Main image: Olympian Will Matthew and Mysterious Star, by Lukasz Kowalski.
“I don’t know if it has fully sunk in, so much happened in the last few weeks, it’s all a bit of a blur,” says newly crowned Olympian Will Matthew, who was part of Australia’s dressage team with 11-year-old equine partner Mysterious Star.
“I’m just very happy and proud that it all worked out. When I first cantered in the arena, I must admit I felt the atmosphere for a second, but then I just thought to myself ‘focus on his ears, don’t look up and focus on the feeling’, and then it all went really smooth. I felt I was able to stay in my little world between the white fences and it wasn’t until the test was over that I felt the atmosphere again.”
Will says it was an honour to be part of the Australian team in Versailles. “I was just beyond proud, and to be on the team with Simone [Pearce], Jayden [Brown] and Mary [Hanna], it just made it so much better; I think we got on really well and were able to support each other and have a lot of fun in between.”
Will Matthew blocking out the atmosphere and focusing on the job at hand. Image by Lukasz Kowalski.
‘Aussie, Aussie, Aussie!’
Will was pleased with his Grand Prix test, which garnered a PB score of 69.953% and helped Australia to finish in the top ten and qualify for the Grand Prix Special medal decider. Like any professional dressage rider, he is of course pragmatic about where he could have improved.
“I’m very happy with the tests, the Grand Prix felt super; he really gave my everything he could for the moment. I could have kept him a bit longer in the piaffes, but I felt he started to get a little nervous, so we lost a few points there. The Special was also great, but I just rushed him a little before the one tempis and he made a mistake, but that was my fault, so I was a little annoyed at myself… but other than that, he really tried his best for me.”
Groomed by Marlene Hödl, Mysterious Star looked a picture throughout the Games.
Will and Mysterious Star piaffe in front of Château de Versailles. Image by Michelle Terlato Photography.
Attending an Olympic Games is a momentous occasion and one that for debutants in particular serves as an important learning experience. “I think the biggest thing I learned or realised is that we are all cooking with the same water,” reflects Will. “I realised we all have the same problems and are all anxious about similar things. Just by talking with the other riders in the stable, you realised that even the top riders are worried or nervous about similar problems… like will the horse handle the atmosphere, will I be nervous, is the horse going to be happy and relaxed in the new stables… I think realising that we are all in the same boat somehow relaxed me.”
Will, who hails from Perth but has been based in Europe for over a decade, also had an enthusiastic contingent of family and friends, whose chants of ‘Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, Oi, Oi, Oi!’ could be heard as he entered the arena for the Grand Prix Special.
“It was really special to have so much family and friends there. I also met my eight-month-old nephew for the first time, as I haven’t been back to Australia in the last year… that made it extra special. I’m very lucky to have such great family and friends.”
Will says he’s very proud of Mysterious Star. Image by Lukasz Kowalski.
‘Frodo’ the joker
At just 11 years of age, Mysterious Star (Metall x Fuerstin Lena, by Fürst Heinrich) – who has been trained by Will since a five-year-old – still has much of his Grand Prix career ahead of him. As for future plans with the horse, Will explains that is yet to be decided.
“Mysterious Star is young, and I think he still has a lot more in the tank. To be honest we haven’t made a plan for him yet; I think the owner [Stephanie Goller] and I were so focused on the Olympics we didn’t think about what comes next. This week we will sit down and make a plan about the future.”
Clearly fond of his partner of the past six years, Will says that Mysterious Star, aka ‘Frodo’, is the joker of the stable. “He has the first box in the stable and can see everything that’s going on. I would say he really loves people; he’s only looking for attention and if he feels he’s not getting enough he will quickly get your attention by banging on the door.
“The way he handled himself in the big atmosphere in Paris also shows how good his character is; he was so relaxed, and I felt he was proud to be there.”
Back at home, Will has also been riding Madeleine Winter-Schulze’s young Grand Prix horse Freischütz for several years now. “He is going to be a great Grand Prix horse, he just needs a bit more time,” explains Will. “I have some other very exciting young horses in the barn that I am slowly building up… that’s my real passion, to start from the beginning and take them all the way to Grand Prix.”
Will is all smiles aboard Mysterious Star following their Grand Prix Special test in Versailles. Image by Michelle Terlato Photography.
