Caroline Wagner has won the Garryowen Equestrienne Turnout at Melbourne Royal four time with three different horses.
Four-time Garryowen winner Caroline Wagner reflects on her memorable victories at Melbourne Royal, the preparation and partnership behind success, and her ongoing role helping riders create their own Garryowen memories through Wagner’s Saddlery.
Always a highly anticipated class at Melbourne Royal, the Garryowen Equestrienne Turnout was first held in 1934 to honour the late Violet Murrell and her champion horse, Garryowen.
Caroline Wagner knows what it takes to win the prestigious turnout class. She secured her first win in 1992 with Ark Royal, with the pair claiming a second title in 1994. Caroline’s name was next etched onto the honour roll in 1999 with Trent Nathan, before a final win in 2004 with WS Black Label closed the book on a very successful showing career.
However, not only has Caroline claimed victory four times — she has since assisted countless riders in creating their own special Garryowen moments through Wagner’s Saddlery.
WATCH: Melbourne Royal Show’s ‘Horses in Action’ can be watched live via Equestrian Life, as well as live and on-demand via ClipMyHorse.TV. Tune in to watch the Garryowen from 9.30am AEST, Friday 3 October.
Caroline Wagner won the Garryowen with Ark Royal in1992 and 1994. Image supplied.
“It was a very special thing
to win every time…”
A SPECIAL EVENT
“It’s always a special event for me… I did win it four times, and it was a very special thing to win every time,” reflects Caroline on her connection with the famous event. She feels that although the Garryowen has been running for so long, the excitement and prestige remain undiminished in the modern era.
“People do love it, and I think the Show over the years has enhanced the experience… they make a big deal of the draw now. I think that helps build the excitement and create those special moments for everybody by making it all-encompassing from the beginning… competitors all feel part of something special.”
Caroline says all four wins are special to her for their own reasons. “The first one was special because it was the first one,” she recalls of her 1992 win with Ark Royal. “We had to do the workout on the trotting track around the old arena in the rain… all the arena events had been cancelled that year, as it had been so wet for two days prior and the Garryowen was the only event held that day.”
The next win, in 1994 with Ark Royal, was in the event’s 60th year. “It was the Diamond Jubilee year, and all the judges were past winners. To win under your peers was very special.” That year, Caroline scored 194 out of 200 — a record score that still stands.
The 1999 win on Trent Nathan was meaningful for another reason. “Roy Davis and Charlotte Mitton, both good friends, owned that horse. He was a beautiful horse to ride, and a horse I’d always admired. It was special to be able to hop on and ride a horse like that. I’d ridden and worked with Roy Davis, who showed the horse, and trained with him a bit as well, so I was fortunate enough to gain the ride… and he gave me a beautiful ride on the day!”
Caroline and Trent Nathan won the Garryowen in 1999. Image by Julie Wilson.
“It was a lovely, lovely
ride to finish my career
in the event…”
The last win, in 2004 with WS Black Label, carried extra significance. “We decided before we went in, if we could really go for it and nail it, I’d announce my retirement [from showing] out there. You can never truly plan these things… but that was our plan!” At that point, Caroline had her first dressage horse and knew that was the discipline she wanted to follow.
“I was just so pleased [with WS Black Label]… it was a lovely, lovely ride to finish my career in the event.”
STAND OUT FROM THE CROWD
When it comes to Garryowen success, Caroline says preparation is key. “As far as the costume and the saddlery goes, that should be a no-brainer. There’s no reason or excuse not to get that right. You’ve got every opportunity. You prepare your saddlery, your gear and your costume… you make sure it’s perfectly clean and well presented.”
She explains that the deciding factor is often the horse. “It’s usually a seasoned horse [that wins], so a horse that can go out there and is happy to stand, and really work for you. The biggest thing is the preparation for your horse through that season – leading into and through the winter and the show season before – that you’re a really established team.”
It’s also important that both horse and rider are comfortable and confident in their Garryowen gear. “I always rode in my Garryowen saddle for a month to six weeks leading into the show, so they got used to buckles underneath. A turnout saddle is quite different to sit in. The horse needs to get used to you sitting just slightly differently.”
Caroline won the 2004 Garryowen with WS Black Label, before retiring from the show ring. Image supplied.
The overall pictured created is what ultimately wins. “You’ve got to make the judges sit up and go, ‘Oh wow, this is lovely to watch’. The horse is soft and covering the ground and you’re really going out there and showing the horse off, you don’t just tinker about. I say to them all, ‘Get out there and go for it, ride for it!’. You’ve got to stand out from the crowd!”
Of course, win or lose, if you and your horse have turned in a good performance that is all you can ask. “Every Garryowen I won, I came back from the workout and was so happy with how the horse went, I always said to myself in those moments, ‘It doesn’t even matter if we don’t win or place, that was the best workout we could produce’.
‘IT’S A BIT LIKE GETTING A BRIDE READY…’
Although Caroline has not competed in the Garryowen since 2004, she has remained heavily involved. Along with husband Peter, she has regularly sponsored the event through Wagner’s Saddlery. These days, the couple also spend a lot of time helping others prepare for the big day.
“We spend a lot of time getting people ready for [the Garryowen], both making new gear for them, and then on the day… sometimes I’ve tied up to half the field’s stocks!” laughs Caroline.
“This year has probably been nearly our busiest year ever; it really hasn’t stopped since Sydney Royal. We’ve worked nearly every weekend since Easter!”
And it’s not just Garryowen competitors. “I’ve been doing lots of three and four and five-year-olds, so both ends of the scale, from the mini turnouts and the Shetlands, right through to the Garryowen,” explains Caroline.
Part of Caroline’s job involves helping riders prepare on the day. “I help to check them over… and also calm the nerves and bolster the confidence. It’s almost a bit like getting a bride ready… they’re excited, plus they’re nervous. It’s such a big event, some of them are a little bit overwhelmed. There’s always an entourage behind them. It’s a special thing to be part of.”
DRESSAGE ERA
Between a busy few months fulfilling Melbourne Royal orders and the show itself, the Wagners enjoyed a break and trekked north for the Brisbane CDI. There, Caroline successfully contested the CDI3* Big Tour classes with her 12-year-old KWPN gelding Ibicus (Apache x Mondriaan). The duo placed fourth in the Grand Prix with one of their best scores to date and finished second in the Grand Prix Freestyle with a PB of 71.130%.
Caroline Wagner on Ibicus. Image by Roger Fitzhardinge.
“We’re just working on
making it better and better.”
“He’s a lovely horse, and I’m really enjoying riding him. He’s still a young Grand Prix horse, so there’s plenty of room to improve… you can never stop improving when it comes to this level, so we’re just working on making it better and better.”
“The hardest thing is to take what you can get at home, in your work arena — which is getting better and better — and be able to achieve that in the ring. That’s the biggest thing, and that’s the most satisfying thing. You don’t expect to get everything you get at home, but if you can make some of it happen in the ring, and feel like you’ve gone up a notch, then that’s great.”
Much like the Garryowen — if you’re enjoying the ride, you’re already a winner. EQ
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