Zali Mills and Mayra Strade. Image by LL Foto.

Future Champions underway in Hagen

By Equestrian Life

Thursday saw the first day of competition at Future Champions in Hagen, Germany, where eight Australians took to the arena against some of Europe’s top young riders. Dubbed the “Aachen of youth”, the event is Germany’s only youth Nations Cup and has been held at Hof Kasselmann since 2011.

The Australian riders all competed on loan horses and had less than two weeks and a handful of rides to get acquainted before heading down the centreline for their first tests. Certainly no easy task!

The CDIO-Ch Children’s Preliminary test saw Morgan Cockerell and Malibu in 13th on 64.482%, Zali Mills and Mayra Strade were 14th on 63.643%, and Abby Weel was 16th with Santiago-H on 62.197%.

In the CDIO-J Junior Team test, Emma Hutchinson and Fycara finished 13th on 66.97%, Tia Rose McKenzie finished 16th with High Society on 65.202%, and Maddison Vallender was 21st with Florisanta VKH on 60.308%. The Aussie team finished in sixth place.

Emma Hutchinson and Fycara. Image by LL Foto.

Tia Rose McKenzie and High Society, Image by LL Foto.

There was also an Aussie connection with the class winner in the CDIO-J; Rose Oatley on Sommernacht 7, although competing under the German flag, is the daughter of Australian Olympian Kristy Oatley.

As Abby Weel told Equestrian Life prior to the event, she would often sit up late at night watching Rose Oatley and Palomino pony Daddy Moon at this very event in years gone by – dreaming that one day she too would get to represent her country. Dreams can indeed come true!

In the CDIO-Y Young Rider Team test, Jess Dertell and Royal And Proud finished 25th on 62.059%, and Rosemary Heagney was 26th on 57.794%, with the Aussie team in tenth.

It was a fantastic effort by all to tackle their very first tests on these horses at an elite-level international event, and the focus is now on Friday’s second tests.