Estupendo and David McKinnon. Image by Roger Fitzhardinge.
The 2024 Australian Dressage Championships will be held at Sydney International Equestrian Centre from 17-20 October – and there is no end of talent, that is for sure and certain.
This year’s event doesn’t have huge numbers in comparison to previous years, but there are many very competitive horses in each class. Let’s hope we see the judges let fly with big marks, as they are well-deserved in many of the fields – especially at the lower levels where there are really outstanding movers that have been beautifully trained and produced. Remember, 70% is only fairly good and 80% is good.
It will be a fantastic Nationals and one that we are all interested to see the top horses, of which there are many. Here are a few to keep an eye on.
Heather Currie and Novice horse Furst Elegance. Image by Picture the Moment Photography.
NOVICE
The Novice classes at national level are always very interesting, as it’s always great to see the up-and-coming talent for the future and there are some top ones entered. It’s hoped to see some very good scores in this class.
Unfortunately there are not many interstate competitors this year, with most from the host state New South Wales. Harvey Besley from Queensland has three horses in the Novice, all of which are wonderful horses.
The one to watch will be from South Australia, owned and ridden by Heather Currie: the Fürstenball X Rock Forever imported stallion, Furst Elegance. Furst Elegance actually won a five-year-old class with really good marks in Germany before being imported to Australia by Heather. He’s won every test he has competed in at Novice level in Victoria and South Australia, and was crowned Novice champion at the Brisbane CDI this year. Furst Elegance by name, nature and looks. This beautiful bay stallion is graceful and easy, and with Heather‘s experience and ability to put an excellent test together, it will be well worth watching. Despite having to travel two days, Heather has unfortunately drawn first to go in the first class. That’s the luck of the draw.
Furst elegance is definitely one to watch and has been constantly scoring in the mid-70% range; let’s hope for a PB!
On performance, you would have to say that the beautiful black horse, Divine 18, would have to be one of the hot favourites in the Novice. Ridden by Robbie McKinnon and owned by Stephanie McDonald, this elastic, big and free-moving horse won at the New South Wales Dressage Championship, taking out the overall Novice Champion title with outstanding scores over 70%. With a little more experience under their belt, having not competed very much, it will be very interesting to see the improvement in this one. There is no doubt this horse has a good walk, good trot, and good canter, with an uphill way of going and is of course ridden by Robbie; she doesn’t let a mark go by. A very interesting horse for the Nationals and for the future.
ELEMENTARY
Despite the fact the numbers are down in the Elementary classes, several high-quality horses (well the 70% range and why not 80% range) will be seen.
The black gelding Sir Donnertanz (Sir Donnerhall X Fiderstern), owned by Vicki Newham and ridden by Sally Rizzuto, certainly made his presence felt at the New South Wales State Championship, where he won the Elementary Championship and will be one to watch here.
Karizmah Bel Air, the palomino owned by Jenny Stock and ridden by Deon Stokes, has some good scores on the board. This class – usually very well contested – seems to be a little bit weak in numbers this year, but still some quality horses.
Rodney Martin and Medium horse Don Pikado. Image by Roger Fitzhardinge.
MEDIUM
The Medium class is the first level with flying changes. Horses that fill the Medium class are usually top-class Elementary horses just stepping up to the level rather than top class Advanced horses stepping down a level, being able to compete at two consecutive levels. The Medium tests need great attention to detail when it comes to lines, positioning and of course flying changes. Do you take the risk and add expression with the chance of mistake, or do you play it safe? It’s always an interesting level.
The Medium competition is full of good horses this year. The horse to watch as an up-and-coming super FEI horse for the future will be Don Pikado, owned by Kylie Riddell and ridden by Rodney Martin. This horse has gained some scores over 70% in the last few competitions and is greatly improved. He is a seriously impressive, big moving horse: the trot work shows great tempo, cadence, and power, and the changes – though still a little green – have that wow factor!
Furstenglanz for Caitlin Scott, owned by Moya Jess, has also been very successful in the last few months and it’s hot to trot. This combination have been slow to get the changes consistent, but now they are good.
The horse that is consistent and just is always there is Axel DC for Deon Stokes. He will be competing Medium after his Advances starts and will also be one worth watching. Calm and consistent… wait and see!
Rochelle King-Andrews on Advanced horse Challenger Florian. Image by Roger Fitzhardinge.
