Brett Parbery and DP Weltmieser.

Words and photos by Roger Fitzhardinge

Saturday was the day of Freestyles at the Martin Collins 2017 Australian Dressage Championships at Boneo Park. Roger Fitzhardinge, Heath Ryan and Maree Tomkinson stepped us through some of the combinations that competed.

Congratulations again to the 2017 Australian Dressage Champion, Brett Parbery.

Grand Prix Freestyle CDN:

Kaz Roe rode Rattle N Hum to a 64.710% in third place. This combination are helped by Tor Van Den Berge. They had strong music to go with the horse, which makes a big difference for your artistic mark. It was a great performance.

Gary Lung and GB Winchester scored 63.175% for fourth place. They used very dramatic music. The artistic mark may have been slightly lower as they didn’t have clear transitions in the music between trot, passage and extended walk.

Brett Parbery and Larenso scored 67.575% for second place. This is a very fancy horse. Brett also gives his horses plenty of time to settle around the arena and even though the horse was unsettled, they produced some really lovely work.

Alycia Targa and CP Dresden scored 70.340% for first place. This was a super test with great balance and harmony. It was truly beautiful to watch this combination continue to grow.

Alycia Targa and CP Dresden.

Grand Prix Freestyle CDI-W:

Lesley Anne Taylor and Amicelli Gold scored 67.535% for 10th place. There was new music for this combination and it really suited the horse. Super extended trot. Good regularity. ?

Kylie Riddell and Clive.

Kylie Riddell and Clive scored 65.525% for 13th place: Kylie loves to ride her freestyles. The music was great. Very expressive and loose front legs. It was lovely to watch as it looked easy.

Robbie McKinnon and Robali Razzamatazz scored 68.225% for 9th place. Robbie sits so beautifully on this horse. One of the best tests we have seen from her. The crowd really loved that test.

Abbie Deken and KH Ambrose scored 67.050% for 11th place. This combination have come all the way from NZ. Clear transitions from trot passage to passage. Super one time changes and on the spot canter pirouette.

Susan Elekessy and Don Rubin scored 66.595% for 12th place. Great reaching in the neck for the extended walk. Lovely music for this horse. Clear transitions. A nice pat after the one time changes. Her horse is really trying his heart out! Susan will be thrilled with that test.

Heath Ryan and Utopian Cardinal scored 65.120% for 14th place. Square halt in typical Heath fashion. Clear transitions in the music to all of their movements. Heath made sure his horse had his mind on the job after having some tension and miscommunication. Beautiful half pass. Super job given the horse was little worried about his environment today.

Gitte Donvig and Sancette.

Gitte Donvig and Sancette scored 69.480% for 7th place. Sancette was previously ridden by Mary Hanna. Their test was more lively with more energy than in the Grand Prix. Beautiful looking horse. Music is very clear with transitions. Super extended walk. Great degree of purpose in their test today. Super test.

Shannon Goodwin and Aristede 71.575% 4th place. This combination have really developed over the last year. This is the first horse than Shannon has trained to Grand Prix. Very fancy and expressive trot work, with big canter changes.

Rozzie Ryan on Jarrah R.

Rozzie Ryan on Jarrah R achieved 70.380% for sixth place. Piaffe was really super. All looks effortless with the horse and Rozzie working effortless together. Choreography is symmetrical and had a very nice feeling.

Bluefields Floreno ridden by Alexis Hellyer were next. Alexis had him little under a year – done a great job. Beautiful attitude, this horse is very promising and exciting. Eliminated due to bleeding mouth and the blood rule – if there is any blood it is elimination. He may of chomped on the bit – unfortunate but it does happen – tiny nip on lip maybe.

Julie Brougham and Vom Feinsten scored 73.00% for second place. Harmony is really beautiful with this pair. Music is beautiful, with a willing forwardness from the horse. A lovely test.

Spencer Wilton and Umbro.

Spencer Wilton and Umbro scored 71.425% for fifth place. Fantastic first halt. Dead square. Absolutely fantastic test to see. It was beautiful riding to watch, with Spencer doing everything right . A tribute to horse and rider training.

Brett Parbery and DP Weltmieser scored 74.540% to take first place. What funky music! Such a lovely test with great rhythm. The horse is really dancing to the beat. They dealt with this test with great efficiently.

Judy Dierks and Diamond Star.

Judy Dierks and Diamond Star scored 71.610% for third place. Judy has great partnership with this horse. He has turned into a superstar – he keeps doing things right. Good passage, it's what a dressage horse should look like.

Deon Stokes on Royal Oak II scored 69.025% for eighth place. Positive rider with this stallion. Very powerful music, with good transition. Well ridden.

Congratulations to all combinations on their Grand Prix Freestyles from the Martin Collins 2017 Australian Dressage Championships at Boneo Park.

FULL RESULTS

GALLERY

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