After four years of blood, sweat and tears, it was time for the cheers. First the Olympics, then the Paralympics. We must all be exhausted after trying to keep up with our teams at Versailles – not as exhausted as the competitors, of course, but bleary-eyed, nonetheless.
Congratulations to our Para Dressage riders Lisa Martin, Stella Barton, Bridget Murphy and Dianne Barnes who all gave their utmost to do Australia proud. Qualifying for the Freestyle finals and finishing 12th in the team placings is a superb achievement against the superpowers.
Emma Booth, who gave EQ Life readers such outstanding coverage of the competition, sums up with her analysis with Adele Severs in this month’s magazine, while Heath Ryan takes a cue from Olympic stalwart Mary Hanna by urging all aspiring international competitors to plan now for the next World Championships and Olympic Games. Failing to plan is planning to fail, he says!
Equestrianism has long been a pursuit where bonding with an animal can overcome pretty much any adversity. Our Para Dressage riders are a shining example of this, of course, but also our Virtus riders who previously flew the Australian flag high on the world stage. This issue, Adele Severs reminds us of Riding for the Disabled, the organisation that nourished the careers of many disabled riders (Stella Barton for one!) and which recently staged its NSW Championships.
The equestrian community, though, has another rallying call to deal with, and that is the future of Clarendon, the cradle of dressage riding in this country. It is very close to Roger Fitzhardinge’s heart as he recalls the great riders who graced its arenas and states the case for saving it from the bulldozers.
Roger also brings us up to date with the progress of his beloved Bloomfields Vision (aka Jeremy) and his headshaking conundrum. Roger’s affection for the horse that has given him a new lease on life shines through as he persists in his quest for the elusive remedy.
In Show Jumping, Martin Gostelow and Adele catch up with Queenslander Mattea Davidson, who is enjoying a breakthrough World Cup season as well as running a burgeoning equestrian business with husband Shane and raising three young children!
We look at the merits of bitless riding as demonstrated by Pony Club Australia competitor Bella Touzel, who hopes to one day take it to higher levels; and we check in on a 19-year-old OTT who has just won the EvA95 at Friends of Werribee Park Horse Trials with young rider Mia Tavoletti on board.
In Health, herbalist Catherine McDowell explains her approach to laminitis, Kirsty Withers shares how she developed Pure Steed, the revolutionary equine skincare treatment, and veterinarian Dr Maxine Brain discusses dystocia – the difficult birth – with foaling season imminent.
For your post-training entertainment, Suzy Jarratt brings us not one, but two fascinating stories – the two- and four-legged stars in the Coen brothers version of True Grit; and the intriguing new theory of how the famed Appaloosas really arrived in North America.
Happy reading and riding!
The EQ Life Team
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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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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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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