Are we going to get an Australian dressage team qualified in time for the World Championships? Why am I so concerned about our dressage selection criteria? Should the stars align in time, here are my leading contenders for the dressage and eventing teams.

THE TOP 15 EVENTERS VYING FOR THE AUSTRALIAN TEAM

The following 15 eventers are in order of merit according to my reckoning. The “Heath” criteria is the lowest score (which is in penalties, so the lower the score the better) at a 4* or 5* three-day event. In today’s language this is called a CCI4*L or a CCI5*L. The Australian selectors have indicated that they will also consider one-day event results, which is called a CCI4*S. I don’t think there is such a thing as a 5* one-day event. The Australian selectors have indicated that they will exercise flexibility in their selection efforts to produce the best four Australian riders for the FEI World Championships in Pratoni de Vivaro, Italy, from 14-18 September 2022. So, the “Heath” criteria is a little different to what the Australian selectors might use.

1. Andrew Hoy and his Olympic Team Silver Medal and Individual Bronze Medal horse from Tokyo, Vassily de Lassos, has his Tokyo score of 29.6 penalties. For the moment, this puts Andrew in the pole position for Australian selection. This score may well get challenged at the Melbourne International Three-Day Event (MI3DE) this coming June long weekend. But as of this moment, Andrew Hoy and Vassily de Lassos is my No. 1 selection.

2. Kevin McNab and Scuderia 1918 A Best Friend is the No. 2 selection for Australia. This is not Kevin’s Tokyo Team Silver Medal horse, so Kevin is in a great position with great depth in his horsepower. A Best Friend scored 30.2 penalties at Pau CCI5*L and this is just a fraction behind Andrew Hoy and Vassily de Lassos. So, this certainly gets the Australian Eventing Team potentially away to a very strong team.

3. Kevin McNab comes in again at No. 3 riding his Olympic Silver Medal Team horse, Scuderia 1918 Don Quidam. This is a little bit of a technical complication in that a rider can only ride one horse at the World Championships, so in a team of four this doesn’t help if one of the other riders needs to be replaced at the last moment. This is only useful if Kevin’s first selection becomes unavailable then he can slot straight back into the team with his second-string horse. This so-called second-string horse has a score of 34.3 penalties at the Kentucky CCI5*L.

4. Shane Rose on Virgil comes in really at No. 3 in the team, however, as a combination they are ranked No. 4. Virgil is the final Team Silver Medal-winning horse from the Tokyo Olympics and his Olympic score was 35.7 penalties.

Like Kevin McNab, Shane has other horses, one of which is Easy Turn who does not have a three-day event score within the qualifying period for the 2022 World Championships. Easy Turn did, however, score 26.6 penalties in the 4*L in 2020. This score is so freaky that had Shane and Easy Turn done this at Tokyo, they would have won an Individual Silver Medal. Well, all of this is speculation, however, I would suggest that Shane may well repeat this feat at the MI3DE. This partnership is the single biggest threat to taking over pole position from Andrew Hoy and Vassily de Lassos. Holy smoke! That would be amazing and so, so good in terms of strengthening the Australian team to a point where it could be the best eventing team ever in Australian history! Wild speculation at this point in time but this is really, really worth watching at the MI3DE.

5. Bill Levett and Lates Quin. This is an English-based combination which at Millstreet CCI4*L emerged the winners on a score of 36.2 penalties. Millstreet is an event in Ireland. So, although ranked No. 5 in terms of combinations, Bill will realistically be No. 4 and in the team courtesy of Kevin having two horses ranked above him.

6. Dominic Schramm and Bolytair B, who are based in the USA, come in as first reserve. Dominic ran 16^th in Elkton CCI4*L on a score of 41.4 penalties. We have a lot of riders who have not yet been mentioned who have scored much lower than Dominic’s score, however, these scores have occurred in the one-day event format or the CCI Short classes. The real deal is the CCI Long class.

