Olivia Barton and Hollyander HG. Image: Michelle Terlato Photography.

Meet five-star first timer Olivia Barton

Inside Adelaide | Presented by RB Sellars

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By Equestrian Life

“It’s a very nerve racking but exciting experience preparing for my first five-star,” says 24-year-old Olivia Barton.

Olivia will be saddling up 10-year-old mare Hollyander HG for Adelaide CCI5*L, and the pair have been in great form of late. “Holly is feeling great, and she’s had some really solid preparation events, so hopefully it will all come together to produce a good outcome this week.”

Olivia and Holly have gone from strength to strength after winning their first CCI4*L start at Melbourne International Three-Day Event last year. They were fourth in the CCI4*S at Willinga Park and eighth in the CCI4*L at Sydney towards the end of last year.

Olivia and Holly’s last event was last month at Land Rover Horse of the Year in Hastings, New Zealand where they finished second in the CCI4*S behind Olympians Shane Rose and Virgil.

“HOY was an amazing experience for both the horses and riders. It was my first time competing internationally and it was a great event that had a big atmosphere which was a great lead up to Adelaide’s atmosphere,” says Olivia.

Olivia and Holly winning Melbourne International Three-Day Event CCI4*L in 2023. Image: Andrea Dunn Photography.

“Now, I’ve actually fallen in love with them…”

Up until she was 17 years old, Olivia hadn’t had a lot to do with mares – and then the tide turned. Speaking to Equestrian Life in July 2023, Olivia explained that from about age 18 onwards she ended up with a lot of mares: “It was a bit of an eye-opener. Now, I’ve actually fallen in love with them; I love how when you get them on side, they’ll do anything for you. They can be a bit trickier, but I don’t mind them a bit quirky, I quite like the quirky ones!”

By Higgins out of an imported mare and with both jumping and dressage lines, Holly is one of the quirky ones. Bred and owned by Bob and Ela Weight, she was broken in by Deon Stokes and came to Olivia as a four-year-old – and certainly tested the then-18-year-old. “We met Bob and Ela through mutual friends. They were wanting to get into the eventing scene and really wanted to send Holly to me and see what we could do together,” recalled Olivia. “As a four-year-old, Holly was not the most straightforward horse, she was quite opinionated. I’ve always loved her, and we’ve just really gotten along. While she’s not the most conventional eventer, she’s just got a heart of gold and always tries. So that’s what I love about her.”

Olivia is now in her sixth year of being based with Prue and Craig Barrett. “They have been a huge, huge influence on my career. Craig has been coaching me from when I was eight and Prue has also helped me a lot, so they’re my main support network and they’re just amazing, it’s so good to have them behind me. Rod Brown has also helped a lot with show jumping, and I do quite a bit with him,” said Olivia.

Olivia is looking forward to her first five-star event with Holly. Image: Michelle Terlato Photography.

A unique event

Alongside Holly, Olivia’s eventing team includes homebreds Henrik APH, APH Sebastian, and APH Sodoku (Olivia’s mother runs her own boutique stud, APH Sport Horses), with the latter also heading to Adelaide this year in the CCI3*L.

“Adelaide is such a unique event being run in the middle of a city; there’s nowhere else that is quite like it! It’s always been my favourite event in the calendar, to go to Adelaide and do well is an amazing achievement and it is the pinnacle eventing event in Australia!”

Published 17 April 2024. 

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