From Shane Roses’s epic determination to get back in the saddle, to Mary Hanna’s unflinching focus on her seventh Olympic bid, nothing compares to the stories of endeavour when the Olympic Games are calling.
Heath Ryan updates his running leaderboards for the last time as the window for team selection draws to a close. And while the veterans we all know have given it their best shot, there are always newcomers and outsiders ready to rock the boat.
What otherwise stands out in this month’s magazine is the predominance of women carving their own careers and calling the shots. Mary Hanna, currently based in Germany and training with Patrik Kittel, tells Roger Fitzhardinge how much she is enjoying mixing it with the Europeans on a relatively new horse. And if enjoyment is an essential ingredient to success as much as determination, Mary has both.
Cover image: Australian Thaisa Erwin and Hialita B competing at CSIO3* Peelbergen in Kronenberg, the Netherlands. Image by Sportfot.
Scottish-born but raised in Armidale, Thaisa Erwin has been ticking the boxes for Olympic selection show jumping while also building up her own equestrian business in Virginia, USA. In her interview with Jessica Grant, Thaisa reveals how she completed two university degrees before embarking on her riding pursuits, just to make sure she could pay her way. Likewise, as Adele Severs reports, young Aussie dressage rider Kate Kyros is keeping up her studies while she makes inroads competing overseas. Our new generation of equestrians are not only talented and smart – but sensible!
Olympic disciplines aside, a horsewoman we can all look up to is the pioneering cutting competitor, Gail Ritchie. Gail reminisces as though it were yesterday as she tells Amanda Young how she came up from Tasmania to NSW take on the men in the 1974 Futurity. She would go on to become the only rider to win both the Open and the Non-Pro Futurity titles on the same horse and will be among the special guests at this month’s big 50th anniversary NCHA Futurity celebrations in Tamworth.
Another woman who is breaking new ground with her training techniques is Jacqui Sims, who is putting the social horses back into racehorses by letting them also be adult riding club horses. You’ll be intrigued at how her methods are getting results.
Elsewhere in the magazine, we preview our celebrated Virtus team heading to the UK for the European Championships, and we look at the young riders lucky enough to be going to Hagen, Germany, for the Future Champions competition. And yes, they have two women – Kate and Jessica Dertell – to thank for initiating the trip.
In Training, both Brett Parbery and Dan Steers bring you their unique insights, while in Health Kerry Mack explains the risks of concussion and Dr Maxine Brain discusses the main cause of blindness in horses. Suzy Jarratt entertains us as usual in Lifestyle by chatting to commentary legend John Tapp and also uncovering cinematic revelations about the doco Cowboy and The Queen – as well as the movie Queens & Cowboys!
Right royal reading for the long weekend and beyond!
Your EQ Life Team
Contributors
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HEATH RYANNational equestrian personality, international dressage and eventing rider, Olympian, judge, coach and breeder, Heath is never backward in offering his unique insights into the sport and industry.
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ROGER FITZHARDINGEAs a judge, coach, competitor and commentator, Roger’s passion to tell the real stories behind the horses and horse people shines through in his unique brand of equestrian photojournalism.
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DR KERRY MACKGrand Prix dressage rider, coach and Mayfield Farm stud principal, Kerry draws on her learning as a qualified psychiatrist to approach training from the cerebral perspective as well as the physical.
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DAN STEERSOne half of the Double Dan Horsemanship equation, Dan built on his skills as a farrier from the ground up to become a world-renowned entertainer and practitioner of true horsemanship.
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DR MAXINE BRAINDr Maxine Brain is an equine vet dedicated to achieving optimal equine health and performance with her team at Kilmore Equine Clinic, which she founded.
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SUZY JARRATTSuzy has a rich background in newspaper journalism and radio broadcasting in NSW and nationally, and last year won an international award for equestrian journalism.
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BRETT PARBERYAustralian Grand Prix dressage rider, coach and trainer, and founder of The Parbery Program, Brett’s dressage philosophy is all about good riding, intelligent horsemanship, and a supportive community.
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AMANDA YOUNGHaving previously competed to FEI level in eventing, Amanda Young is now involved in both English and Western disciplines as a competitor, breeder and journalist.
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