7. Lissa Green and Billy Bandit. Lissa is the UK-based daughter of eventing great Lucinda Green, and she rides under the Australian flag. Very recenty, Lissa and Billy Bandit finished third on a score of 41.4 in a CCI4*L at the Equestrian Festival Baborówko in Poland. This score was a little unexpected for Lissa and the rising 14-year-old; Lissa only started competing the horse this year, and this is easily his best upper-level eventing result.

8. Shane Rose and Be My Daisy scored 44.3 at the Sydney CCI4*L in May, meaning Shane has a third horse in the mix.

9. Kenya Wilson and Sandro Salute MW is an Australian-based rider who pretty well no one will have heard of unless you live in Western Australia. Kenya has a score of 47.4 penalties at Brigadoon CCI4*L this year. Without a doubt, the Northern Hemisphere riders and the Australian riders on the east coast would be a little condescending about a WA rider and would view this score with suspicion. Well, Kenya has packed up her bags and here she is about to compete at the MI3DE. This would be very embarrassing if a little-known rider from WA dished out a masterclass when “all the cracks had gathered to the fray”. Watch this combination, they just might be a lot better than anyone has guessed. Western Australia does have a reputation for producing maverick, top-class female riders like Sonja Johnson and Anne Taylor. Go Kenya!

10. Andrew Cooper and Omega Star (owned by Vivien Higgins) have a score of 48.5 penalties from the Sydney CCI4*L on the 6 March, 2021. This is very interesting in that the Australian selectors have picked Andrew on another horse, Hey Arnold, as a reserve for the Australian Oceania team, which is also running at MI3DE. I will be very curious regarding the selector rationale if Omega Star does outperform Hey Arnold.

11. Sammi Birch and Finduss PFB come in at No. 11. Sammi is based in the UK and has a score of 49.5 penalties at the 2022 Badminton CCI5*L. This is the toughest 3DE in the world. Comparing this Badminton score with scores from other lesser events and lesser standards, as in CCI4*L classes, certainly leaves this ranking flawed. I am very confident that Sammi will be delighted with this Badminton performance and will be shaking her head in disbelief that some ten Australian combinations have been ranked above her. That is exactly the sort of difficulty that the Australian selectors have to wrestle with.

12. Ema Klugman and Bronte Beach have clocked up a score of 59.5 penalties at the Leesburg CCI4*L on the 6 October. 2021 in the USA. Bronte Beach is just so well bred in terms of jumping with her sire Verdi TN jumping 1.70 metre classes. Straight show jumping at the Olympics maxes out at 1.60 metre.

This pretty well are all the Australian eventers in the world who have respectable CCI4*L and CCI5*L scores within the qualifying period. It is really, really tough to just put these scores up at this level at a predetermined qualifying period. The following four combinations have very good scores albeit, at CCI4*S (one-day event) classes. These classes are at four-star, but in my opinion, although promising, are not the real deal.

13. Sam Lyle and BF Valour. Sam has a cracking score of 27.9 penalties from the Quirindi CCI4*S. To get this score, Sam had to finish on his dressage score which is indeed very difficult.

14. Shenae Lowings and Bold Venture. This combination has been selected for the Australian team at the forthcoming MI3DE. At Wallaby Hill in the CCI4*S, Shenae and Bold Venture scored 32.5 penalties. This is very good and this combination is very exciting to watch and is generally thought of as the face of a younger generation coming through. This will be very interesting to watch at MI3DE. Shenae not so long ago was also from WA.

15. Based on my scoring system, Shane and Easy Turn come in here due to their CCI4*S score of 33 recorded at Wallaby Will in 2021. The reality is they are probably ranked much higher – we will know after their performance in the CCI4*L at MI3DE.

16. Hazel Shannon and WillingaPark Clifford have a score of 34.4 penalties posted at the Tamworth CCI4*S on 13 March, 2021. Hazel and Clifford have not completed a CCI4*L or CCI5*L in this qualifying period for the World Championships, however, they have in years gone by won the Adelaide CCI5*L on three different occasions. A feat that has very rarely been done in the past anywhere in the world. So, this is a good example that current performances do not always reflect the underlying talents and competition potentials that a combination can represent. This is again one of those things that the Australian selectors have to balance and wrestle with in the final team nomination.

