I am going to endeavour here to give an overview on the Australian Dressage riders based both here in Australia and overseas – a top 10 list, to be exact. I’ll also continue on with ranking our Eventing riders.

To qualify for the Paris Olympics and be recognised by the FEI, a Dressage rider and their horse have to achieve 67% or above on two separate occasions in the Grand Prix at a CDI3* competition or above. One of the judges has to be an L4! I have never heard of an L4 Dressage judge previously. I think this is a new name for a 5* judge. In other words, a judge considered to be at the top of the game, which involves having been an L3 judge for at least three years, and having judged at 30 competitions at Grand Prix level CDI4* shows or above. At six of those top-level competitions, the have to have been president of the ground jury or the foreign judge, and two of these competitions have to have been championships at different levels, such as FEI World Cup Finals, FEI/WBFSH Dressage World Breeding Championship for Young Horses etc. Not many of these judges exist anywhere in the world. Actually, there are only 43 L4 Dressage judges in the world, to be exact.

“Qualifying for Paris is
complicated between now
and… 24 June, 2024.”

So, qualifying for Paris is complicated between now and the end of the qualifying period on 24 June, 2024.

There are only five shows as far as I know that carry this sort of status in Australia – the 2023 Brisbane CDI; 2023 Australian Dressage Championships; 2024 Willinga Park Dressage by the Sea; 2024 Dressage & Jumping with the Stars (DJWTS); and 2024 Sydney CDI. There are lots more in the northern hemisphere.

On top of these FEI qualifications, the Australian riders have to meet the Australian selection criteria. The Dressage selection criteria has just gone up on the Equestrian Australia (EA) website along with the criteria for Eventing and Show Jumping. It is really important that all Australian Dressage riders make a big effort and read this criteria.

Following is a list of who I think are the top ranked riders as of this moment. Some of these riders have not yet scored the critical 67% as required by the FEI within the qualifying period, however, there is still time. These are our top Australian scoring riders in order:

1. Jayden Brown on Willingapark Quincy B with a score of 69.804% at Hartpury CDI3* in England on the 7/07/2023.

2. William Matthew on Mysterious Star with a score of 69.174% at Exloo CDI3* in Holland on 4/05/2023.

3. Jayden Brown again on Willingapark Sky Diamond who have a score of 68.609% at Hickstead CDI3* in England on 13/05/2023.

4. Robert Schmerglatt riding Quando Queen with a score of 68.239% at Willinga Park CDI3* in Bawley Point, Australia on 24/02/2023.

5. Jemma Heran on Total Recall with a score of 67.783% at Wellington CDI3* in the USA on 16/03/2023.

6. Jessica Dertell on Syriana with a score of 67.630% at Willinga Park CDI3* in Bawley Point, Australia on 24/02/2023.

7. Charlotte Phillips riding CP Dresden with a score of 67.152% at Willinga Park CDI3* in Bawley Point, Australia on 24/02/2023.

8. Pauline Carnovale riding Captain Cooks with a score of 66.739% at DJWTS CDI-W in Werribee, Australia on 24/03/2023.

= 9. Sue Hearn riding Eminent with a score of 66.261% at Willinga Park CDI3* in Bawley Point, Australia on 24/02/2023.

= 9. Michelle Baker and Bradgate Park Puccini with a score of 66.261% at DJWTS CDI-W in Werribee, Australia on 24/03/2023.

These 10 riders are the beginnings and I think this list will change as these riders post better and better scores. There are also a number of riders who are sure to make an impression in selection proceedings who are currently below the radar; a couple of them are mentioned below.

“This Australian record
score does not count as
a qualifier for Paris.”

• Simone Pearce represented Australia at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics has been reunited with her Olympic horse, Destano. Simone and Destano currently hold the Australian Grand Prix record score of 76.261%, achieved in the Czech Republic in 2020. To qualify for Paris, the scores have to be achieved after 1 January 2023 and before 24 June 2024. So this Australian record score does not count as a qualifier for Paris. Providing Destano maintains his good health you would have to think this combination will make a big impact on our current top 10 listed riders. Simone is based in Germany.

• Mary Hanna has represented Australia at the Olympics on six occasions, and Paris would make it number seven. How unbelievable is that feat! Mary has a new horse called Ivanhoe I and is having her first CDI3* start this month at the 2023 Brisbane CDI from 14-17 September. Everyone will be holding their breaths to watch this performance.

• Lyndal Oatley has ridden for Australia at the last two Olympics, Rio de Janeiro and Tokyo. Lyndal does have a horse called Elvive who has scored just over 73% in years gone by. To date, they do not have any competition scores this year that count for Paris selection. I think that these scores will appear in the not-too-distant future.

