For the best experience of what a country equestrian community and competition is all about, Dressage in the Bush staged by Young Dressage Association is hard to beat. Its 50th championship proved no exception.
Formed in 1974 by a group of farming families keen to enable their children to ride together, the annual Dressage in the Bush draws competitors from all over Central West New South Wales and beyond, as well as from interstate.
The grounds are on 25 acres against the most beautiful backdrop of the Wedding Mountains at Bendick Murrell midway between Young and Cowra about 350km west of Sydney. The likes of Nita McAuley, Anne Crichton and Lorraine Kwong were early day presidents, and the facilities have steadily improved under an enthusiastic committee, including Karen Skimmings, the Bryant family, Vandyke family and the Grovenors.
From no arenas and a barren piece of ground, there is now a clubhouse, a huge sand warm-up arena of 90m x 60m, as well as eight sand arenas, two of which have fabulous new surrounds and wonderful surfaces that have just been revamped.
“Interest in the sport has grown
enormously over the years…”
Several years ago, a flood went through Bendick Murrell and washed away all the arena surfaces, the surrounds and infrastructure. Undeterred, the progressive committee found government grants and rebuilt the facilities to the best they could with volunteer work from the keen country folk that wanted to see the younger generation given as good a chance as those in the city areas. They continue to be improved with a new shower and toilet block and wash bays of late.
Interest in the sport has grown enormously over the years, especially with Megan Bryant (being a local from Cowra and her family and friends being an integral part of dressage and the club in the area) having earned her way to represent Australia at the 2010 Young Rider World Cup Final in Frankfurt, Germany on her mare Donnabella.
On returning to Australia with that wonderful mare, the Bryant family started to produce and breed dressage Warmbloods. Last year with the homebred horse Dankesohn (Dankeschoen x Fürstenball) Megan won the five-year-old class at Dressage & Jumping With The Stars, earning them the chance to represent Australia at the FEI WBFSH Dressage World Breeding Championship for Young Horses in Ermelo, the Netherlands – but they chose not to go.
SOMETHING SPECIAL
There is something special about Australian country dressage championships; something very friendly that brings so many people together.
The small but hard-working committee managed to gather thousands of dollars’ worth of prizes from a multitude of sponsors. IGA are naming sponsors and have been for 15 years.
To put things in perspective, there were 14 judges, 50 scribes, three stewards and 17 committee members working tirelessly for this year’s championships, held 12-14 April.
The weather was simply stunning – misty and foggy cool mornings with beautiful sunrises then not a cloud in the sky for the three days of competition, with temperatures around 24°C. The arenas are always immaculately groomed and watered every night. There are now permanent stables and 36 covered yards and 35 open yards. There are several stallion yards and there were over 100 portable stables and yards. What else was fantastic was the free, unlimited shavings. It’s all part and parcel of the Young Dressage Committee’s initiative, knowing what riders really need.
This year there was no lack of amazing percentages and wonderful horses and riding. A total of 140 riders competed and 560 tests were ridden, with 32 champion rugs handed out. There were some truly amazing tests and percentages awarded and, as always, some serious discrepancies amongst international judges who had been invited to the prestigious competition – but that seems to be the norm!
Another experience we have long enjoyed at big country meets like this is getting together at the end of the day. At the presentations and happy hour after competition, coaches, competitors and all enthusiasts can all mingle together. The friendly banter makes everyone more respectful of each other and helps with the transparency of the judging systems and the understanding that everyone is working together for bigger and better marks, better competition, and friendly encouragement. Unfortunately for whatever reason, no judges were to be seen at the end of the day this year. This was a real shame as in the past it was so nice to see everyone getting together and enjoying the day’s results.
For the organisers, there are great expenses involved in attracting the judges, the stewards and all and sundry. Not to mention the sponsors and, as in the past, for all to get together and enjoy the chitchat of the day was beneficial for everyone involved.
This competition has earned many awards over the years, including the EA NSW award for Best Dressage Event of the Year in 2018, and Best NSW Club of all disciplines in 2019. But the best recognition is knowing that everyone talks about this competition and people attend from far and wide and go home with smiles on their faces. It’s serious competition and there were a huge number of classes and the sponsorship simply amazing and way too many to mention, but everyone important and recognised.
OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCES
To mention all the champions and outstanding tests would take a book, but a few outstanding rides and horses should take priority. Alison Gill, who managed to win the Small Tour classes on a pony, beating all the big guns, was impressive. The Welsh Section D pony, Seawynd Colorado, is owned by Emily Mackintosh from the Southern Highlands and Alison has been riding him for two years now. They show amazing collection, full of activity and self-carriage and the changes are now straight and fluent with great posture in the canter pirouettes. He has great uphill, ground-covering extensions that are exciting to watch and is truly on the rider’s aids with good adjustability. They scored 69.559% in the Prix St Georges and a whopping 71.324% in the Inter I to be first in both – winning the Small Tour Championship.
The Reserve Small Tour horse was the super talented and successful Callum Park Damascus for Susan Elekessy. This upstanding chestnut has all the goods for Grand Prix but is still learning the ropes. Susan is taking him gently as he’s a sensitive big guy who sometimes tries too hard and loses balance and so also confidence. Susan has her sights on the future and with good reason. Susan also won the Big Tour Championship with Callum Park Geneva. Geneva being a fiery redhead has been improving so much of late and it was a well-ridden test with no mistakes. They are getting great confidence ahead of the 2024 Sydney CDI.
The Reserve Big Tour title went to the super pony Hilkens Denali for Alison Gill. This pony with exceptional work – especially in the piaffe, passage, changes and pirouettes – is owned by Wendy Lorincz. To top off Alison’s show, the pony Miss Moneypenny PP, owned by Jan Smith of Murrumbateman, won the Novice Championship for ponies with 70.703% and 69.786%, and what a classy young pony with plenty of expression.
This combination also won the Elementary Championship with a 71.524% and a 70.313%. And Glenhill Mr Hollywood with Alison gained the Reserve Elementary Pony, with a 69.207% and 70.813%.
There is no doubt that Alison is an outstanding rider and producer of fabulous work. They are consistent and so professional. A delight to watch and a rider with great feel, empathy and confidence. The work with these three very different types and temperaments shows Alison’s ability to train – and what great ponies indeed.
Young rider Maddison Vallender from Yass (aged 17 and only competing in dressage for two years) rode her own liver chestnut gelding Ronan R, by Regardez Moi, at Grand Prix; and Rubinell, a truly beautifully elegant and light-footed chestnut mare by Blue Hors Rominov at Small Tour. They really made head turns. Maddy, riding Rubinell now for less than a year, was named FEI Young Rider Champion. Rubinell scored 68.971% in the PSG and 70.147% in the Inter I – and Ronan was Reserve Champion. This rider, with so much ability and possibilities, is one to watch, and it is a great lead-up to the FEI Junior and Young Rider classes at the upcoming Sydney CDI.
“This rider, with so much
ability and possibilities,
is one to watch…”
STRONG AOR CLASSES
Of course, the AOR classes were super strong and in the Preliminary classes there were some truly beautiful young horses having their first real outings. It was the elegant and leggy mare Woolaroo Valentine by Versace that was Champion for Sally Walker, hotly pressed by another chestnut in Woodside Questionnaire for Kaye Spence – a very engaged and balanced mare by Quando Quando. Both gained a first and a second place in the two tests. Valentine had two scores over 71% and Questionnaire a 68.542% and a 74.196%. A truly great class and well ridden indeed, showing all the attributes for a great future. Many thought the scores could have been even higher for such great tests at Prelim.
With big classes in the AOR sections, the outstanding combination was Amy McKenzie and Carool Secret Service winning the Elementary and Medium Championships. A 71.951% and a 69.563% in the Elementary, and in the Medium a win with 68.269% and 71.689%. This horse is only five years old and quite outstanding. Secret Service won the four-year-old class at Dressage By The Sea at Willinga Park in 2023.
Of course, you can’t go past Megan Bryant, president of Young Dressage Association, for her involvement. The amount of work she does is outstanding, running around with the organising and the presentations and then also riding from the lower levels through to Grand Prix.
Her greatest success was with the homebred Dankesohn MBE, Open Champion in the Elementary, winning both tests with 68.963% and 68%. This black gelding has elastic and sweeping paces with great tempo and rhythm. His attitude is kind, and he is a real workman. He also was in his first Medium tests and what a strong field that was! Castlereagh Zorro was the runner-up in the Elementary Championship; this Friesian cross is owned by Viv Meiklejohn and was empathetically ridden by Megan.
