Dual Australian Olympian Lyndal Oatley has never shied away from mixing it with the best and is now putting her hand up for a third Olympics.

Growing up in the country in the Upper Hunter region of NSW, Lyndal Oatley showed an early talent for riding, progressing through Denman Pony Club to showing and eventually dressage. Her first competitive pony was Willowcroft Crackerjack, who was successful at both eventing and Royal shows alike. During these formative years aboard Crackerjack, Lyndal trained with Heath and Rozzie Ryan.

Parents Sandy and Carol supported her all the way, and once she gained her business degree in marketing, backed her dressage dreams to the hilt. With a string of royal show successes to her credit, it was on Weltspiel, a bay gelding by Weltmeyer, that Lyndal won the coveted Dietmar Specht Memorial Trophy for the most successful young rider at the Australian Dressage Championships in 2005.

Keen to train and mix it with the best, she took Weltspiel to Germany and competed Small Tour there, her stepping stone to the international arena. Then it was Potifar, the bay gelding, that was her first international Grand Prix horse – and the first to be chosen with her on board to represent Australia on the team at the World Equestrian Games in Kentucky in 2010.

It was in Germany where Lyndal encountered the wonderful stallion Feramo K, at the same time meeting Feramo’s former rider, Patrik Kittel, who helped her in her dressage pursuits and would go on to tie the knot with her a year later on Hamilton Island in Australia. They have both been living, working and training in Germany since 2012.

It was on Sandro Boy, a truly expressive and elegant bay gelding with whom she qualified for the Australian team for the 2012 London Olympics. The team finished ninth and she was 37th individually. Lyndal was 32 at the time and was named Australian Equestrian of the Year. She represented Australia again with Sandro Boy at the World Equestrian Games in 2014, and at the 2016 FEI Dressage World Cup Final in Sweden, where they finished 11th. In the same year they represented Australia at the Rio Olympics and placed 37th individually.

The saying that “you only get out of the sport what you put in” describes Lyndal’s life and competition ethic. She is a humble and wonderfully respectful and respected woman who leads a full and enthused life. To say one day she will meet herself coming back the other way is probably true, as her life has not a moment to spare. Nevertheless, she always manages to give generously of her time in keeping Aussies in the loop. Hence her wonderfully wholehearted answers to our questions bring us all up to speed.

EQ LIFE: Can you tell us about the horses, your campaigning for Grand Prix and your thoughts about their journey towards the Paris Olympics?

LYNDAL: I am currently campaigning Elvive and Dante’s Herzchen. They both are in totally different phases of their careers. Elvive  has never been “right place, right time”. She started her Grand Prix career with a 76% nationally the day before the Covid lockdowns. She qualified for the Tokyo Olympics, but with the quarantine time, if one of us got sick (Patrik or I) and no family nearby, I did not feel it was right to leave our daughter Emelia for such a potentially long time, so I withdrew. Elvive was then my choice for the 2022 FEI World Championships in Herning, but then her stablemate Eros felt a more consistent choice at that exact time to ensure we helped our Australian team qualify for the Olympics.

“Ellie’s scores are there,
so fate will decide…”

Elvive started 2023 with wins in Hagen in spring with over 73% in the Grand Prix and the Special. I finally felt it was her time, then I nearly lost her to colic and ovarian issues. Thankfully she came back well in a relatively short time and I did two internationals at the end of last year to check her fitness and arena focus in large indoors, so I would be ready for 2024. She went well at Lier CDI, scoring over 72% with a solid, consistent test and I am looking forward to seeing what is ahead. Ellie’s scores are there… several over 73% and she can handle it all, so fate will decide.

Herzi I have had since she was seven (and is now 10). She has it all!  We just went out and scored just shy of 73% in her first Grand Prix… with expensive mistakes. I feel this horse is capable of very big things and her talent and attitude in the arena are very special. We start our international journey now and we’ll see what is possible. I am very excited about her. If Charlotte Dujardin is trying to get me to have another baby to steal her, you know you have something special!

[Lyndal has since debuted Herzi at CDI Big Tour level, competing at Festival 4 Dressage in Aachen. The pair scored 70.304% in the CDI3* Grand Prix for fifth place and 76.665% for second in the CDI3* Grand Prix Freestyle for second place.]

EQ LIFE: Can you give us an insight into a day in Lyndal’s life?

