The buzz was back in the air and in the arena as the 2022 PSI Dressage & Jumping with the Stars showed again why it is such a standout event on the Australian equestrian calendar.
PSI Dressage and Jumping with the Stars is truly a world-class event, and with all the borders open and international judges and riders back, 2022 was bigger and better than ever. Organiser Lizzy Schirmer and her team decked Werribee Park Equestrian Centre up to the nines, and with a superb trade village and exhilaratingly competitive classes there was much to see and enjoy!
The Four-Year-Old Jumping Champion was Yandoo Evergreen (Caracas x Couleur Rubin) ridden by Jamie Winning-Kermond, with the pair scoring 87.833% in the final. The Five-Year-Old Jumping Champion was the stunning grey stallion Yalambi’s Messiah (Cardento x Heartbreaker) owned and ridden by Caitlin Bolger.
The Six-Year-Old Jumping Championship continued the theme of successful greys, with Yirrkala Celeste (Christian x Escudo) ridden and owned by James Harvey, claiming the championship. The Seven-Year-Old Jumping Champion was won by Diamond B Bedazzled (Baluga x Vivant) with a highlight score of 89.166% in the first round. Champion of Champions was awarded to Caitlin Bolger’s stallion, Yalambi’s Messiah; the combination resides in Western Australia but with results like these, the trip was definitely worth it for the pair!
Billy Raymont continued to show off his prowess winning the FEI World Cup Qualifier on Black Jack IXE owned by Darren Wilson, Janelle Whalley and Kerry Langbecker. DJWTS also saw the retirement of Billy’s long-time World Cup horse, Anton, who has been hugely successful at the elite level in Australia over many years, winning an impressive 11 World Cup classes.
Rhys Stones and Othello MVNZ started in the lead from round one in the Current Stars and continued their success to produce two clear rounds to secure the Current Stars Championship.
“Mary Hanna and the beautiful
Syriana were back-to-back winners.”
MARY HANNA GOES BACK-TO-BACK
With the first CDI to feature in-person international judges since the start of the pandemic, there certainly was a vibe coming into this CDI-W Grand Prix. Mary Hanna and the beautiful Syriana were back-to-back winners in the CDI-W Short Grand Prix and the Grand Prix Freestyle. Jayden Brown and WillingaPark Sky Diamond were runner-up in both classes. Jayden continued his success on WillingaPark Quincy B in the Prix St Georges Cup, with a highlight score of 77.647% in the Prix St Georges.
Serena Ireland and Royalty R were the winners of the Aachen Challenge, a class that was this year supported by Rob and Mary Hanna. This was a true testament to Serena’s training and riding; the icing on the cake for the pair is that it is a competition Serena has been dreaming of winning since she was 12.
In the Pony classes, the Four-Year-Old Dressage Pony went to Caitlyn Porter and Mr Right Now, the Five-Year-Old Dressage Pony went to Brookside Grand Illusion and Leisha Salter, and the Six-Year-Old Dressage Pony was won by Brookside Shazam and Annie Creed – with the latter being crowned Champion of Champions.
In the Young Horse classes, the Four-Year-Old Dressage Champion was the exciting gelding JMH Frankly (For Romance x Sunny Boy) ridden by Emma Hayward and owned by Jami Hurley. The Five-Year-Old Dressage Champion was the electric WillingaPark Miana (Franklin x Bordeaux) ridden by Jayden Brown and owned by Terry and Ginette Snow. The Six-Year-Old Champion was the beautiful SPH Fortino (Bluefields Floreno x Donna Carina) ridden by Robbie McKinnon and owned in partnership with her husband, Dave. The Seven-Year-Old Champion was the super stallion WillingaPark Fangio (Flanell x Weingold) ridden by Jayden Brown and owned by Terry and Ginette Snow. The Champion of Champions was awarded to SPH Fortino.
One thing is for sure, the standard of dressage and jumping in Australia continues to rise and it will be exciting to see what Australia can produce next year.
