Victorian dressage rider Maree Tomkinson set sail for Germany in February with five horses, determined to place herself at the heart of the sport and produce her team to the best of their abilities. A few months in – and with winter thankfully behind her – she’s now ready to hit the competition circuit and mix it with the best.

ROGER: Where are you based now?

MAREE: I have been based at Zetta Sport in Krefeld near Dusseldorf since leaving Australia in February. Originally Tayla Desmet and I were going to fulfil our ambitions and train in Europe earlier, but when the time came close, my father was very ill and I felt could not leave and so I stayed behind to help with my father’s future outcome and Tayla went ahead late in 2019. The property has wonderful facilities and I am very comfortable here, and more importantly, so are my horses – not to mention the fabulous arena surfaces and the facilities.

ROGER: Who is your trainer and why were they your choice?

MAREE: Ton de Ridder is training us. I worked with Ton when he was adviser to the Australian dressage team leading in to the Rio Olympics. The most fabulous thing about Ton is that he is always invested with the people he trains and takes the rider and horses as a complete unit and really works on the whole rounded combination, both physically but also mentally, and keeps the positivity at a high level. He was at the Sydney 2000 Olympics with his wife (Alexandra Simons de Ridder) riding, and the wonderful Chacomo was part of Germany’s gold medal team. I admired their positivity and that wonderful horse way back then.

ROGER: Who are the horses you have in training and what levels are they at?

MAREE: Donna Elena has been out of the sport for some time, but is ready to go out at Grand Prix now and has never felt better and I am very excited by her attitude and work. It was a long, dedicated road getting her back to this position and that alone has been seriously positive – to get her in the competition arena will be the icing on the cake. I think she is super-talented and we have a great partnership and I look forward to competing soon.

Total Diva, by Totilas out of Diamantina, starts at Inter II and Grand Prix for young horses. I think she is a supreme athlete and I enthuse about her desire to work. It is just time and experience now.

Friday IV is by Fürstenball out of Diamantina and a six-year-old. Australian Paralympian Emma Booth is trying to qualify her for the FEI World Championships in Herning. This mare is exceptional and to see Emma riding her is seriously totally inspiring!

Imagine II is by Ibiza out of St Moritz; she is a five-year-old and outstanding and seriously a dream to work with. She has outstanding ability and it’s up to my team and myself to show her in the best way. She has it all. She will be shown at this stage in the young horse classes.

Fürst Deluxe is another by Fürstenball and is competing well at Small Tour. It’s amazing to see this big athlete with Emma on board, as she’s been riding him as well as Friday IV. He is truly a gentleman and with plenty of talent and for sure will go on to be special.

ROGER: Do you have any Aussies around you?

MAREE: Mary Hanna is just up the road and we have known each other for a long time; it’s so good to have her here too. Emma Booth and then Tayla Desmet and her great parents are here close as well, and of course our association goes back a long way and what great enthusiasts indeed.

ROGER: What is the best thing about being in Germany?

MAREE: Everything! Having a team of like-minded people and Andre working for me, from Portugal. Andre is a groom and a great rider and keen and enthusiastic all-round help. As you know, my horses want for nothing and their welfare is the utmost to me. Andre is a man of my own heart and a delight in the mix of producing my team to the best they can be.

ROGER: What is the hardest thing about being in Germany?

MAREE: Many things happen very slowly… bank, cars, chemists, paperwork, you name it… it is boring, meticulous and takes forever to get it done. Being impulsive and wanting it now, I am learning to accept the dotting of every I and the crossing of every T!

This answer also depends on the day: it can be the cold, the sleet, no sun for weeks on end. However, it’s a place where I feel that everyone around me is focused and connected towards producing the best they can each and every day.

ROGER: Do you need to speak German to train there?

MAREE: No, but I do have a reasonable grasp of the German language and that makes it easier, but everyone here speaks English to some degree.

ROGER: What are you missing the most about Australia?

MAREE: Nothing but for Diamantina. She has been the reason I am here; the reason I want to keep at this with her progeny here. She is stabled and being hand-walked and grazing in-hand several times a day – the way she likes it – and I can turn on my video cameras whenever I want and see her happy and spoilt for all she gave me. Regardless, I miss being nearer to her but at least I know that she is in the best of hands.

ROGER: What is it like to organise competition entries and does Equestrian Australia (EA) help?

MAREE: Yes, Brett Davey is the newly appointed High Performance Dressage Manager and he is so good. He calls, and I discuss the CDI competitions I want to go to and he does the rest. He is friendly and on our side, and it’s so refreshing to have him in EA. He really understands the process as he too was a rider of high regard. It’s up to me to get organised with the national classes, and Ton (de Ridder) aids in this selection.

ROGER: What do you want to achieve whilst you are overseas?

MAREE: I want to give my horses the chance to become the best they can and to enjoy the journey to that place with enthusiastic owners who really are also enjoying the ride.

ROGER: Who is your greatest supporter?

MAREE: I have to say my parents, Kathleen and Paul. Though my father has passed away, his attitude and dedication and determination to pursuing being the best possible person I can be stays with me every day and I think how lucky I was to have him on my side, as he still is. Of course, Kathleen is never far away and an absolute wonderfully positive person in my life and totally unselfish and encouraging for me to pursue my ambitions. I am lucky!

Without my wonderful owners of the horses – Lyn Sultan, Susan Gorst and Deb McNicol – where the hell would I be? They are truly inspiring and my greatest supporters and nothing gives my heart and soul more pleasure than to see them side by side with me and the horses on our way to being the best we can be!

ROGER: What do you do in your spare time?

MAREE: Well, what spare time really! I love to watch other horses, and if I have time I go and watch Mary or Tayla at a competition. I love that. I love to compare and contrast and that is what makes the world go around. I love the horse and the welfare aspect. I love the camaraderie and to help out to make the work lighter whenever I get time, that makes me feel good.

I am not here to socialise, shop and swan around. I am on a mission to make the most of every day, to learn and help and be helped. I don’t worry what others are up to; I only think of my horses and the pursuit to become better.

Now I have a little two-horse truck, we are free to get to competitions and get out there and experience the sport at its best. I can’t wait to be a part of that mix and pursue the horses’ best abilities with great riding, training and management. EQ

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE TO READ:

Tayla & Maus Nail German Small Tour – Equestrian Life, June 2022

Maree Tomkinson: No Time For Mediocrity – Equestrian Life, November 2021