Boyd Exell ran a clinic at AELEC in Tamworth.

© Amanda Young / EQ Life

By Equestrian Life

It’s not every day an international sporting legend visits Tamworth, however for the past six years one famous Aussie expat makes his way to the northeast NSW town without fail.

Netherlands-based driving star Boyd Exell was busy at the Australian Equine and Livestock Events Centre (AELEC) this week (8 -10 October) running a clinic for those keen to refine their skills. The clinic is organised by Jessica Meredith, who has herself competed in FEI Horse Driving Trials, and previously spent 13 years training in the UK. The clinic is understandably always popular, and for the third year there has been classes for juniors — it’s fantastic to see the next generation taking up this great sport!
 

The clinic was full, with back-to-back lessons running each day — and Boyd certainly got to enjoy his fair share of the Australian sun! Speaking about how he coaches, he explains that it all begins with the set up. “The first thing I concentrate on in every lesson is the set up. Is the horse set up correctly with his harness, to the carriage, is he set up on the bit? Once that’s achieved, then we can work on pushing the animal to learn something or do something better,” he explains.

Boyd Exell, our Sept/Oct issue cover star!

© Amanda Young / EQ Life

Boyd describes driving as “the most fun you can have sitting down”, and he’s not wrong. The clinic participants were having a great time — and evidently, so was Boyd. Many are now staying on at AELEC for the Tamworth International Horse Driving Trials, which runs 11-13 October and includes CAI 1*, 2* and participation classes. No doubt they can’t wait to put some of Boyd’s training advice into action.

Also in action at AELEC over the weekend is the Tamworth World Cup Show, which will see some of the country's best showjumpers competing. Boyd will be participating in the Jump and Drive on Friday evening (tonight), and if anyone is yet to see this type of event in action, get down there and watch - fast and furious, it's very entertaining!

Tamworth has been a quick trip for Boyd, who flies in and out — before returning to Australia in January for a month off to indulge in some of his other interests that are not so readily accessible in the Netherlands… water skiing, sailing and surfing.

Back at home, next on his calendar is the World Cup Winter Indoor Season. With different rules and a more intense atmosphere at these events, he drives a completely different team of horses to what we’ve seen at the big outdoor events this year such as CHIO Aachen.

It’s great to have an Aussie legend back on home soil, if only for a brief time. While the sport of driving in Australia is still on a small scale compared to Europe, Boyd is positive about the fact that there are a few new faces at his clinics each year and more people are being educated. Judging by the success of this year’s clinic, no doubt many have already reserved their spaces for 2020!

EQ Life's full interview with Boyd Exell will appear in the Nov/Dec Issue of the magazine - be sure to keep an eye out for it!
 

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