So, I think it is fair to say that there are at least 15 Australian eventing riders that represent a very, very high standard, and we as Australian spectators should be able to watch a team go to Italy for the World Championships that can challenge and prevail over the best eventing nations in the world today. Definitely going for gold!

THE TOP 8 DRESSAGE RIDERS VYING FOR AUSTRALIAN TEAM SELECTION

Right! Now, for the eight dressage names that Australia will possibly nominate on 1 July, 2022.

1. Simone Pearce riding Destano has a personal best qualifying score of 74.816%. Simone is now fully qualified for Australian selection with a 2022 performance at Gӧssendorf CDI4* on 15 April 2022 with 73.43%.

However, we do have an Australian disaster. Destano is a stallion that belongs to the stud Gestüt Sprehe and Simone works for this stud – or did. Simone has changed her job and now works for Gestüt Bonhomme. Although we are all hoping that Simone will retain the ride on Destano, it is probably unlikely. So that will completely take Simone out of pole position for Australian team dressage selection. That is the bad news. The good news is that Gestüt Bonhomme has a stallion called Fiderdance, which is also Grand Prix and is now available to Simone for her competition horse. Simone has already been to a competition and scored 69.761%, which is a beginning but will relegate her to about eighth place on the Australian ladder with a little bit of poetic imagination.

2. Lyndal Oatley riding Eros has a personal best of 74.370%, just behind Simone’s personal best, and this was done at Lier CDI3* Grand Prix on 4 March 2022. There is a difference between a 3* and a 4*. Eros and Lyndal have a supporting score from 24 September 2021 at Ludwigsburg CDI4* Grand Prix of 72.717%. Lyndal is qualified and good to go, and I think she is now going to be Australia’s No. 1 selection.

3. The No. 3 position is again held by Lyndal Oatley riding her second horse, Elvive. Similar to the eventing, a rider can only ride one horse at the World Championships, so this just gives Lyndal an automatic selection on Elvive if something unexpected was to happen to Eros. So Elvive and Lyndal have a personal best of 73.718% at Donaueschingen CDI3* Grand Prix on 14 August 2021. Lyndal has a second score on Elvive on 1 April 2022 at Opglabbeek CDI4* Grand Prix of 72.087%. Lyndal really has come of age and has stepped up as Australia’s flag-bearer.

4. Kristy Oatley riding Du Soleil has a personal best of 72.526% at Neumünster CDI-W Short Grand Prix on 19 February 2022. This is supported by her score of 72.14% at Zakrzow CDI3* Grand Prix on 23 April 2021. Kristy is all good for Australian selection and, although I have her as No. 4, I think realistically she is probably No. 2.

5. Mary Hanna riding Syriana has a personal best of 72.239% at Bawley Point CDI3* on 25 February 2022. This score is supported by her score of 71.316% at Werribee CDI-W Short Grand Prix on 25 March 2022. Mary is all qualified which means she has two 69%+ scores in the Grand Prix, which is an Australian selection prerequisite, and she has two MERs, which is Grand Prix scores over and above 66%, which is an FEI prerequisite. So, Lyndal, Kristy and Mary meet all the World Championship qualifications necessary to allow them to go forward and be selected on the Australian team.

6. Warwick McLean riding Hendrix II is where the Australian team selection prerequisites start to unravel. Warwick has a personal best score of 70.609% achieved at Lier CDI3* Grand Prix on 4 March 2022. Now, the Australian selectors have demanded that each combination score over 69% in the Grand Prix test on two separate occasions before being eligible for Australian team selection. Warwick tried really hard at Olomouc CDI3* on 20 May 2022, scoring 68.457%. This is 0.543% short of 69%. How could that happen? 0.5% short! That is cruel. The pair won the Special with 69.298%, but unfortunately that test is not part of the selection criteria. So, Warwick is now possibly in the top four and the Australian selectors do need to relax their 69% prerequisite. We do need to stay focused on selecting our best available combinations. Anyway, I am sure Warwick will try again and from all of us here in Australia we are wishing him lots and lots of luck.

