Emma and Abby Weel at home in the Southern Highlands. Image by Picture the Moment Photography.
Where do you start with such an interesting family as Paul and Emma Weel and their children Abby and Mila? A life full of diversity. Lives that learn to take their own path yet ingratiate each other’s differing loves.
The Weel family – Abby, Emma, Mila and Paul. Image supplied.
Competition is a driving force in successful people’s lives and Emma and Paul are competitive to the core, yet unassuming, modest and genuine. Sisters Abby and Mila are also diverse in their likes and dislikes. The Weel family take life in hard times and good times head-on, never looking back, only looking forward to what tomorrow may have in store.
They have a great ability to make decisions for the future, not necessarily just for tomorrow. They are driven to be the best they can through confidence in themselves while also having a great ability to surround themselves with positive people who ingratiate their lives, business and joy of life. If there is one common thread and catalyst, it is HORSEPOWER!
Paul and Emma met on the Gold Coast when Emma was 18 and Paul 21. Paul was always involved in car racing through his father’s interest in the business of radiators. When Emma met Paul and they were dating, Paul was trying to outdo his father in making lightweight, high-heat radiators to outdo his father’s successes in this area.
He was working in a tiny corner of his father’s factory on the Gold Coast. At the time Paul was racing V8 Supercars and had a huge interest in improving their performance. Winning counts! In 2005 his father sold his own company, K&J Thermal Products, and left to come and join forces with Paul and PWR Performance was formed in his name.
Paul had several podium finishes on the track. On asking Emma whether she was involved in this sport, she says, “I was never really involved in the racing side… except of course I drove in the celebrity races!” (wink wink!) If there’s one thing about Emma, she has a great wit and ability to make light of situations and make life and its daily processes fun.
Emma’s love of horses started as a child on her parents’ property on the Gold Coast when she would see successful dressage rider Nicole Tough ride past on the road on beautiful horses. She decided that’s what she wanted to do, and Mudgeeraba Pony Club started to become part of her life – as perhaps it is with many a young girl, but this love was not to be cut short. Emma was determined to make the most of it.
Emma actually was an extremely successful tennis player and as a junior played on the Satellite Tour and was Sam Stosur’s doubles partner for many years. Sam moving overseas made it not possible for Emma to continue, as her parents were not able to fund her project. She became more interested in riding and, of course, Pony Club.
Paul’s V8 Supercar career that spanned 1998-2008 with the family-owned and run PWR Paul Weel Racing Team. Image by Mark Horsburgh.
A VIEW OF THE BLUE MOUNTAINS
Emma and Paul were married in 2006 – midway through Paul’s V8 Supercar career that spanned 1998-2008 with the family-owned and run PWR Paul Weel Racing Team. After 2005, he spent three years as an endurance co-driver for the team, sharing the driving with Andrew Thompson. In 2008 at the Bathurst 1000, he lost control of his car in a practice round and spun backwards into a concrete barrier. Unfortunately, a car following, unaware, smashed the driver side of the Holden Commodore, obliterating it from the mid pillar back.
Emma was at a friend’s place, half watching it on TV on mute. As she walked past, she caught a glimpse of a crash, but didn’t think much of it and continued planning for lunch. Then her phone went crazy, and she was told to get immediately to the track. Her reply was: “And what about lunch?”
Paul had split his spleen, broken L1 to L5 vertebrae, was in serious spinal shock and had a punctured lung. Paul relates that Emma knew nothing of the accident until she arrived at the track. “She got straight into the helicopter to take me to Sydney’s Westmead Hospital. On the flight, in true Emma style, she was commenting on what a fantastic view of the Blue Mountains she had!”
Paul was in a critical condition in the neuro ward at Westmead for some time, unable to fly home because of his lung problem. Emma drove him home, apparently hitting every pothole between Sydney and the Gold Coast. Paul’s swearing was “amazing”, Emma recalls, and he decided on that trip that his Supercar racing career had come to an end. Always making a positive from a negative, the Holden Commodore was repaired and was the first V8 Supercar to be sent overseas for crash testing with the help of the Australian Institute of Motorsport Safety. The FIA Institute were able to understand how safety could be improved through this accident.
