As a new year dawns, we check in with seven Australian dressage riders based overseas to learn about their current equine stars, exciting horses for the future, and hopes for the Paris Olympics – which is just 18 months away.

SIMONE PEARCE

Currently based at Gestüt Bonhomme near Berlin, Olympian Simone Pearce had a busy end to 2022 with a number of World Cup qualifiers aboard her World Championship horse Fiderdance, a 13-year-old stallion by Fidertanz 2.

“I am loving getting the opportunity to ride some of the big World Cup qualifiers with Fidel,” says Simone. “I’m also enthusiastic to have started competing Cadeau Noir internationally.” In December Simone competed the 12-year-old Hanoverian stallion, by Christ 3, at CDI3* Peelbergen in Kronenberg, the Netherlands, finishing eleventh on 69.587% in the Grand Prix and seventh in the Special on 70.383% at what was the horse’s first international show. Simone’s last event of the year was the London International Horse Show, where she rode Fiderdance in the World Cup and finished sixth in the CDI-W Short Grand Prix on 72.632% and seventh in the Grand Prix Freestyle with 76.32%.

“I also have some younger horses that are getting some experience over the (northern hemisphere) winter season ahead of the Nürnberger Burg-Pokal (a prestigious German competition for Prix St Georges horses) and the 2023 World Young Horse Championships.”

Simone says she currently trains by herself: “It’s pretty difficult to find top trainers. They are mostly very busy with existing students and usually they can’t travel so much, plus it costs a lot to afford someone at the highest level without sponsors or backing. However, I’m searching for the perfect fit and hopefully the right opportunity will come along!”

Simone’s main goal this year is to simply continue to grow and develop herself and her team of horses in a continuously positive direction, and with that, be able to become more and more successful in the sport, step by step. “Right now, I don’t have ‘the horse’ that I’m aiming for Paris, but now we are also taking horses in training, so you never know what might come along and what doors might open by then. Of course, Paris would be amazing!”

Although having been in Europe for more than 12 years, Simone says she still loves everything about Australia. “I miss living there so much… but for sure the thing I miss the most is my family!”

HAYLEY BERESFORD

West Australian-born Olympian Hayley Beresford is based at Eiserner Hof, a beautiful six-hectare property southeast of Stuttgart that she owns with partner Jule Fehl. Together they run a riding, training and coaching business, and currently have 18 horses in work.

“We have been ticking away quietly with quite a few horses in training,” explains Hayley. “Our priority has been building up and developing our stable and business here in Germany the past few years, so top level competition hasn’t been at the forefront for a while. However, now we find ourselves in a position that not all horses must be sold, and I have a few ‘teenagers’ that I’m pretty excited about!

“This (northern hemisphere) winter I’m working on bringing up Javino, an eight-year-old gelding by Davino, toward his first international start in the spring and developing him throughout next year toward the Grand Prix.

“Kwintus, a seven-year-old by For Gribaldi, is my absolute exciting pocket rocket who had a start in a young horse M level (equivalent to Medium level) for all scores over 8 this summer. No need to push him, he can do it all but needs time and patience.

“FBW Diva Georgina, a nine-year-old by Don Juan de Hus, has returned to sport this season after a long break, with her first score over 70% in a young horse S class (equivalent to Advanced level) and she will also be on the same pathway as Javino this coming season.

“Daintree, a seven-year-old Diamond Hit mare, had her first young horse S start this summer for a 75% and, like Kwintus, will take time but has potential for all. And then I have a collection of beautiful Lusitano cross horses in training from Brazilian sponsor and Relampago’s owner, Eduardo Fischer, who all have extreme talent but need time and patience.” Relampago do Retiro was of course the Lusitano stallion whom Hayley rode at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Gamers.

Hayley currently trains with German Benjamin Werndl and has more recently also worked with fellow Aussie Bennet Conn. “Bennet has learnt from some absolute top guys since he’s been based in Europe and I find this a great balance,” she explains.

Hayley says that her focus with her team of horses is not Paris, it’s simply to build them all toward Grand Prix and keep them healthy and happy along the way. “What competitions fit into their program and development will be the focus. Paris is probably too early for all of them and not all of them will be able to stay; sadly, one or two of them will need to be sold on the way. But being good enough to make the team again one day is a dream.”

WILLIAM MATTHEW

William Matthew is another West Australian dressage rider who’s found his way to Germany. Currently training with Isabell Werth, Will has a couple of horses at Big Tour level and is enjoying success in the competition arena.

“I am working for Isabell in the mornings at her stable in Rheinberg and she always has an eye on me,” says Will. “I then have my own business at the stable from the Hödl family in Dinslaken, where I have my own horses and a couple of client horses.”

