Heads up, folks, the Paris Olympics are now less than 12 months away! As we enter the business end of the qualifying period, our Show Jumping team are leading the way. Up against Japan, China and New Zealand in the FEI Olympic Team Jumping Qualifier for Group G nations in the Netherlands, Team Australia booked a ticket to Paris. Our “fab four” of Edwina Tops-Alexander, Chris Burton, Hilary Scott and Lauren Balcomb thrived under the pressure at Valkenswaard, with Lauren on Verdini D’Houtveld Z the best-performed combo in the whole comp. “Paris is the goal,” the US-based Lauren tells Adele Severs in our inside report, as she reveals her busy schedule ahead.
Adele also checks in with our four contenders at the 2023 FEI WBFSH Dressage World Breeding Championship for Young Horses at Ermelo in the Netherlands – Simone Pearce, Maree Tomkinson, Alicia Ryan and Hope Beerling. And bringing us up to speed with where the Eventing contenders are in their Paris 2024 campaigns is our stalwart Olympic specialist, Heath Ryan.
Away from the Games, our cover story this issue is on the phenomenally successful Australian Outback Spectacular. Now in its 18th year, the Spectacular really is one of the greatest indoor horse spectacles on earth. Adele goes behind the bright lights, thunder, music and projections to meet head trainer Heidi Mackay, and learn how she manages a team of 80 horses – and some special dogs – to perform their magic in this quintessentially Aussie show. The newest production, Heartland, is so realistic that much of the 1000-strong audience are in tears at the finale, says Heidi: “It’s very educational in that respect, for people who don’t understand what farmers go through.”
One sport that excites spectators just as much and packs out arenas overseas is four-in-hand driving. Our own Boyd Exell is the undisputed world champion – but it’s fair to say he has been helped along the way by a key member of his team, his backstepper. Hugh Scott-Barrett has ridden Boyd’s backstep for 11 years and now wants to step up and promote the sport. He tells us how the sport is drawing packed crowds at indoor events and he sees huge potential for its growth worldwide.
Endurance riding is another sport away from the Olympic disciplines, with the iconic Tom Quilty Gold Cup its most sought-after event in Australia. We meet New Zealander Ashley Cole and her Arabian stallion who not only won the 160km race this year, but clocked the third-fastest time ever. Polo is a sport that makes for a thrilling spectacle, and one David Paradice didn’t take up until he was 50. Now his own team, Scone Polo International, mixes it with the best the world over.
In Training, Kerry Mack helps us understand the path to perfect pirouettes, while in Health, Roger Fitzhardinge updates us on the horse that has stolen his heart – and how he is dealing with a headshaking challenge. Roger also introduces us to Alison Gill, who has taken a German Riding Pony to the high end of Grand Prix dressage and busting myths in the process. Mim Coleman profiles Charlotte Pedersen, an in-demand coach and successful rider who had just moved base to bring on her latest Grand Prix projects.
Our vet adviser, Dr Maxine Brain, reports firsthand on how horses cope with the dangers of African riding safaris, while Bernard Bale talks to Lady Gaga about why she loves her riding and how it began; and Suzy Jarratt lifts the curtain on the blood-thirsty horseback fighting scenes in Django Unchained in her Horses and the Movies series. Quentin Tarantino isn’t as reckless as the movie appears, she says, and yes, there is an Aussie angle!
Oi! Oi! Oi!
Sunday McKay
Contributors
-
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.
-
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.
-
DR KERRY MACKGrand Prix dressage rider, coach and Mayfield Farm stud principal, Kerry draws on her learning as a qualified psychiatrist to approach training from the cerebral perspective as well as the physical.
-
MIRIAM COLEMANDressage enthusiast, blogger and keen photographer, Mim Coleman provides an insightful and witty commentary on Tasmania’s close-knit equestrian scene.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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!
Published by
EQ Life Pty Ltd
ABN: 99142004064
ISSN: 1839-034X
Postal address:
Botanicca 3, Level 1, West Tower
570 Swan Street
Burnley 3121 VIC Australia
Phone: +61 492 887 961
Email: info@eqlife.com.au
Web: www.equestrianlife.com.au
Publisher
Sunday McKay
Manager Content Creation
Adele Severs
Associate Editor
David Trounce
Enquiries
info@eqlife.com.au, +61 492 887 961
Photography credits:
Luke Sciacchitano, Australian Outback Spectacular, Roger Fitzhardinge, Michelle Terlato Photography, Boots and Hooves Photography, Sarah Sullivan Photography, Equisoul Photography, Amy-Sue Alston, Simon Scully, James Abernethy, Andrea Dunn Photography, LL Foto, Wiktoria Roznowska Photography, Susan Stickle/Mid-Atlantic Dressage Festival, Tracey Jansen, Jay Town/Racing Photos, Varden Safaris, Maxine Brain, FEI – Richard Juilliart/Jon Stroud/Massimo Argenziano/Christophe Tanière/Liz Gregg/Dirk Caremans/Lukasz Kowalski/Leanjo de Koster/Kristine Ulsø Olsen.
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.
© 2023 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.