BACK TO HORSES
It was at this time that Paul and Emma decided it was time to collaborate and start a family. But then the GFC hit, and everyone took a big step backward. Paul and Emma sold all they had saved up for in properties and, along with Paul’s parents, they invested it all in PWR to keep it operating. They had great belief in this company and had put their hearts and souls into it. As things improved over the years, PWR took off again. They led the world in lightweight, high-heat cooling systems for race cars. A motto of theirs is, “We engineer the unfair advantage”. PWR Advanced Cooling Technology is now global and employs over 450 staff from Brisbane to North Carolina in the USA and the UK.
Emma is coached by Matthew Dowsley. Image by Picture the Moment Photography.
Paul and Emma had their first child, Abby, and two years later, Mila. Emma devoted her life to bringing up the children on a property they had purchased on the Gold Coast. Emma recalls that all her girlfriends, when their children went to school, “decided to do university courses, become lawyers, become gym junkies, or spend hours at coffee shops in leisurewear”. This was not her scene at all and she decided it was time to start riding again, and that was in 2016. Emma bought a schoolmaster that had competed to Grand Prix called Jazzaround.
Not long after purchasing this horse, Matthew Dowsley came to the Gold Coast to give a clinic and Emma attended. At the end of the lesson, Emma recalls Matthew asking her, “How come you’re not scared of me?” Emma replies, “Why would I be? I just paid you a lot of money for a lesson!”
Matthew Dowsley and Santiago were very successful Grand Prix level in Australia. Image by Simon Scully Photography.
From that day on Matthew has been coaching Emma and they have become a great team. Emma, decided she would like not a V8 Supercar but a “1HP Ferrari”, begged Matthew to sell his horse named Santiago. He was wonderful horse that Matthew adored and was at Medium level and really showing a great aptitude for the Grand Prix movements. After only two rides, Emma had fallen in love with Santiago and convinced Matthew to sell him to her. She took him back to the Gold Coast and rode him for the following 12 months competing him successfully.
As with Emma and Paul, they are all for a team that gets on together and progresses, always looking to prepare themselves for the future. It was decided that they would love to be part of a team with Matthew and went to Europe to find him a competitive replacement horse. After two visits they were still unable to find a suitable horse and on returning to Australia Emma realised she actually had exactly what the team was looking for… it was Santiago.
After quite an emotional meeting it was decided to give him back to Matthew and for him to continue his training through to Grand Prix. Just before handing him over Emma remembers winning Medium Champion at the Queensland State Championships and, at the final halt, knowing it was her last competitive ride, burst into floods of tears. Santiago meant the world to Emma, but she realised to fulfil dreams and to continue on a road to success you need to look to bigger and higher things and so Matthew took great delight in taking over the reins again and producing this horse to Grand Prix.
The late Elliot Patterson with Santiago and Abby in Germany. Imag by Emma Weel.
The intention was to eventually take Santiago overseas, but Matthew thought it better to give the next generation the opportunity to ride a quality horse on the international stage; he suggested the late Elliot Patterson. Emma would come down and watch Matthew at Willinga Park and other big competitions where they were highly successful. Then to come down and watch the training with Santiago, Matthew and Elliot as a team was something special. Santiago did go overseas with Elliot and competed successfully, and at the most amazing show that is Aachen.
Considering the short period of time Elliot had ridden the horse, it showed the amazing training that Matthew had put into Santiago and of course also Elliot’s ability. Again, they looked at the big picture. The reality was to improve and get better and Santiago was sold to Bianca Kasselmann at PSI and still to this day is Bianca’s favourite horse.
It was shortly after this that the beautiful chestnut mare Bellaphina (Bellissimo M x Donnerhall) was found in Germany for Emma and imported into Australia. The beautiful mare went on to compete very successfully for Emma in Small Tour. They won Dressage By The Sea at Advanced level and also competed successfully at the Brisbane CDI at Medium and Advanced.
“The beautiful mare went on
to compete very successfully
for Emma in Small Tour.”
Emma and Bellaphina competing at Willinga Park’s Dressage by the Sea. Image by Amy-Sue Alston.
ABBY PICKS UP THE REINS
During this time Abby, being all of eight, had decided she might like to ride and was hell bent on competing at official Equestrian Australia (EA) dressage competitions. Emma addressing the thought told Abby that she was unable to do that until she was ten. When she was nine, she was still hell bent on riding and competing but Emma insisted not until she was ten. Just before her tenth birthday, Abby came flying out of her room exclaiming that she was able to compete EA and that she had just done some research and found out that she was probably able to compete EA from eight years old. Emma just smiled… mother of the year!