“This stallion is still young…
but what a talent here.”
Megan also had Bloomers Simply The Best in Big Tour and some great parts. This stallion is still young and immature as yet at this level, but what a talent here with a 64.265% and second in the Inter II. Megan also rode a super pony, Bamborough Manfred, who was Reserve Champion Open Pony at Preliminary level and was in line for a broad sash in the Novice – but riding with a whip that was not pony length eliminated her in one test. (Too many horses of varying sizes and running the event was not conducive to clear thinking! It happens.) It is a shame that the ruling has changed to gear check after the test now; if it was done as previously before going into the competition arena then competitors with incorrect gear would have the chance to comply and not risk elimination.
AMAZING SCORES
In the open Medium tests, there were some amazing scores and horses. Zoolander TPH for Alycia Targa won the 4.3 with a 68.782%, and what a modern elegant bay gelding with a great front and expressive paces. He was a little tight at times but as he gets stronger over the back and in better self-carriage, his suppleness will come and the big marks with him. As always Alycia was riding with great accuracy and determination to show every movement to gain the most marks… some rider indeed and one who also represented Australia at the FEI Young Rider World Cup when she rode in Frankfurt on Neversfelde Kudu.
Hollands Bend Finderskeepers was second and Hollands Bend For Amour third, both ridden by Danielle Ffrench. Both are black elegant types and shown well by Danielle. Kaila Simms gained a fourth with Arnage Totil Bliss, and then won the 4.2. Arnage Totil Bliss is a smaller pocket rocket and again uphill with that wow factor. When talking of this combination it is a very interesting family present at this show and wow, the breeding!
Amy Reilly rode the imported mare Desiree in the Advanced and was second in both with a 65.789% and a 66.284%. This mare is a full sister to Glock’s Toto Junior’s mother, and the Reillys have bred two black stallions, now geldings, from her by Totilas. This makes the two progeny full brothers to Glocks Toto Junior; one of them is Arnage Totil Bliss.
“What an amazing
three horses and all
owned by the Reillys!”
The other brother is Totil Desire, and he was Open Preliminary Champion with winning scores of 71.607% and 73.854%, and Open Novice Champion with winning scores of 69.609% and 75.5%. This taller black gelding is quite sensational with such a rhythmic way and the best uphill frame and balance. The marks could have easily been higher! It is, after all, Novice and wow. How good for the future. What an amazing three horses and all owned by the Reillys!
In the Novice there was Kazoo for Anne Reader who showed promise with expressive, elastic paces, and it was great to see Napoleon for Emma Dodd in the placings. This horse is a gentleman and was a three-star eventer for Tim Boland. Interesting horses, for sure.
One who also really took the eye was Sonara for Rebecca Carpenter who in their first PSG posted a good score to place fourth. This black mare is super expressive and is only now starting to settle into her work, and with the walk now starting to relax shows the promise to be right up there. It was so good to see the likes of Rebecca loving the ambience and the friendly atmosphere where the combination felt less pressure and a more positive vibe than at many of the big competitions.
To add a fun twist there was a fancy dress pas de deux and so many great costumes and great music and choreography. It is part and parcel of the innovative and fun side of Dressage in the Bush. A special award is given to the best fancy dress in memory of Kim Lang, who was club treasurer for 38 years and always keen on freestyles and enjoying the sport’s lighter side.
The championships were really an outstanding feat by a small committee of 17 and hats off to them for leaving no stone unturned. Every year this prestigious event gets bigger and better and attracts more and more top riders. It was amazing to see all the little touches that mean a lot, down to the feed and hay that was donated as prizes and delivered to the winners by tractor and trailer. How’s that for service!
What a show… what a beautiful Australian venue! What great facilities for Dressage in the Bush. What fun… and isn’t that what it’s all about! They say it’s the journey that’s important and it’s clear that is so true at this show. There is more to dressage than who wins; it’s about pulling together in a sport that is mentally and physically taxing to encourage each and every horse and rider to be the best they can. Well done, Young Dressage Association. EQ
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