Will’s two horses to watch this year are nine-year-old geldings Mysterious Star (Metal x Furst Heinrich), owned by Stephanie Göller, and Freischutz (Foundation x Del Martino), owned by Madeleine Winter-Schulze.

“I’ve had Mysterious Star since he was four and late in 2022 we had our Grand Prix debut with 69%. My plan with him is to ride him in international Grand Prix this year; I am still working out the show schedule. My aim is to give him more experience in a bigger atmosphere and hopefully achieve the scores I know he can.

“I’ve had Freischutz since he was seven and in 2022 we had our Inter II debut with 73%. My goals with him will be to move into the big Grand Prix this year and to hopefully qualify for the Louisdor Prize, a circuit for up-and-coming Grand Prix horses here in Germany.

“I have a few other good young horses coming through and a number of younger selling horses of all levels up to Prix St Georges that will also need to be competed for selling. I also have some really top students who I hope to help achieve their goals.”

Looking ahead to Paris, Will is hopeful that Mysterious Star will develop into a contender. “Our plan is to try for a team spot with Mysterious Star. He had 69% in his first Grand Prix with still a lot of mistakes and inexperience, so I think by 2024 he can really be getting the scores necessary,” he says, adding that another major goal is to continue building his own business with the plan to sell a few good horses to help finance a potential Paris campaign.

Although he’s spent the better part of the last decade in Europe, Will is still very much an Aussie and misses his family and friends – and of course, the beautiful beaches of Western Australia. “I was at the beach every day of my childhood, so that’s something I really miss.”

MARY HANNA

Six-time Olympian Mary Hanna has actually returned from Europe to Australia following her 2022 World Championship campaign, and now has two exciting new horses in her stable. “I made a quick trip to the German stable of Patrik Kittel, my former trainer, and purchased a nine-year-old gelding named Ivanhoe. He will return to Australia soon to join my other prospective Paris mount, Impress Taonga.

 “These two nine-year-old horses will be my main focus now in my campaign for Paris. They have both been competing at Prix St Georges level, but we are working on the Grand Prix movements. They are very different types of horses, but both are quite talented I feel.

“Henri Rouste is currently training me on Tommie (Impress Taonga) via internet lessons to follow up the training we have done with him in Germany earlier in 2022. To make the step from Prix St Georges to Grand Prix takes time, so I won’t be competing until a few months into this year.

“Over our (southern) winter I plan to return to Germany for more training and competition. Patrik has kindly offered to help with Ivan (Ivanhoe), but we will see if he has the time to fit this in. Both Henri and Patrik are great trainers, so I am lucky to have their support.

“My plans are always a bit fluid according to how the horses go and what curve balls are sent my way. However, I intend to enjoy the journey whatever the outcome. Whether I make Paris or not, the part I love is developing the horses to Grand Prix, so that is my main aim right now. If Paris happens as a consequence, that would be great. It would be my seventh Olympics, but after all these campaigns, it’s not the end of the world if I don’t make it.

“I am also really enjoying training Jess Dertell. She is forming a great partnership with Syriana, who I campaigned over these last years, and also has great results with Cennin. I think it’s great to watch her development with Paris in mind.”

WARWICK MCLEAN

Warwick McLean is based 15 minutes from Düsseldorf in Germany, at he and his wife Carolina’s stable, Stall Buschhof in Anrath. Carolina is Warwick’s “eyes on the ground” during daily training, while long-time mentor Morten Thomsen remains his coach.

Warwick has some very interesting horses in work – the first being 13-year-old gelding Hendrix 11, by Blue Hors Hotline out of a Donnerhall mare and owned by Warwick. “He’s my number one Grand Prix horse,” says Warwick of the horse that was short-listed for the World Championships last year. “The plan is to get him to be on an even 70%. Nationally, we are consistently in the top placings and it is just finding good show routines this year.”

The next is Jack 483, an 11-year-old gelding by Johnson TN out of a Dimension mare, and owned by Warwick, Carolina and her family. “Jack has already won at international Medium Tour level and placed in the Grand Prix at national level. He’s a horse with amazing piaffe and passage and he is only starting to show his true potential,” says Warwick.

Sir Heinrich M, a 15-year-old gelding by Sir Donnerhall out of a Ferragamo mare, is the other Grand Prix level horse in the stable. “I will mainly focus on doing national shows on him and hoping to train the owner up to Under 25-level classes on this great horse; he is owned by Family Wolff-Kamke.”

There are also a number of other young horses at McLean Reitsport. “Six-year-old Abtwalds Götterfunke, owned by Family Erdtmann, is one of the more promising horses in the barn. He’s already ready for the six-year-old classes and showing very good potential for the future. And then I have an 11-year-old gelding by Chin Quin out of a Falkenhof’s Lancer mare. His name is Chinouque and he’s already schooling Grand Prix and has highly placed at international Small Tour… a little pocket rocket. We have a lot of young horses that my team and I will show over the (northern) winter and then we’ll see what the future brings!”