Emma decided she would have a big tenth birthday party for Abby but the aspiring competitor had done more research and found out there was a competition on her birthday and that’s where she wanted to go. Paul was overseas at the time but said over the phone, “If you beat your mother, I will give you $50!” Abby competed first and was so happy and excited at finally being able to compete EA! On watching her mother’s test, she saw that Emma had broken a few times in the trot work, and as she came around the corner and looked at Abby, the daughter had a smirk all over her face. Abby did beat Emma, and she did get the $50. Emma had Deveron Nintendo and Abby had her faithful pony called Buzz Lightyear.
Emma and Abby share a love of horses and dressage. Image by Picture the Moment Photography.
It was all about to be one hell of a ride, not only with horses but also with car racing. Paul had taken to Trophy Truck racing and was spending quite some time in America and Mexico. This is really about endurance racing in the desert. The races are from 420 to 1600km in distance. He has a team based in Mexico and drives with the legendary Australian driver Toby Price OAM.
This year, Mila went to Mexico with her dad and assisted with the team where they won the Baja 500. Image by Owlpine Group.
MILA TAKES THE WHEEL
Meanwhile, Mila was always fascinated with Paul’s ambition and with car racing. All the same being the diligent mother, Emma decided it would be nice for her to do some tennis. She had her first tennis lesson, and her coach was over the moon with excitement. As they walked back after the lesson, he was saying to Emma that Mila seemed to be an absolute natural and had a flare and a genetic ability to hit the ball. He felt that she was very capable of becoming a good player. Emma remembers Mila looking at her, kicking the racquet and saying, “Well, we won’t be doing that again will we?” Determined? Yes. Driven? Yes, but in what direction was unsure at this stage.
Mila loved being with her father at race days and has become an avid supporter of the sport and can’t wait to be able to compete herself. She can’t wait to turn 14 when she can start dirt car racing. She has her eyes on the prize in the Alice Springs to Finke desert race alongside her father.
This year, Mila went to Mexico with her dad and assisted with the team where they won the Baja 500 and claims to be the team’s lucky charm… hence no team competitions without the lucky charm! Needless to say, that Mila tells the true story of being held at gunpoint on the Tijuana border for four hours as the authorities believed that the team uniforms were going into Mexico to be sold.
Mila has no fear, none whatsoever; she’s going make a top racing car driver like her father. Tennis wasn’t for her.
“Mila can’t wait to be
able to compete herself.”
Abby has been very successful with Reitlands Obama. Image by Rodney’s Photography.
REITLANDS OBAMA
Abby continued to be obsessed with dressage and the pony Reitlands Obama was purchased from Germany. This pony had been very successful at the Bundeschampionate (the German national young horse and pony championships) and was later part of the German Pony team at a European Championship alongside Rose Oatley on Daddy Moon. Reitlands Obama arrived in his stable at Matthew Dowsley’s where Abby rides him and trains. The first outing was in 2023 at the Bowral Dressage Championships where they won Elementary Champion.
Early in 2024 Abby was invited to represent Australia at the PSI Future Champions in Hagen, Germany. On trying to find a loan pony it was not possible, and after several weeks of searching a 16-hand, six-year-old horse by the name of Santiago H (that was an omen!) was offered to them from Helgstrand. This delightful chestnut had never been to a show.
Abby had three rides on him before they had to very quickly organise an FEI passport for him to be able to compete with Abby at this international show. Australia was represented by eight riders and Abby was the highest placed and percentage rider of the group, gaining a podium place in the final test. This horse is part of the Weels’ team of dressage horses and is remaining in Germany for 12 months where he will continue his training while Abby rides Obama in Australia, and she will get the opportunity to go and train over there during this time.
Abby is one of Australia’s up-and-coming young riders. Image by Picture the Moment Photography.
Since returning to Australia after that competition her enthusiasm for the sport has tripled, if that’s possible, almost winning every FEI Pony class and FEI Children’s class at CDIs, and enjoying success at national and state championships, and interschools competitions. Abby is so grateful for the opportunities to have such a beautiful pony that she’s able to learn the ropes of riding from Elementary through to Advanced. She’s one that loves to win and has a hugely competitive nature.