ADVANCED
The Advanced classes are full of talented, quality horses moving towards FEI. A field of 31 horses will compete for the national Advanced Championship. This level has become extremely well represented, and often this class shows the good Prix St Georges horses stepping back a level.
One to watch for sure will be Challenger Florian, owned and ridden by Rochelle King-Andrews. This very upstanding bay horse is by Fiji R out of Jaimie R, who is a Jive Magic x Regardez Moi mare. He has had some fabulous scores into the 70% range in the last months. Rochelle‘s horses are always beautifully presented and she is one rider who rides a truly accurate, correct and consistent test. Florian has a fabulous character and outlook. He will be hard to beat. He is so easy to watch and loves his work and the harmony is a highlight!
The Friesian stallion Tjibbe B, owned by Jennifer Rapson and ridden by Serena Island, is a hugely impressive black stallion. His Freestyle test at the NSW State Championship created great enthusiasm with many accolades. Serena is now managing this horse’s weak point, the flying change, with way more consistency now and could well be in the top spot.
The Samantha Parkhurst-owned Aberdare MI, ridden by Gordon Pratt, has made great improvement in the last few months and is now also competing successfully at Prix St Georges. He shows very expressive trot work and is a horse well worth watching. They could easily topple the leading horses with more confidence and softness in the canter work, and this is for sure a possibility.
Advanced horse BC Chilli Pepper and Katina Smith. Image by Roger Fitzhardinge.
QS Sierra, owned and ridden by Robbie Mckinnon, is another one that will be pushing the limits and the boundaries. Such a talented rider and a wonderful mare; one Robbie adores. Robbie chose not to start her at the NSW State Championship. She will be ready to go but hoping the tension that she can sometimes hold won’t affect her work.
Another one having come quickly through the ranks is Zoolander TPH, by Zonic, owned by Robyn Targa and ridden by Alicia Targa. He has had a spell for a few months and has come back looking seriously fancy, bigger in condition and really on the job. A very impressive horse indeed, and Alycia will be out to win.
The Advanced classes look very strong and full of talent. It will be close. It will also depend on who makes a clean test.
Don’t discount BC Chilli Pepper for Katina Smith. This brilliant chestnut gelding is full of expression, with amazing trot work and great changes. He is, as his name infers, a very sharp character – but on his day he could also be at the top, as could Axel DC for Deon Stokes. This very lovely, honest and correct bay gelding is so well produced by Deon and he makes the work look easy. It’s quite a class.
Matthew Dowsley and Small Tour horse TS Firestorm. Image by Roger Fitzhardinge.
SMALL TOUR
As always, the Small Tour shows super talent headed to the Big Tour. I have to say, there is one in the Pony class named Seawynd Colorado, a Welsh D Cob with plenty of bling, owned by Emily MacKintosh and ridden by Alison Gill. This combination will really blow you away. It won’t surprise me to see him in the 70% range scoring up with the best of the big horses. First to go in the draw, he will make a big impression.
In the Small Tour there’s no question the horse to beat will be TS Firestorm, ridden by Matthew Dowsley and owned by Cheryl Smith. This big bay gelding is a charmer and an absolute consistent and wonderful competitor, giving his all in every test.
Matthew Dowsley loves this horse: “He is the gentlest giant with a huge heart and trainability. He tries every ride to please and is super sensible and quiet in every way, yet sensitive for the work. He has the best work ethic of any horse, and I look forward to every ride with pride and pleasure. He is what he is… we will see how far he will go. He is big and has taken time to gain the strength, but he is getting there.”
With scores well into the 70% range, there’s no doubt everyone in this class will probably be chasing Firestorm. He doesn’t have it absolutely on his own though, that is for sure.
Also, watch for Matthew in the Inter II with Fribaldi. They dominated the Small Tour last year, and recently had an Inter II start for 72% and are a combination to watch.
One hot on their heels will be Robbie Mckinon on her SPH Fortino (Florino X Donna Carina), a horse that has done extremely well but did not compete at the NSW State Championship. A sprightlier, lighter type than Firestorm and of course Robbie is forever looking at the win.
Remi Vigneron, owned by Cheryl O’Brien and ridden by Matthew Lord from Queensland, has been doing extremely well, especially at the recent Brisbane CDI. This chestnut stallion has an impressive stature and is elastic moving. The canter tour could be a little more uphill, although for sure it’s getting better and stronger at each competition.
