley has been busy with her Grand Prix horses Elvive and Eros as she strives for World Championship selection. But it is her new mare, Dante’s Herzchen, who is stealing the limelight. After ‘Herzi’ won her Prix St Georges debut with 78.69%, Lyndal tells how she can’t wait to see what’s ahead for the mare.
Meanwhile, far away from the glamour of Ankum, Willinga Park or Boneo Park, another milestone in Australian equestrian folklore was being established. Against the backdrop of a weapons range at Salt Ash (population 1099), three generations of the one family all competed at the same event on the same day. Roger Fitzhardinge documents the remarkable story of Ann-Maree Lourey, her daughter Dimity and granddaughter Kara in our Equestrian Families feature.
Para dressage rider Emma Booth knows what competitiveness is, having shone for Australia at two Paralympics. In a piece from the heart, Emma opens up about what it will take for Australia’s para stars to fulfil their potential at the World Championships and Paris Games.
Of course, you never get anywhere without training. Roger Fitzhardinge talks to the experts about how to master the walk pirouette – while it’s not all that difficult, it’s hard to ever get top marks!
Amanda Young stirs the pot this issue by raising the chestnut of mares versus geldings. You tell a gelding what to do, while you politely ask a mare, is the old adage, but is there any truth to it? Amanda’s feature provides plenty of fodder for this endless debate.
One equestrian who has a bias towards mares is Michelle James, owner of Penny Hill Park Warmblood stud near Perth. Michelle explains why she has a passion for mares and maintains a lineage that has high heritability traits for dressage characteristics.
As always, Dr Maxine Brain keeps us abreast of health issues, this time focusing on hernias in horses, a condition that is fairly common in foals, but which is readily treatable.
Suzy Jarratt entertains us as usual in her Horses and Movies series with a wrap of a The Last Duel. The film lasts almost two hours, she says, but “it seems so much longer”.
We all need a laugh now and then! EQ
Robert McKay AM
Contributors
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HEATH RYANNational equestrian personality, international dressage and eventing rider, Olympian, judge, coach and breeder, Heath is never backward in offering his unique insights into the sport and industry.
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ROGER FITZHARDINGEAs a judge, coach, competitor and commentator, Roger’s passion to tell the real stories behind the horses and horse people shines through in his unique brand of equestrian photojournalism.
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DR MAXINE BRAINDr Maxine Brain is an equine vet dedicated to achieving optimal equine health and performance with her team at Kilmore Equine Clinic, which she founded.
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SUZY JARRATTSuzy has a rich background in newspaper journalism and radio broadcasting in NSW and nationally, and last year won an international award for equestrian journalism.
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EMMA BOOTHPara-dressage rider and two-time Paralympian Emma Booth does more than ride; she is in demand as a public speaker and also has a talent for letting personalities shine through the written word.
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AMANDA YOUNGHaving previously competed to FEI level in eventing, Amanda Young is now involved in both English and Western disciplines as a competitor, breeder and journalist.
Published by
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