Don’t think that everything goes her way, though. She has to ride well to earn the placings that she’s been gaining and along that path has learnt about the hard knocks in the sport. She’s had to suck up being beaten and having a few difficult times with this spritely and enthusiastic bay gelding! It’s all part and parcel of the sport of dressage and Abby is learning it all. She’s at school in the Highlands but does like being able to take the odd time off to go to big competitions.
Sister Mila always looks forward to the next opportunity to go racing with Paul, but also accepts that at times at big competitions she needs to be groom for her big sister. She has no fear to take on these challenges despite having no interest in riding nor horses, but accepts the challenge to be a good groom and to help along the way. (Having a day off school may well be an added incentive!)
Abby has a strong partnership with Reitlands Obama. Image by Roger Fitzhardinge.
Abby is probably one of the most improved and improving riders in the younger ranks; this comes from good training, good horses and, above all, dedication. This year Abby and Obama were Interschool Champions at Elementary and Medium; Australian Medium Pony Champions and Advanced Pony Reserve Champions; CDI-P Pony Champions at CDI Brisbane; NSW State Medium Champions and Advanced Reserve Champions; and Dressage By The Sea FEI Pony Champions.
“WE HAVE FUN & I LOVE MY PONY!”
On asking Abby why dressage and about Obama, she says: “I like the challenges in dressage and I like the training. Matthew is a great teacher despite the frustration I create for him… but that’s not my problem really! I consider myself very fortunate to have been able to have Obama. His training is amazing, and I am able to gain confidence and, as much as I want to get up the grades, it is so good that Matthew and Mum make certain I stay grounded here and I realise I have so much to learn and the basics. I love to compete and of course I love to win; I think that is a family trait. But I have to pinch myself and realise it is all about the journey and making the most of every opportunity that I am lucky to be given. It’s exciting and I can’t wait for each day to come along with a new day’s training and more stories. We have fun and I love my pony!”
While looking for horses overseas not only for Abby but also for Matthew, and perhaps for Emma herself, Paul became involved as he always likes to be part of the team. After much discussion he bought the stallion So Perfect in partnership with Helgstrand. So Perfect is a seven-year-old by Sezuan out of a Sir Donnerhall x Rohdiamant mare. The stallion is the most popular breeding stallion of Helgstrands. The ride on So Perfect will be taken by Leonie Richter over the next four years with an eye on the Olympics in LA.
Paul explains, “We plan to have him developed step-by-step into the top sport without placing pressure or stress on the training through breeding or the horse being sold. Leonie will be supported by her current trainers Eva and Ulf Möller. So Perfect will stand at stud via frozen semen, which is available worldwide and in Australia.”
Emma enjoying a lesson with Matthew Dowsley, while husband Paul – who has also developed an interest in dressage horses and is now involved as an owner – watches on. Image by Picture the Moment Photography.
While they were looking for a horse for Matthew to ride and develop, the team and the dressage development project found the black gelding Lord Extra (Lord Europe x Donnerhall). This big, black four-year-old is extremely impressive, huge moving and one that Matthew believes is the best horse he has ever ridden. Another that was so impressive was For Real, who is for Emma to ride. He is a very modern elegant bay gelding by Blue Hors Farrell out of a Lord Loxley mare. He had recently been gelded and was just coming back to work. He was also a popular breeding stallion, and his frozen semen is still available worldwide. Also part of the team is of course Santiago H, the horse that Abby rode at the Future Champions competition, who is by Apache out of Donnerhall mare.
THINK BIG
Paul and Emma always think big and globally. They adore Australia and wouldn’t live anywhere else, but they realise that with sport, whether in car racing or dressage, it is important to be in the big pond with the best of the best to make sure you are always striving to be on top. You have to have a team that works as a team and try to bring the best together. In car racing, you need to go where the best racing is; as with dressage horses you need to go with the best. It’s America and Mexico at the moment for the desert racing, and for dressage horses it is Germany.
There is no hurry to get to the top. It’s a steady, progressive day-to-day realisation and what will be, will be. You just have to make certain that you do the very best each day and have the best people around you. Show great commitment to your sport and try and follow your dreams.
The Weel family are certainly exceptional and incomparable… you might say, extraordinary – you may also say eccentric – but whatever you say, they are a fabulous, close group of individuals with individual tastes, individual ideas and individual qualities. Yet, above all, they are a family and a team of great friends who bounce off each other with consummate ease. They have each other’s backs and are loyal and grounded; nothing is complicated, it just happens – or rather, they make it happen! EQ
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