LYNDAL: I’m up with Emelia, then Patrik takes her to kindergarten and I jump on my first horse. I generally have two lessons a day when I can and when it works with our training week. So I fit in around Patrik in the morning… which is great as I get to watch him train and I learn a lot from that when I don’t have a stable full of horses to ride daily. I like to be hands-on with my horses so we hack out. I check them in the stables and I do some of their weekly treatments like the Hofmag (a brand of a device for delivering PEMF or pulse electromagnetic therapy) or cryo (cryotherapy) myself, so I know how they are feeling and reacting.

I then generally work out at lunch for an hour then pick Emelia up at 2pm, then I am on mummy duty as I want to be a hands-on mum with her.

EQ LIFE: With you seeing many countries’ riders heading towards Olympic selection, is there a great deal of difference in the qualification criteria each country has?

LYNDAL: I think it’s more on par over the different countries these days with selection criteria. Germany makes sure their riders perform at CHIO Aachen and the German Championships in Balve for comparison purposes. I think most countries recognise the need for their riders to choose the right shows for their build-up and exposure.

 EQ LIFE: Do you think Olympic selection is the biggest accolade any dressage rider wishes in Europe or are there other competitions that could be equated to that level?

LYNDAL: The Olympics I feel is the crown jewel for most riders. It’s a very unique and special experience and one every rider puts at the top of the list. National championships also mean a lot to European riders. Speak to Patrik, and breaking home records is definitely a goal.

CHIO Aachen, of course, is a highlight as there is no competition in the world like it!

Every championship when you get to represent your country is special. To ride out and hear and see Aussie supporters that have come to support and cheer is amazing. I also love being with the other disciplines. We have so many legends in all disciplines and it’s great to be a part of the whole equestrian team.

EQ LIFE: With your Grand Prix horses, do you often train the actual Grand Prix test itself? Do you train the movements as they are in the test individually, or do you simply train for better throughness and quality of paces as the most important factor in your schedule?

LYNDAL: All of the above… depending on the day and the level of training and what it’s feeling like. This week I practised the full Grand Prix with Herzi, but I don’t do this often; it’s the third time I have done a training Grand Prix at home. Normally I do sections of the test, and I don’t do full power in the extended paces as they don’t need to run on full gas all the time.

The majority of the time it’s transitions between paces and in power, corners, straightness, centrelines, reaction and reward, working on self-balance and lightness of aids… shortening my reins. When this is good we add in movements, but often not exactly like in the test. For instance, longer trot half-passes to focus on angle and frame and correct positioning, or pirouettes with smaller and bigger and quicker steps, so I can prepare and guide correctly and efficiently. Twice a week it is focused more on relaxation and stretching.

After competitions my horses get a minimum of a week in the paddock… or a little hacking if they get bored quickly.

EQ LIFE: Do you get a chance to travel without horses and enjoy some time out of the scene on holidays?

LYNDAL: Ha-ha-ha! Oh, I wish! It’s something we are working on. We have eight horses in our stables aiming for Olympic contention with three riders here; David McKinnon and Mary Hanna at home (in Australia) are also going for the team; and then a very talented under-25 rider and Patrik’s long-term client in America… we simply don’t have the time.

When I do have the time I jump on a plane home to see my family and after the Games and the whole lead up we will try to have a pause. We are thinking mini breaks might be the way forward…  we did try to fix one for March but that didn’t happen – too much to do!

EQ LIFE: It must be nice for you to see there are several good combinations vying for positions on the team. The standard has risen in Australia. What do you think has attributed to this?

LYNDAL: I am super excited to see the depth at the top getting more and more. Horse and rider quality are getting better and better. I also think those giving team selection a real nudge are those who have stepped out of their comfort zone and have sacrificed a lot to be where they are. That is what’s impressing me right now. They have really put it all on the line and are challenging themselves. And this is only the beginning – these riders are talented with people behind them and I think this is an exciting time to be a part of Australian dressage.

These riders at the forefront at home have regular training from good trainers. These riders and trainers know what it takes to reach the top and have often been in teams themselves.

I have also noticed a lack of these riders on Facebook – they are staying away from opinions and drama and really staying on track and trusting their process.

EQ LIFE: A question we would all love to know is what are the pros and cons of life in Germany compared to Australia, including looking after and training horses?   