Warwick has a number of goals he hopes to tick off this year, including achieving his Goldene Reitabzeichen (Golden Rider Badge, a prestigious German dressage award) and renovating their stables. On the competition front, he hopes to qualify Abtwalds Götterfunke for the Bundeschampionate (German national young horse championships) and World Young Horse Championships; compete at Medium Tour with Chinouque; and get qualification scores for Paris with both Jack and Jimmy (Hendrix 11).

In terms of missing life in Australia, Warwick says he always wishes he could see more of family and friends. “Our Christmas visit is always the highlight of the year for the family!”

LYNDAL OATLEY

Lyndal Oatley has lived in Germany for many years and has been at her current base, the beautiful Gestüt Eulenhof in northern Westphalia, since 2017. The dual Olympian trains with husband and fellow Olympian for Sweden, Patrik Kittel, and she currently has three horses that could potentially take her to a third Games in Paris.

“My main focus over the northern hemisphere winter period will be starting my young mare, Dante’s Herzchen, in the Big Tour,” says Lyndal. “All sights are set on the future with her and her development and I can’t wait to start this next learning chapter with her in the arena, as she is very special.”

Lyndal explains that ‘Herzi’ was found when she began searching for a new horse after selling her beloved mare, Diva. “I had sold Diva to an adorable girl in Sweden and wanted to find something to bring along again. I had contacted a friend of mine, Michi Wantia (who found Sandro Boy, Toystory and Scandic for Lyndal and Patrik), and explained what I was searching for. He said he had seen one that could be my type of horse and sent a video of Herzi.

“We really liked her gaits and that’s what we were drawn to. Michi explained that she would need a certain type of rider, and had been delayed in her training after a rough start so had not a lot of experience. Santi (Santiago Damil), who we purchased her from, had spent a year re-educating her and gave her the time she needed by going back to basics. I loved her even more for that, as that’s a journey that can be very rewarding and offer a chance to develop a special bond.” Herzi, now eight years old, has been at Eulenhof since mid-2021, and Lyndal says she’s taken her time with the mare, at first working on establishing trust and confidence.

As you might have guessed via the first part of her name, Dante’s Herzchen is by none other than Dante Weltino, the stunning stallion ridden by Swedish team rider Therese Nilshagen at many international championships. Her dam is Herzchen, who is by Hochadel (Hohenstein 4). You can read more about Herzi in the March 2022 issue of Equestrian Life.

Lyndal also has her two established Big Tour horses, Elvive (a 13-year-old mare by Tuschinski out of a Don Schufro mare) and Eros (a 13-year-old gelding by Sir Oldenburg out of an Olympic Ferro mare). “Elvive I’m focusing on coming out in spring and Ross will start in February. Paris is my main goal; all three could achieve it and I will prepare all three for this, however, Herzi is the top contender – if all things go to plan – ahhh horses!”

A proud Aussie, Lyndal says she misses “everything and everyone” from Down Under. “It doesn’t get easier and I cherish every moment I come home and spend with everyone.”

KELLY LAYNE

“I have a few interesting horses but no specific plans,” says Olympian Kelly Layne, who has been based in Wellington, Florida, for the past decade. “The most promising is a 10-year-old called Fernando. I have been slowly developing him since he was five years old. He is a really big horse with lots of talent and I will continue to show him in national classes until I feel the time is right to move him into the CDIs.

“I have two super mares – Que Jolie and Safira – who will debut in Inter II this season. Both have different strengths and weaknesses, but we will give them whatever time they need before we start the Big Tour. My favourite horse in the barn is a six-year-old mare by Quantensprung x Romanov x De Niro. She feels like a Grand Prix horse already; I have no problem waiting for this one to come along!” continues Kelly, adding that the daily training has always been her biggest inspiration, and that everything else is a bonus.

Kelly notes her Tokyo Olympic horse, Samhitas, will not show with her again. “The owner (Nori Maezawa) moved him to Japan and he is doing very well with his new rider. I have been personally involved in the changeover to ensure a successful new partnership,” she explains.

“I am very proud to be an Australian and miss my mum and family every day, especially around the holidays. Living in America was a personal choice because of my husband (who is American) and our kids who wanted to go to college in America. Our daughter is a photonics engineer and works for an aerospace company in Texas. She also just had a baby and I am officially a grandma! Our son is an EOD (explosive ordnance disposal) specialist in the navy and is based in Guam and San Diego. Life never has a dull moment!” EQ

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