How good is our equestrian community when we work together! The people have spoken and Equestrian Australia has listened. You might say they had no choice, given the depth of feeling created by their puzzling decision to scratch the Para riders from the FEI World Championships. But in a tumultuous 36 hours, they went from cold cancellation of a Para team to fully funded tickets to Herning for three horse-and-rider combinations.
All because of you. What happened in those 36 hours is a testament to the spirit of Australian equestrianism. After we broke the news on our website on 11 July that the Paras were not going to Denmark, there was much movement at the station. Julia Battams launched a petition that attracted almost 15,000 signatories in a day. Lyndal Oatley and Mary Hanna signed on, and even the highly decorated German Paralympian Hannelore Brenner chimed in with support: “In addition to enthusiasm, you have invested a lot of time and money and must be given the chance to participate!”
Behind the scenes the phones were running hot. We had scheduled a live stream of a panel discussion that included Julia Battams, Maree Tomkinson and Rozzie Ryan, all key supporters of the Paras, alongside EA High Performance Para-Equestrian Panel chair, Dani Fraillon. Equestrian Australia board representatives were invited to discuss the decision on-air with our panel hosted by Roger Fitzhardinge – but initially declined. As it turns out, they were having a panel discussion of their own; an emergency board meeting!
Roger opened our live-stream discussion by saying that everyone was dumbfounded by the decision to ground the Paras. But just as panel members were about to express their bewilderment, Roger received an unexpected request over Zoom to join in. EA board chair Mark Bradley wanted to tell us something! Guess what? They had just come from EA’s emergency board meeting.
“EA always has fabulous surprises,” Roger quipped as Mark was given his cue. “It was pretty clear from the outpouring just how strong feelings on this matter have been,” the EA chair conceded. “Our board met tonight and we actually resolved to ask the selection panel and (HP director) Chris (Webb) to revisit the decision and to in fact overturn the decision.” Broad grins broke out among all panel members while Julia pumped both fists in the air! It was “a popular decision and the right decision,” Mark Bradley added.
So, there you go, dear readers and viewers. More power to you. The fact that the broadcast had more than 48,400 minutes viewed shows the depth of passion in our equestrian community. Congratulations to you all! We at EQ Life couldn’t be prouder of our community and I couldn’t be prouder of how our team played a helpful part in this groundswell.
So, on with the Championships! In this issue, we bring you comprehensive coverage of all our riders and their horses at the FEI World Championships. We talk at length to not only our Para Dressage team, but also the abled-bodied Dressage contenders, the Show Jumpers, and the Vaulting team. And surprise, surprise, Heath Ryan has a few things to say about our chances, the selection processes and the Para volte-face… and also previews the Eventers who will have their World Championships in Italy in September.
Tori Stuckey will be watching the Herning competition with particular interest: Jayden Brown and Emma Booth, should they qualify, will be doing their freestyles to her choreography. As she tells Amanda Young in this month’s magazine, what began as a sideline is now helping to pay for her “expensive show jumping habit”.
Up-and-coming West Australian eventer Kenya Wilson will be in Italy for the eventing; not competing but watching, perhaps with an eye to a tilt in the future. Having shown her potential on Sandros Salute MW at Melbourne 3DE, she opens up to Adele Severs about her dreams.
In our Training and Health sections, Roger Fitzhardinge explains how to maximise your horse’s longevity at competition level, while Dr Maxine Brain encourages owners to build positive relationships with all equine health professionals. And in a version of “Where are they now?” Roger also talks to Kate Taylor-Wheat about her legendary horse World Star, and how he still thinks he is a star! In Lifestyle, Bernard Bale talks to Nicole Kidman about her love of riding, Corinne Fenton introduces her new picture book about iconic duo Subzero and Graham Salisbury, and Suzy Jarratt previews a surprise hit movie of the 2022 Cannes Film Festival – all about a donkey! EQ
Let the games begin!
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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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.
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BERNARD BALEA British based equine enthusiast, Bernard is a long-time journalist, author and broadcaster. On a personal note, he has also ridden in circus and arena shows on horses trained by his wife!
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CORINNE FENTONCorinne Fenton is an award-winning children’s author who has established a reputation for writing beautiful picture-book histories of animals whose lives have become legendary.
Published by
EQ Life Pty Ltd
ABN 99142004064
ISSN 1839-034X
Postal address PO Box 1376
Hawksburn VIC 3142, Australia
Phone +61 492 887 961
Email info@eqlife.com.au
Web www.equestrianlife.com.au
Chairman
Robert McKay
Publisher
Sunday Batters
General Manager Content
Adele Severs
Partnerships Co-ordinator
Ellie Jolley
Associate Editor
David Trounce
Account Executive
Kerith Laurie-Rhodes
Subscription Enquiries
info@eqlife.com.au, +61 492 887 961
Photography credits:
One Eyed Frog Photography, Michelle Terlato Photography, LL-Foto, Roger Fitzhardinge, Dirk Caremans – Hippo Foto, Emma Booth Para Equestrian, Lukasz Kowalski, Jane Gilby Photography, Independent Photo Agency/Alamy Stock Photo, Stephen Mowbray, Cara Grimshaw, Australian Equestrian Team/Kirsty Pasto, Photo 12/Alamy Stock Photo, Racing Victoria, Subzero Facebook page, Maxine Brain, Aneta and Filip Gebscy, Warmia-Masuria Film Fund, Geoff McLean/Gone Riding Media, and FEI/Satu Pirinen.
Disclaimer:
The views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of EQ Life. To the extent permitted by law, EQ Life disclaims any liability whatsoever in relation to any advice, representation, statement, opinion or other matter expressed in this magazine. EQ Life does not accept responsibility for errors in advertisements, articles, unsolicited manuscripts, photographs or illustrations. Riding, training or otherwise working with horses and other animals can be dangerous and may result in harm or injury. Readers of this magazine should not engage in such activities unless they do so safely.
© 2022 EQ Life Pty Ltd. Copyright subsists in this magazine. Except as permitted by law, this magazine may not, in whole or in part, be reproduced, published, adapted, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any way or in any form, without the prior written consent of EQ Life. All rights reserved.
