With more Australian riders than ever competing on the world stage, it is an exceptionally exciting time to be an Australian jumping enthusiast. With only a few short months to go until the first horse canters into the arena of Paris 2024, we eagerly await the selectors’ decision to see which combinations will be donning the coveted green and gold on the Australian Jumping Team.

With many of Australia’s top competitors now based abroad to obtain international experience and exposure to the sport at the highest level, the Australian selectors will likely be casting their eyes across the seas as well as at home in search of the best candidates. The qualification period is in full swing and riders seeking selection are busy gaining the necessary Minimum Eligibility Requirements (MER) qualifications before the June 2024 deadline.

Australia’s current highest FEI-ranked rider, Edwina Tops-Alexander, is undoubtedly one to watch in the lead-up to Paris. Partnered with Fellow Castlefield, the 14-year-old bay gelding, Edwina helped secure the team’s position at Valkenswaard in 2023. Now with two horses qualified in Fellow Castlefield and Corelli de Mies, Edwina brings a wealth of international experience. She is no stranger to the world stage. After debuting on the Australian Olympic team in Beijing, Edwina has gone on to represent Australia a further three times at London, Rio, and Tokyo. If she is to be selected for Paris, she will add a fifth Olympic representation to her already impressive international resume.

Katie Laurie sits just below Edwina on the FEI rankings. Now based in Canada, Katie represented Australia in Tokyo with the lovely grey stallion Casebrooke Lomond. Currently partnered with Django II the 2011 bay gelding bred by the McVean family, Laurie has obtained her qualification and has recorded recent success in the United States of America.

BASED IN THE USA

Many Australians now call the United States home, including Rowan Willis and Thaisa Erwin, who we move to next on the FEI rankings respectively. Rowan campaigns a successful team of horses and has represented Australia on the international stage at Nations Cup events. He currently has the required qualification with his mare Blue Movie, with whom he was recently selected to represent Australia at the CSIO4* Nations Cup in Wellington, Florida. Rowan’s sights are now focused on opportunities over the next few months.

Thaisa Erwin is another one to watch. With two of her rides in High Star Hero and Hialita B currently qualified, Thaisa is also fresh from representing Australia in the CSIO4* Nations Cup in Wellington and will be eager to continue the upward trajectory.

With two Olympic representations already under his belt, Scott Keach is looking towards a potential third Games in Paris. Scott first represented Australia in eventing at the Seoul 1988 Olympics before returning 28 years later to represent Australia once again at Rio in 2016 – this time in the jumping arena. After many years competing with great results on the American circuit, Scott currently has an impressive team of horses, including Noble De La Chapelle with whom he’s secured an MER and recently competed in the CSIO4* Nations Cup.

Interestingly, Scott is not the only eventer turned jumper up for Olympic selection this year. Lauren Balcomb also has roots in the eventing world. Having originally purchased her Verdini d’Houtveld Z as an eventing prospect, it was soon clear to Lauren that his talents were better suited to the jumping arena and their successful partnership is a testament to just that. After a brilliant Nations Cup debut, Lauren has continued to impress and was a member of the team that secured Australia’s position at Paris in Valkenswaard last year.

Joining the ranks of eventers-turned-jumpers is Chris Burton, an interesting rider to follow in the lead-up to Paris. With a vast array of international experience in both jumping and eventing, he is no stranger to high-pressure international events having represented Australia on numerous occasions. After an Olympic debut in 2012 at London, Chris represented Australia again in Rio in 2016 where alongside Shane Rose, Sam Griffiths and Stuart Tinney he claimed Team Bronze in eventing.

After a very successful few years in the jumping arena, including helping to secure Australia’s spot at the Paris Games for jumping, Chris has recently announced he has also secured an eventing ride on Shadow Man, the exciting 14-year-old gelding of Steve Hobday and Jane Chambers. Looking to Paris, Chris is currently campaigning three hopefuls – Jacksonville Eurohill and Chedington Hazy Toulana – in jumping (the latter being fully qualified), and Shadow Man in eventing. Watch this space, it’s looking to be an exceptionally busy few months for team Burton!

With her homebred mare Oaks Milky Way fully qualified, Hilary Scott will also be looking towards team selection. Bred by Oaks Sport Horses in Australia, the lovely grey mare campaigned by Hilary has had a fantastic few years with highlights including Nations Cup representations and being members of the team that secured Australia’s position in the Paris Olympics.

EUROPEAN SPRINGBOARD

After their recent moves from New South Wales to Europe, Amber Fuller, Jamie Kermond and Amelia Douglas are also posting impressive results. Having recently campaigned in Doha alongside fellow Australian Edwina Tops Alexander, all three have firmly captured our attention from the other side of the world.

With placings in CSI4* and CSI5* competitions in Doha, Amber Fuller and the lovely grey gelding Nopal Van Tallaert have their sights firmly set on Olympic selection and have their MER. After great success on the Australian circuit, Amber will base alongside Chatham Park teammate Amelia Douglas at Stal Tops to continue her campaign towards Paris.

Jamie Kermond continues his European campaign with an impressive team of horses including Yandoo Oaks Constellation, a sensational horse with a wealth of experience at big international events. With recent success in Doha, Kermond and the Oaks Sport Horses bred gelding have their MER and are ones to keep an eye on over the coming months.

Based in the United States, David Cameron and Oaks Come By Chance are another combination impressing abroad with recent results including an 8th place in the CSIO4* Grand Prix in Wellington in March. Similarly, Maddison Stephen and her Yalambis Ikon are posting promising results for the future in both Canada and the United States.

Closer to home, Tom McDermott, Sarah-Louise McMillan and Sam Overton have also secured qualifications.

With more and more quality Grand Prix events popping up on the Australian jumping calendar, riders wishing to gain mileage and experience jumping Grand Prix tracks in Australia have more opportunity than ever before to do so. Solidified by the many Aussies enjoying success abroad who have recently relocated, it is an exciting time for Australian jumping and the development of future prospects. Whilst it may be too early to predict which riders will be honoured with a spot on the team, what can be agreed upon is that the future of Australian equestrian success is looking very promising indeed. EQ

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE TO READ:

Edwina: The Road to Paris – Equestrian Life, April 2024

Amelia Douglass in Doha: New Horizons – Equestrian Life, March 2024