7. Mary Hanna and Calanta. This is Mary’s Olympic mare from the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Calanta has now scored 69.087% on 13 May 2022 at Redefin CDI3*. That is a qualifying score by the skin of her teeth. A qualifying score is a qualifying score! Mary then went to Hagen CDI3* on the 19 May 2022 and scored 70.478%. Calanta’s scores are creeping up so I am sure Mary will improve again.

8. Simone Pearce riding Fiderdance. This new combination had its first start at Olomouc CDI3* on 20 May 2022 and scored 69.761%. Simone needs another 69% to keep the Australian selectors happy. Considering that Simone had only ridden Fiderdance a few times before this competition, I think we can all be forgiven for being hopeful.

9. Jayden Brown riding WillingaPark Sky Diamond have a personal best of 69.674% at the Bawley Point CDI3*. Jayden and WillingaPark Sky Diamond then scored 68.804% at the Sydney CDLite 3* Grand Prix on 28 April 2022. So, similar to Warwick, Jayden has two FEI MERs but is not qualified by the Australian selection criteria which states that the combination must achieve 69% or above on two separate occasions at a CDI. Jayden does not have a second 69%, which is a restriction put on by the Australian selectors, however he still has opportunities as he’s just left for England with Sky Diamond and five other Willinga Park horses (you can watch Jayden’s recent interview with Roger Fitzhardinge here).

The horses are heading to England via a direct flight – much healthier for the horses as opposed to the normal route that stops twice before Europe. For this flight to become available, an owner needs to book a minimum of six spaces. At this stage, Jayden is entered for the Wellington CDI (9-12 June) and therefore has the opportunity to post a qualifying score quite quickly, of course pending how well Sky Diamond travels.

We are all hoping that he and Sky Diamond will score over and above 69% in a Grand Prix before 1 July. Jayden at the moment would possibly be first reserve, however, that is pending that Simone gets a second 69% with Fiderdance and so too does Warwick with Hendrix II. If this doesn’t happen to Warwick and Simone, Jayden and WillingaPark Sky Diamond could move up into the fourth slot which is part of the competing Australian team. We need another 69%!

10. Lindsey Ware riding Aristede has a personal best score of 69.196% at the Boneo CDI3* Grand Prix on 21 January 2022. Lindsey and Aristede are also suffering from a shortage of a second 69% or over score. Lindsey, unlike the riders mentioned before her, is based in Australia and the final CDI before 1 July is over. There are no more opportunities in Australia to achieve a 69% at a CDI and so qualify for consideration for Australian team selection. Lindsey just has to pray that the Australian selectors review this 69% policy.

11. Michelle Baker riding Bradgate Park Puccini. This combination has a personal best of 67.974% in the Short Grand Prix at Werribee CDI-W on 25 March 2022. Michelle could possibly end up as high as second reserve, which is indeed right up there at the pointy end.

In actual fact, the Australian-based riders, Lindsey and Michelle, are completely at the Australian selectors’ mercy. There are no more CDI3* competitions in Australia before 1 July. This could mean that we only send a team of three riders. Australia has done this sort of thing before where they nominated too few reserves and then were forced into a difficult situation at the Olympics or the World Championships.

Please keep in mind what happened when the Australian show jumping team at Tokyo lost its third rider at the last moment. It meant that the other two team riders were at risk of not getting a start because they were not qualified as individuals.

The Australians will qualify as a team but not as individuals. This could see the whole Australian team disqualified. We’ve already done this in the past! This is an administration incompetency. We really do need to get a full team of four riders and one reserve to the World Championships and let as many Australian riders as possible get experience and hopefully respond in a positive way, which will help our dressage sport grow for the future. EQ

Cheers,

Heath

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE TO READ:

Devil in the Detail in Dressage Team Selection – Ryan’s Rave, Equestrian Life, May 2022.

The Trials & Tribulations of Dressage Selection – Ryan’s Rave, Equestrian Life, April 2022.

Who are we to Judge? – Ryan’s Rave, Equestrian Life, March 2022.