Running for more than 20 years, the Victorian Equestrian Interschool Series has long been popular with young dressage and show jumping riders keen to represent their schools, strive for state team selection – and have a whole lot of fun in the process!

The Victorian Equestrian Interschool Series (VEIS) was established to support quality dressage and show jumping competitions run under Equestrian Australia (EA) rules, and to encourage skill development at the grass roots level. As VEIS President Julia Gibson explains, the series traces its roots back to the Interschools Show Jumping (ISJ).

“Brent Dennison and some friends started up the ISJ many years ago. Brent was a keen show jumper with three daughters who all competed, and so he started the series to offer students the opportunity to compete at a higher standard – without having to compete in the same arena as adults,” explains Julia.

The original committee that brought the VEIS together in its current form 20 years ago – Julia Williams, Virginia Creed, Helen Perez and Marina Oman – saw it as an opportunity to provide an alternative route for state team selection for the Australian Interschool Championships, meaning dressage and show jumping riders did not have to rely solely on the Equestrian Victoria Interschool Championships to gain a start.

Currently the VEIS is run by a small yet hardworking volunteer committee, and Julia says this year’s series had great entries across the four events held at Boneo Park, Elmore Equestrian Park and Werribee Park National Equestrian Centre. The series concluded with its Grand Finals across the two disciplines at Werribee last month and, despite the encroaching winter chill, riders had a terrific event – especially those who claimed Series Champion titles, complete with aptly-timed warm woollen trophy rugs!

In addition to individual accolades, riders also competed to gain points for their school teams, with Toorak College named Show Jumping Champions ahead of Salesian College, and Kardinia International College crowned Dressage Champions ahead of the runners-up, Braemar College.

“Currently the VEIS is run
by a small yet hardworking
volunteer committee.”

FELICITY SUTHERLAND

Felicity Sutherland, 16, of Braemar College, took part in her first Interschool equestrian event when she was in Grade 1 in 2013, on her first pony, Rivington Victoria. She says these events – including those in the VEIS series – provide a good competition platform and introduction to EA events.

“I think the level of competition for Interschool sits between Pony Club and EA. As a young rider we are offered many super Young Rider competitions through EA, however, the Interschool events are fun with friends across all disciplines, and it’s been great making new friends from other schools!” explains Felicity, who is primarily focused on dressage.

“The VEIS series also offers a second chance to qualify to represent Victoria at Nationals [which this year will be held at Werribee in late September] – the top two in each class at the State Championships and in the VEIS make up the four combinations for each team in each class,” she explains.

This year’s series has been successful for Felicity, who was named the overall series Small Tour Champion with horse Estée, a Dutch warmblood mare purchased by her family just before Covid. “She hadn’t competed at all, so we really took a risk buying her,” explains Felicity. “We had to retire from her first few Novice tests! However, we’ve been patient with her training and building trust and now she is competing confidently at Small Tour, which is really exciting!”

Although she wasn’t relying on the series for state team selection with Estée – having already qualified at the State Championships for what will be her sixth Victorian team – Felicity says she still attended all VEIS events as she says it was fun competing at the different host venues around the state.

And besides, there was also the added incentive of a beautiful trophy rug on offer courtesy of RB Sellars. “Who doesn’t love winning a woollen rug!” declares Felicity. “The championship RB Sellars rugs are a beautiful wool; we use woollen rugs on all our horses, as living in Romsey they need to be warm. They are a great prize to receive!”

POSIE SUTHERLAND

Posie Sutherland, 13, was also a 2023 VEIS Champion, claiming the Elementary division with Cherishwood Dream On. Like her sister, she’s been involved with Interschool competitions and the VEIS for many years.

“With Felicity competing I never wanted to miss out. My first time competing at the Equestrian Victorian Interschool Championships was in 2018 when I was eight years old and in Grade 1 riding Rivington Dash, and since then I have qualified three horses to represent Victoria at Nationals,” explains the Braemar College student.

“Interschool events are great fun with friends and the school equestrian team, as well as catching up with friends from other schools. I love being able to compete in the show jumping and dressage at the one event, and it’s a great stepping stone to open EA events.”

“Interschool events are great
fun with friends.”

Posie and Cherishwood Dream On, aka Donald, have a strong partnership and have already enjoyed much success at Interschool events. “Last year Donald and I won the Nan McArthur Award at the State Championships and went on to win the Novice Primary Championship and were third in the Primary 60cm Combined Training at the Nationals in Sydney. We stepped up to the Secondary division this year – and into Elementary. Donald and I used the VEIS series to qualify for Nationals. He is the best!”

Posie was of course thrilled to receive a trophy rug to match her sister: “It was lovely to receive a beautiful woollen RB Sellars championship rug. I didn’t know RB Sellars made horse rugs, and to win one was really exciting. Lucky Donald!”

Also a keen show jumper, Posie competed Tres Bonne NZ, aka Bonnie – who she has on a lease from friends – in the Intermediate 1.05m division of the VEIS show jumping. “We were fourth at the Grand Final and sixth overall in the series,” she explains.

“It was busy competing both in the show jumping and dressage of the VEIS, but lots of fun. We travelled a lot of weekends, but it was fun competing with my friends and luckily my parents didn’t mind helping my sister and I!”

MOLLY LAWRENCE

Molly Lawrence, 17, of Toorak College, has been competing at interschool competitions since Grade 2 and agrees they are a great pathway to EA open events, especially as a show jumper.

“They have such a wide range of heights, meaning there is a class for anyone, and everyone is given the opportunity to experience various competition environments. They have a speed round, which allows us to practise turns, and everyone gets into the jump-off, which allows another opportunity to practise speed and turns,” she explains.

This year, Molly and horse Carabel P, aka Bells, were the Stars Reserve Champions – the top show jumping level in the VEIS – and also part of the winning school show jumping team for Toorak College. “Bells is a warmblood mare by Caracas and we have been a partnership for just over two years. She can be very sassy; however, she knows her job and loves to jump. The only thing she loves more than jumping is probably food!

“I was so proud
to be a part of the
winning school team.” 

“The VEIS series has been great this year,” reflects Molly. “My horse has been super at all the shows, and it’s always fun to catch up with friends from other schools that I don’t get to see that often. As this was my second last year of Interschool shows, I made sure I savoured every moment and I was so proud to be a part of the winning school team.”

PIP CRAWFORD

Pip Crawford, 17, is in Year 12 at Geelong Grammar School and has been competing at Interschool events for the past six years. She’s also no stranger to the VEIS series, having competed in three before – however, it was a first for her new horse Spyderman, aka Spy.

The pair were named overall Novice Senior Champions, and much to Pip’s delight are now qualified for the Australian Interschool Championships. “I have only had Spy for around eight months, so winning the overall Novice Senior Series was an amazing feeling and achievement for both of us!”

Pip boards at Geelong Grammar with Spy and her other horse named Mack, and all three have now headed home to NSW for the holidays. And while they’ll be mostly having a well-earned rest, Pip and Spy have a start at the Australian Youth Dressage Championships in Sydney – which will no doubt be great experience ahead of the Australian Interschool Championships later this year!

Full results from the 2023 VEIS can be found here, and further information on the series can be found here.

Explore RB Sellars’ new range of horse rugs here.

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