Millie Fletcher and Amsterdam are a CDI Junior combination set to compete at the Boneo Park Winter CDI this month. Image by Roger Fitzhardinge.
Millicent ‘Millie’ Fletcher is one eight talented riders set to contest the CDI Junior classes at the upcoming Boneo Park Winter CDI. Following her recent win at the Sydney CDI, Roger Fitzhardinge caught up with Millie to hear about her cheeky partner Amsterdam and find out why she loves the sport the dressage.
Millie Fletcher and Amsterdam competing at the 2025 Bowral Dressage Championships. Image by Roger Fitzhardinge.
“This is a combination that
is certainly going to push the
Junior leaderboard along…”
Millie and her horse, Amsterdam, were very competitive in the CDI-J at the Sydney CDI last month, producing three great tests and actually winning the CDI-J Freestyle with 71.355% – on Millie’s fourteenth birthday, of all days.
Millie has been riding Amsterdam for just over three months now and only completed her first Medium test and flying changes very recently. “The talent this junior rider shows is quite incredible, says Roger. “The horse was beautifully trained prior to her buying it, but all the same not an uncomplicated ride. Millie has done a fantastic job in a short period of time and is a rider, like so many at CDI-J level here in Australia at the moment, who is really worth watching.
“Amsterdam is a glorious liver chestnut/black horse with super expressive paces and fabulous changes. This is a combination that is certainly going to push the Junior leaderboard along once they gain more experience.”
“HE’S VERY CHEEKY…”
Roger caught up with Millie following her winning test in Sydney, which was only the fifth she has ever ridden with the gelding. Speaking about the 15.1 hand nine-year-old “welshy”, Millie says Amsterdam has a huge personality: “He’s very cheeky. He loves to bite me. But he gives it his all, all the time.”
Amsterdam was originally imported as a stallion from the Netherlands when he was four years old, but he was a little too cheeky and ended up a gelding. Originally owned by Olivia Gillespie and Rachael Phelan, he was ridden by Olivia to CDI Young Rider level. Rosemary Sutherland also competed him in CDI Childrens classes. Now owned by Millie in conjunction with Catherine Barrett, he’s showing his new young rider the ropes.
“He was trained very, very well by his old owner and now I get to take the reins, and he can teach me everything,” enthuses Millie.
Millie and Amsterdam in action at the 2025 Sydney CDI. Image by Roger Fitzhardinge.
Millie has been competing in the dressage arena for three years now and says she loves the challenge of the sport. “I’m a perfectionist, but I love the fact that [dressage] can’t be perfect. I always strive for perfection, even though it’s relatively not possible,” she laughs. “And I just love the artistic style. It’s great.”
“I’m a perfectionist,
but I love the fact that
dressage can’t be perfect…”
Millie says her coach, Kayla Simms, helped her with her winning Freestyle music. “A few weeks [prior to the Sydney CDI], she spent a whole week with me doing my whole Freestyle and my music, and I wouldn’t be able to do it without her.”
NEXT STOP, BONEO
Next stop for Millie is the Boneo Park Winter CDI (5-8 June) on the Mornington Peninsula in Victoria, where she will be joined by fellow CDI-J competitors Bianca Griffiths and Glyndower Brea Galahad, Shiva Wiedemann and Hollands Bend Regalite, Morgan Cockerell and Ibn Ky Gold Rush, Tia Mckenzie and Phenomenon, Jessica Sharp and Revelwood Synergy, Zali Mills and Royal Diamond Jubilee, and Rosemary Heagney and Sancho RW.
This is sure to be an exciting class full of talent. Watch all the action from the main arena Friday, Saturday and Sunday (6-8 June) at the Boneo Park Winter CDI via Equestrian Life and ClipMyHorse.TV. EQ
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