A wonderful wet weekend of dressage at Willinga Park

Wet weather failed to dampen spirits at wonderful Willinga Park

© Roger Fitzhardinge

By Roger Fitzhardinge

Willinga Park… where on earth do you start if you want to describe this uniquely international private Equestrian facility!

Beautiful, unrestrained, singular, state of the art, functional, friendly, amazing, unique, architecturally brilliant, environmentally friendly and endearing to the surroundings and to all who visit. These are just a few words that are conjured up when trying to explain what Willinga is about!

There are 232 permanent stables. They are extravagant but simple to say the least all with self waterers and feed bins and spongy rubber floors. There are plenty of wash bays with all the stables having their own horse friendly roadways to the arenas. There are turnout grass small paddocks available for anyone who needs them. The landscaping around the entire facility is simply wonderful with so many varieties of shrubs and plants that adorn the pathways, and for that matter, the entire property, not to mention the sculptures of amazing diversity and interest and the marvelous gardens and avenues of trees.

Everything about Willinga Park, from the landscaping to the sculptures, is breathtaking

© Roger Fitzhardinge

When talking about competitors’ areas and needs, there is a main arena (70m x 30m) with an ebb and flow arena, with its own warm up arena directly next to it, which also has an ebb and flow surface.

There is a an indoor (70m x 30m) with lighting that makes it as bright inside as a sunny day outside. This arena is flanked with a warm up arena, set above the indoor, of the same surface. With a full short side of huge conjoined mirrors and that arena is 100mtrs x 35mtrs wide. It has it all for the very best final warm up; or training session!! No matter the weather the arenas are totally rideable. Even with 135mms of rain over the weekend, the only arena that had a few puddles was the indoor warm up. All the same, the surface itself was totally rideable and despite the huge volume of rain dumped upon it, it was totally stable and useable and dry within 30 minutes!!

The riders retreat is incredibly well appointed. There are several state-of-the-art BBQs and fabulous solid timber tables and wonderful huge bench seats. A huge kitchen for general use, and for restaurant food to be produced. There are gardens that overlook a heated swimming pool for everyone’s use. The individual shower rooms are spacious and beautifully allotted with huge shower roses and high ceilings. There is no waiting around for a shower as there are so many. There are washing and drying machines and laundry facilities. The truck parking areas; all with their own water and power and manicured grass, specially prepared so no truck in any flooding rain will get bogged.

Willinga Park’s pool is a big hit with competitors during the summer months!

© Roger Fitzhardinge

Alongside the huge stable complex are 18 pavilions that vary in size from two to four bedroom pavilions, all architecturally designed with balconies that look down an amphitheatre type valley. These pavilions are designed to be private and you don’t even realise there are neighbours. They have a huge kitchen and cooking area, a well-appointed dining and lounge area with a huge flat screen TV and the bedrooms are seriously spacious and most with ensuites. The art work on the walls, is as with everything at Willinga, tasteful and extremely individual and in keeping with the simplistic and charming living areas.

These are the facilities that are for the dressage, but there is also a state of the art campdraft arena. Two grandstands attached with a new one that hovers over the cattle yards. There is a cross country course being built under the eye of Mike Etherington-Smith and a showjump arena that is nearly completed that will take your breath away with its own grandstand seating 1,000 people. The arena itself is 120m x 70m with an Otto surface. There is a polo field and many associated bush trails.

All this is privately owned by Terry Snow and his wife Ginette. He is the most down to earth man in the world with a burning desire to provide an equestrian facility that is equal to any in the world. His passion is focused and energetic, to say the least and his eye for all detail incredible!! In the recent fires with his amazing property, his attention to fire control in the building of this property was second to none. When the fires came through, out of control, it was his property’s attention to risk management that actually saved the entire township of Bawley Point. His foresight was welcomed indeed by all residents of Bawley Point. This attention had been in place since the property’s initial stages. He is a keen environmentalist, and the bird life that is prolific, is a reward for his attention to the intense planting of appropriate plants and trees. A lover of nature and art.

Willinga Park’s buildings are eco-friendly

© Roger Fitzhardinge

The buildings are constructed from environmentally friendly products. You can see in the development of the property that there is a huge amount of glass and copper used as well as steel and timber that is often milled off the property. His idea was, low maintenance and hence the materials that weather with age. Talking of environment, there are 2,000 solar panels that make up 500 kilowatts of tesla batteries. This is one of the biggest systems in the southern hemisphere!!!!

Terry has a team of dressage horses with Jayden Brown riding the Willinga horses now and impressive they are indeed, as is the work Jayden is doing there. He also has a large herd of beautiful Herefords and breeds Stock horses and warmbloods with a huge breeding program and a lot of embryo transfer work being carried out with all his good competition mares. There is a full time vet in attendance. The breeding barn has state of the art facilities, and there is also a vet barn that is similarly extensive.

Willinga Park’s Hereford herd emjoying the idyllic surrounds

© Roger Fitzhardinge

Above all Terry and Ginette are generous in encouraging the property’s use. With Covid-19 now better controlled they opened the doors and ran a wonderfully organised and productive small competition on the 31^st October – 1^st November. There were limited entries, as they were not wanting to stress the community with Covid requirements that were carried out to the Nth degree yet innocuous to all.

Unfortunately the weather gods decided that rain was ordered and rain it did, but it did not dampen the enthusiasm of the riders, staff and judges.