As mentioned, coming up is the Brisbane CDI3* from 14-17 September. Other riders to appear at this competition will include Alexis Hellyer on Daenarys, Breanna Tillitzki on BZ Rafael, Elliot Patterson on Del Piero ZF, Jessica Dertell on Cennin, Sheridyn Ashwood on Ferrero Chocolate Box and, as mentioned earlier, Mary Hanna on Ivanhoe I. This is a bunch of our up-and-coming Grand Prix riders of tomorrow going head-to-head with a view of making their way into my top 10 Australian shortlist. The Brisbane CDI will be fascinating viewing!

Now, what about the eventers? 

EVENTERS IN THE MIX

Last month we did an overview of the top 12 Australian Eventing riders starting their campaigns for Paris 2024. Following is our top 10 leaderboard, which is exactly the same as last month. The only CCI4*S competition in Australia since last month was Camden from 26-27 August. The winner of the CCI4*S was Olivia Barton, who performed really well to finish on a score of 39.90 penalties. This is not quite good enough to penetrate the existing long list of the top ten Australian riders at this moment. It will, however, contribute to Olivia qualifying for Olympic selection and she will now concentrate on producing a score, preferably sub-30, at a CCI4*L or CCI5*L – this would pretty much secure her a spot on the Australian team at the Paris Olympics. Of course, the same goes for everyone else. A whole team of sub-30 penalty Australian riders would put us in a likely gold medal Paris team outcome. Come on you guys, sub-30! The qualifying period for the Paris Olympics runs from 1 January 2023 and finishes 24 June 2024. I do think we are going to see this top 10 seriously challenged in the remainder of this year and very, very seriously challenged before 24 June next year.

A very serious development since my last column is the posting of the Australian selection criteria on the EA website. This is rotten, rotten reading, however, I think all of our Event riders and their mums and dads have to jolly well sit down and read the whole thing. It is important!

Eventing leaderboard for the top 10 Paris contenders as of the end of August 2023:

1. Shane Rose and Virgil have 28.5 penalties from Adelaide CCI5*L  in Australia on 20/04/2023.

2. Kevin McNab and Scuderia 1918 A Best Friend have 32.2 penalties from Kilguilkey House International Horse Trials CCI4*S in Ireland on 29/07/2023. Kevin is based in England.

3. Andrew Cooper and Hey Arnold have 32.9 penalties from Tamborine CCI4*S in Australia on 19/02/2023.

4. Sophia Hill and Humble Glory have 33.5 penalties from Werribee CCI4*S in Australia on 2/02/2023.

5. Shenae Lowings and Bold Venture have 34.7 penalties from Adelaide CCI4*S in Australia on 20/04/2023.

6. David Middleton and WEC In The Money have 35.3 penalties from Wandin CCI4*S in Australia on 18/03/2023.

7. Olivia Barton and Hollyander HG have 35.5 penalties from Melbourne CCI4*L in Australia on 8/06/2023.

8. Bill Levett and Huberthus AC have 35.5 penalties from Montelibretti CCI4*S in Italy on 9/03/2023. Bill is based in England.

9. Kenya Wilson and Sandros Salute have 36.7 penalties from Brigadoon CCI4*S in Australia on 1/04/2023.

10. Molly Lines and Tadpole have 37 penalties from Ballarat CCI4*S in Australia on 5/05/2023.

Next month I have every intention of updating these two long lists, commenting on any reshuffle and adding a Show Jumping long list. There is no coincidence that I have left the Show Jumpers until last. I really struggle to get a reasonably realistic evaluation of who is likely to be part of the Australian team and who isn’t. If someone is out there who considers themselves well versed on who is who in the Australian Show Jumping world of riders both here in Australia and overseas, and who has an inclination to maybe share those views with me, I would be very grateful for your input. All correspondence could in the first instance be addressed to Adele Severs (adele.severs@eqlife.com.au) at Equestrian Life. This is the first time I have ever advertised for someone else’s opinions!!! Hopefully this will make for a very interesting column next month.

Cheers,

Heath EQ

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE TO READ BY HEATH RYAN:

Let the Qualifying Games Begin – Equestrian Life, August 2023

Live Wire Sparks Coaching Debate – Equestrian Life, July 2023

It’s All Happening Overseas – Equestrian Life, June 2023

Exciting Times for All Of Us – Equestrian Life, May 2023

Will Enzinger a Potential Game Changer – Equestrian Life, March 2023

A Dressage Adventure – Equestrian Life, February 2023

The Big Picture for 2023 – Equestrian Life, January 2023

Heads Up Next Gen, Brisbane Awaits – Equestrian Life, December 2022

Planning for Paris, Leading to LA, Building for Brisbane – Equestrian Life, November 2022

Eventing Results: Disappointing but Promising! – Equestrian Life, October 2022