Bloomfield Sekuona, by Secret from a Jazz mare, is owned by Karen Hunt and ridden by Justin Greer from Victoria; this is one also to impress. This elastic and loose-moving horse shows a great uphill way of going and now with more experience and no doubt stronger over the back, he will be in there with a big chance.
As always Alexis Hellyer with the wonderful bay stallion Fidibus is another contender. Consistent, honest and now knowing his job!
When looking at horses for the future and looking towards Grand Prix, MSJ Gatsby for John Thompson and owned by the Farrell family is one to watch. As he gains more strength in the trot work, his marks will really improve. This horse really draws the eye and has plenty of expression, appeal and lightness… lookout for Gatsby.
Also, the chestnut for Susan Elekessy in Callum Park Damascus shows some great work and has had great scores. Susan has been saving him a little and is not going for broke as yet, but plenty to come!
Again, there are very good horses in this class and it will be first and foremost a clean test with no mistakes – especially in changes – and then accuracy and expression on top of that, which will determine the winner. Going on history, it will be very hard to beat Matthew Dowsley and TS Firestorm on his recent performances.
The Medium Tour is rarely a super popular class, but this year it has some good entries and will be closely contested.
Mary Hanna and Big Tour star Ivanhoe. Image by Astrid Appels – EuroDressage.
BIG TOUR
FEI Big Tour has some very wonderful and interesting horses entered – it will be a great competition.
Of course in the Grand Prix, 17 horses will face the judges and all eyes will be on the reserve combination for the Paris Olympics, Ivanhoe and Mary Hanna. They are a very exciting combination, and it will be interesting to see Mary settled in with his horse that has had so much experience now, and is really start producing the best tests. With the lack of pressure and the chance to consolidate since Paris, there is plenty of fuel in the tank with this one.
Forlan a bright, uphill expressive gelding by Jazz who is owned by Carol Oatley and ridden by David Mckinnon will be a very interesting test. He hasn’t been seen out for some months now and we really look forward to seeing this impressive horse that has posted some very good scores over 70% in the qualifying for Paris. His last few tests have shown better balance, and the piaffe and passage tour is becoming so well established and confident now. Perhaps it’s time to put the pedal down and ‘wow’, he may well truly shine. The harmony is wonderful.
A crowd favourite in Estupendo for David Mckinnon and owned by Vivien Lipshut. This combination’s highlight is the piaffe and passage.
It’s quite a classy field and if you want to see an absolute delight and an absolute must watch you have got to go out of your way to watch Hilkens Denali, a small pony who makes the most wonderful Grand Prix test! Pay attention to the piaffe, passage, pirouettes and tempi changes. This lovely pony is owned by Wendy Lorincz and has scored up to 70% in Grand Prix, deserving every mark.
Alison Gill and Big Tour pony Hilkens Denali. Image by Roger Fitzhardinge.
LET’S KEEP IT FUN
The New South Wales State Championships had very few entries this year; even though the classes were strong, the numbers were low. For the Nationals, it’s a similar story in some classes. There are many contributing factors to this. Primarily it is becoming more and more expensive, especially the price of stabling for several days of shavings, accommodation, and travel. It runs in thousands of dollars. The increasing cost of entry fees is certainly contributing to people not being able to afford to compete at these big competitions.
The majority of horses at the top level in each class are usually ridden by professionals who are training top class horses often imported for owners. Maybe it’s a product of the rising cost of living, but it does seem there is some loss of enthusiasm and encouragement for the sport in New South Wales at the moment, especially for the Amateur Owner Rider (AOR) classes where the feeling of camaraderie and competition is usually at its strongest. There are no AOR incentives to compete at the Nationals.
Of course the latest dressage-related controversies on social media make people wary about whether they are seen to be doing the right thing. On top of this, the sport feels as though it’s becoming overregulated to an extent by rules and officials, and this makes people feel uneasy in a sport that is beautiful and should be relaxed and artistic. If you ask most competitors, they are generally very, very wary of being watched at all stages of the competition, especially during the warm-up. This isn’t a bad thing at all, so long as feedback is delivered the right way. The rules must be followed, but the rules are also there to guide people; the focus should be on guiding riders along the right path rather than promoting the sense of trying to catch them out. We want the sport to have a relaxed and fun atmosphere where people can enjoy their horses. After all, that is why we ride.
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