ROBBIE’S GORGEOUS BOY ‘FRANKIE’
We took the opportunity to talk to Robbie McKinnon about her gorgeous SPH Fortino, aka ‘Frank’.
This is the first horse you have achieved the massive 89% with – and only 0.2 off 90%! Does he feel as amazing to ride as he looks?
“Mostly, yes he does! Frank is a performer. He loves a crowd and lifts in the arena. That is something you don’t feel on many horses so it’s something I really enjoy.”
All talented horses have the most superb personalities and quirks, tell us about his…
“Frank is very much a personality. He’s kind of the stable clown, not always something we appreciate but it is still endearing. He throws his feed bin out of his stable at 6am every morning ready for breakfast and has a habit of trying to pull his rugs off when he’s not the centre of attention. He also crosses his front legs when his ice boots go on.”
How did you come to acquire him?
“We bought Frankie in 2017 as a yearling from Andrea Beatty. He was a rather little, scrawny fellow but we could see something there and his breeding was very good too. He was in with two other colts/geldings. We bought him home and turned him out in a large paddock to grow up with some friends.”
What was what first thing that stood out about him to you?
“First thing was that he was small! But he was a great colour like his dad. We really loved that he had three good, basic paces and really lovely shoulder freedom.”
What did you think of Charlott Schürmann’s ride on Frankie? Has he been exposed to many other riders, or have you just been his main rider prior to this?
“She was honestly fantastic! I think it helps that she was small and clearly fitted with him quite well, but I like the way she played with him. It wasn’t a pressured ride but more of an experimental one, and he responded so well to that. She really got him upping the ante. She may have herself a horse if she ever moved to Australia!
“Dave (McKinnon, Robbie’s husband) and I have shared the training of Frank. If I’m unsure about something it helps if Dave can have a feel and vice versa. So we swap sometimes. Frank has also had some of our grooms and students sit on him occasionally for a feel of something we might want to explain.”
With horses it is always a gamble and lots of keeping your fingers crossed, but do you have any future plans for him?
“It really is a fingers crossed type thing. We do everything in our power to keep the horses on a steady path to Grand Prix, and that is always our goal eventually. But this takes a lot of management and time. So here is hoping we get him to that point. You never know what the future holds but I think for now we will keep training him at home.”
You and Dave have successfully trained many horses to FEI and Grand Prix, what do you look for in youngsters?
“Three good basic paces and a want to work. It’s not always that easy picking them as babies. It’s always a gamble buying them young. But sometimes they surprise you when you start getting them going and they are positive and forward thinking. These are fairly important traits.”
What is your training program like for your team of horses?
“Monday and Tuesday it is arena rides; Wednesday cross training over poles or trail rides; Thursday, ride in the arena; Friday, arena ride or hack out, depending on the horse.”
Do you and David work together as a pair when it comes to training, i.e., eyes on the ground for each other or bouncing training ideas and tools off each other? If so, how do you feel that benefits you?
“Yes, we do most of the time. We have our couple fights, for sure! Half the time we have a domestic then the next time I try what was suggested and realise it was a good idea! But we do help each other daily. We both have our strengths and weaknesses and use each other as eyes on the ground. We are very lucky like that.”
It was super exciting the standard at PSI DJWTS, but what do you think of the standard of dressage in Australia with many of our top riders and horses choosing to relocate overseas?
“I think it is a great idea to get experience overseas. In the time Dave spent training with Lyndal (Oatley) and Patrik (Kittel) in Germany, it really opened our eyes to the standard of riding over there. Our horses here are good but we certainly have a long way to go before we are riding as well as them.
“We want to make a special mention of our sponsors. They are Pryde’s EasiFeed, Performance Saddlefits, Equine Performance and Wellbeing, Caroline Foote, Ainsley Park, QJ Riding Wear and Diamond Deluxe Horsewear.” EQ
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