The Novice tests were won by the wonderful chestnut stallion WillingaPark Fangio, with an 80.0% and a 79.7%. Jayden rode with effortless ease; humble and controlled and an absolute delight to watch. Every mark well deserved. In second place in both Novice classes was Gran Torino for Robert Schmerglatt. Third in one was Kasjmir, an extraordinarily brilliant mover, having her first ever competitive start under the guidance of Jayden Brown and only started in one test. The Freisian, Romke Pieter Van F en R came third with Jim Collin in the 2B scoring 70.8%. There were many good tests that took the eye and one young horse in his first novice test was Revelwood Quidam ridden by Charlotte Phillips with two top placings (also winning the Junior section). Brierley Nysa was impressive for Anwen Lovett and RM Raspberry for Michelle Baker, a pony scoring super well and winning the pony sections.

WillingaPark Fangio and Jayden Brown were superb in the Novice classes

© Roger Fitzhardinge

In the Elementary it was WillingaPark Emotion and Jayden Brown who stole the classes with a 79.4% and 78.72%. This bay mare is expressive and uphill and in a very steady frame indeed. Effortless to say the least and mistake free. She is leggy and elegant and an embryo transfer is due at the moment. In second was Gran Torino in one and Revelwoods Queens County ridden by Megan Keir with 69.7% second in the other.

In the Medium (18 starters in each class) it was Jayden again with the ever stunning bold chestnut Quincy B with a 79.4% and 78.08% who won both tests by nearly 10% from Alycia Targa and Nyssa TPH in the 4B, and SPH Oktagonal for Anne-Catherine Preuss in the other. A great two tests with so much quality and good riding. Georgia Creais with Que Sera was also impressive in both with great expression and good riding but still green and young but, one to watch out for.

Quincy B and Jayden Brown were stand outs in the Medium classes

© Roger Fitzhardinge

In the Advanced 12 riders competed. It was Megan Bryant winning one and second in the other on the active and neat Furst Dance. Megan also showing great competitive skills to cruise around the test seemingly effortlessly. Ampersand for Layla Williams, a black gelding by Ampere, previously owned and competed for Tibby Barbour, was second in one and Benicia won one, for Natalie Ciappara and was third in the other. This is a very interesting leggy chestnut gelding with a lot of bling and a lot of movement and also one in the wings. He is still not truly consolidated but very much along the right way.

Megan Bryant and Furst Dance won an Advanced class with a seemingly effortless test

© Roger Fitzhardinge

The Prix St Georges had 14 starers and Jayden Brown again really impressive with the truly exciting WillingaPark Fusion. A horse that is the hot potato but Jayden has been taking him slowly. His talent is incredible but he still gets a little too enthusiastic. A 72.2% was a great score when there were a couple of 4s for a tense moment in a change out of counter canter and some tension in the walk that spoilt one walk pirouette. Jayden had his foot off the pedal a little as he simply wanted a cool test and was thrilled. He realises that Fusion is so international quality and expressive and uphill like a truly international FEI horse, but needs empathy and consolidating. Again, wonderful to see such empathy. 2^nd to HP Fresco for Louisa Smith and 3^rd to Layla Williams and Ampersand. A good class indeed.

WillingaPark Fusion impressed in the Prix St Georges

© Roger Fitzhardinge

The Inter A and Inter B was won in fine style by CP Dresden, now with the junior rider Charlotte Phillips in the saddle. The horse was simply a gem and well ridden for their first Medium tour test with not mistakes and a score of 69.26% and 66.8% respectively. A true testament to good training and competent riding. This combination are looking great and Dresden trying his very best as always even though at times a little too hard but Charlotte kept a lid on him and showed him well. Springfield Passion Hit for Nina Boyd is now really settling to the work and a 63% and a 65.2% respectively and what a great trot tour with much flare and expression. She is at last stepping up to the mark and allowing Nina in to start showing the promise she has always had.

CP Dresden and Charlotte Phillips won the Inter A and B

Eliza Newton won the Inter I with Skyview Hotshotz, while the inter II saw a win to Bradgate Park Puccini for Michelle Baker with a 70.29%. Some great piaffe and passage and expressive extended paces. A mistake in the ones but one to keep focused on as they are looking mighty impressive in all movements. Second to the elastic and soft trotting Fiderhal a horse owned in WA and competed here by Nina Boyd. A 68.603% and a few mistakes in the changes and a piaffe, a bit earth bound, but also an exciting wonderful horse and well done. Brumali for Robert Schmerglatt was third.

John Thompson and JHT Chemistry © Roger Fitzhardinge

John Thompson and the lovely stallion JHT Chemistry won the Grand Prix

The Grand Prix was won by John Thompson and JHT Chemistry. This big bold black stallion was very uphill in his work and showed a lot of powerful and controlled work. His score of 72.63% was well deserved and absolutely on the money. He is gaining in strength as he continues his training with many marks above 7.5 and only 5 marks at 6.5. This is a horse that will improve more and with more starts and experience, another super horse. Based at Mulawa John is in form! Second to Nina Boyd and Fiderhal his 2^nd GP start and a good score of 64.9 with a few costly mistakes cruelling the score. He is young at this but super talented and a really lovely horse that’s so easy on the eye. In third was Jess Robinson and Remi Beelzebub and haven’t they improved. The passage a real highlight but still need a little more consistency in the self carriage and lightness, but he too is young and needs to gain the carrying strength.

Nina Boyd and Fiderhal are an exciting combination for the future

So ended a truly fantastic two day competition. No fuss. All easy and at Willinga Park, despite the appalling rain, everyone was super happy and smiling. The staff at Willinga could not be more helpful and happy to do whatever was needed to help. The team are truly professional and you are made to feel at home as the staff too take great pride in the Terry Snow development of this international facility. They are made to feel proud and part of its being. Terry and Ginette are so modest and inviting and always around the competition, Ginette photographing and she and Terry enjoying a bite to eat and a chat with everyone. They are simply salt of the earth intriguing, passionate and humble people with a wicked love of living!!!