LYNDAL: Oh, this is never an easy question and it’s one asked often. I never planned to stay here. I miss my family every day. You live a torn life basing yourself away from your home and all that comes with that.

Positives of being over here? You challenge yourself against the world’s best regularly. You can watch them train and develop horses, so you see the process that gets them to the top and realise firsthand it’s not always easy and even the best have to navigate difficult situations. You also witness how good training and development over time can take a horse most would consider normal and make it something that’s very competitive.

You also get to see firsthand a lot that is given secondhand back home. You know the story behind the projected story; this can sometimes be very frustrating but also very beneficial as you learn to educate yourself and not read scandal.

It is very easy to travel to multiple countries to compete and you have access to amazing trainers and the amazing guidance and direction that comes with their experience.

With regards to horse management, from what I have seen and experienced it is a bit easier over here. Horse management is a much more focused on issues, with regularly scheduled vet checks with simple trot-ups and flexions and health checks even if horses aren’t in need of treatment.

Vets are very experienced in dealing with top-level dressage horses, and elite Olympics horses from all disciplines, and maintaining them. At home this isn’t as easy to achieve as the horse population treated by home vets isn’t as saturated with warmbloods competing at elite level. A lot of their experience comes from the racehorse industry with early ending careers.

There are great vets at home, but in Europe we have a wealth of experience and knowledge to gain access to. Vets with world-class experience travel Europe in teams with each vet’s skill unique. For example, one diagnostic, one ultrasound and X-ray, and another treatment. The performance horse industry is a huge thing over here, and can be very profitable, so market demand for such elite services is there, whereas maybe it isn’t as much back home in Australia.

Surfaces here are generally better, which also helps with management – but I have also ridden on some terrible surfaces over here. Also, most major stables have daily access to technology to assist in maintaining horses at top level, like cryo machines, Hofmags, massage rugs, water walkers, lasers etc.

This life over here also makes you uber-focused. You live and breathe your horses. Getting to have dinner with your horse friends is near impossible during show season. But in saying that, this can also be intense and can be a disadvantage; you don’t take weekends off, you are away from your family and friends. You don’t get to contest your own national championships. You miss out on getting to know home-based riders and enthusiasts, as we don’t have face-to-face access to that regularly and often feel a little alienated.

I will say, though, we have a great group of Aussie-based riders that are unbelievably supportive of one another and this is lovely.

I’m also blessed that I have a foot in the door at home still with Robbie and Dave McKinnon and really enjoy the involvement I have with them. It’s super rewarding and I get to be a part of home dressage in a supportive role and that gives me great pride.

NO STONE UNTURNED

There is no question that Lyndal is one of the most dedicated and loyal friends anyone could ever have. Her patience with getting her horses confident and totally on her side shows when you see her with them and competing. Lyndal certainly doesn’t waste a moment and it’s quite obvious that her childhood obsession with horses was not a fad!

On hearing of what makes Lyndal tick, it’s so clear that she is meticulous about her horses’ care and training. She leaves no stone unturned, and what is clearly obvious is that she is not a princess and gets in and does all the work, no matter what it is, with her own horses – so she really understands all that happens with them.

She still manages to stay fit and sane and loves to have time with Emelia and Patrik. She is a real family woman and both her parents, Sandy and Carol, are her greatest admirers and friends and are behind her every day. Lyndal is no shrinking violet and her logical approach to all things great and small is refreshing. The world of dressage is not always the smooth and glamorous road that you see on the livestream with VIP marquees and castles in the background and pomp and ceremony and decent prizemoney for the winners. That’s simply the icing on the cake in the sport when you have done years and years, every single day…. for seven minutes in the arena!

“Lyndal will be
giving it her all…”

With Lyndal’s campaign towards the Paris Olympics there will be no sudden changes of direction in her day-to-day life nor training or competing. This regimen for selection started years ago and is a well-trodden path of consistency. Lyndal will be giving it her all – but for her when it comes to selection it’s not life or death. It’s not life changing, it happens to be who is the best to represent Australia; and for certain no matter what, Lyndal will offer every bit of her heartfelt support to the Australian team win, lose, or draw.

For sure, Aussies back home will be hoping Lyndal gets another Olympic guernsey. She is a real Aussie supporter and so well loved and respected. EQ

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