Off-the-track Thoroughbred St Andrews and Sienna Wright. Image by Lisa Gordon.
A well-known name on the show horse circuit, off-the-track Thoroughbred St Andrews was the horse of a lifetime for Natalie McKay. Now, Andy is proving to be that one-in-a-million horse all over again for 14-year-old Sienna Wright.
St Andrews and Natalie McKay. Image by Racing Photos.
Foaled at Rich Hill Stud in New Zealand, St Andrews (Sand Trap x College Chapel) began his racing career 2012. Running last at his first start, he was relocated to Australia and went on to notch up 30 starts for five wins, eight placings and $65k in prize money before retiring in mid-2016.
It may have been a mediocre racing career, but Andy was destined for success in a different world.
NAT’S HORSE OF A LIFETIME
In late 2016, Adam Oliver of Universal Stables spotted Andy when he went to look at another horse at Marcus Wilson’s Gold Coast Turf Club stables. He took the gelding to his first show in September 2017, and success quickly followed.
“I then purchased Andy in December 2018 from Adam,” explains Natalie McKay, who like Adam was actually looking at another horse when Andy caught her eye. “He was a beautiful, elegant type; he had the most amazing front and such a beautiful kind eye. I watched Adam ride him first and just loved the way he floated across the ground. Once I got on him, I fell in love instantly. He just felt amazing. As I have said to Adam before, I made one of the best decisions of my life on his arena! Adam had done a great job with Andy, and I knew he would be a great horse that I could work with too.”
“He had the most
amazing front and such
a beautiful kind eye. “
Nat went on to have a hugely successful five years with Andy, notching up wins too numerous to mention. “Pretty much every show, there was a moment where I thought, ‘Wow, I can’t believe that’s just happened’,” reflects Nat.
“A competition highlight was placing fourth in the Garryowen at last year’s Melbourne Royal. Andy was the highest-placed Thoroughbred as well [a feat Andy repeated this year]. He also partnered with me to win EA National Rider of the Year last year; they’re probably the two biggest highlights for us as a partnership.”
Nat says he’s always been a horse that tries. “He always puts his best foot forward. He’s been successful in pretty much every aspect of showing that we’ve done. He’s just been the horse of a lifetime.
“I don’t think I’m ever going to get another horse that is anything close to Andy… I’m just super grateful to have had five years with him. He’s taken me to so many different places that I’d never thought we would ever get to. It’s been a great journey.”
Nat says Andy has been the horse of a lifetime for her. Image supplied by Natalie McKay.
“I knew he could definitely show
a young rider the ropes…”
SIENNA’S ONE-IN-A-MILLION
This year, Andy has added the title of schoolmaster to his extensive resume, with talented young rider Sienna Wright taking over the reins.
“At age 15, I thought Andy was way too good just to retire and sit in a paddock. I knew he could definitely show a young rider the ropes of the hack ring quite easily – and safely, too,” explains Nat.
Sienna and her mother, Samantha Mullan, purchased Andy in February this year after Sienna had a winning Child’s Hack class outing with the gelding at the 2023 Show Horse Council of Victoria Classic.
With Nat still scheduled to ride Andy at the Grand National Saddle Horse & Rider Championships in March, both parties decided it was in the horse’s best interest to remain based at his original home until after that show. During the extended transition period, Sienna and her mother would travel to Nat’s each weekend to ride – resulting in a smooth, low-stress handover for everyone involved.
The move allowed the partnership to develop and flourish, and since moving in with his new rider at the end of March, that partnership has gone from strength to strength.
Andy is Sienna Wright’s first horse and they are already enjoying success together. Image by Lisa Gordon.
FIRST HORSE
Remarkably, at 16.2 hands Andy is Sienna’s first horse; the 14-year-old was previously competing on 12.2 hand Owendale Beesting, so it has been a big step up in terms of size.
The slow and steady transition period helped, as did Sienna and Andy’s dressage connection. Although focused on showing, Sienna has been interested in dressage since she and Owendale Beesting took part in Equestrian Life’s online competitions, hosted by Roger Fitzhardinge during the pandemic lockdowns. Sienna has continued with her dressage training since, and these days is coached by Gitte Donvig.
Andy also had quite a bit of dressage education with Nat under the tuition of Roger East, with the pair competing once at Novice level and training to Elementary. This dressage connection between Sienna and Andy has helped foster an understanding, and the pair’s first competitions together have been in the dressage arena. Competing at Novice level, they won the OTT Novice Championship at both events they attended.
On the showing front, Andy and Sienna started off at a smaller show in Little River, where they had several wins and were crowned Supreme Childs Exhibit. They then went on to an SHCA Grand National Qualifier at Tatura, a big step up that Sienna took in her stride – claiming Reserve Champion Large Open Hack, Highest Placed Owner Rider, Highest Placed OTT, Reserve Champion Childs Hack, and Reserve Champion Rider among other accolades.
Sienna and Benny. Image by Lisa Gordon.
It was then on to Adelaide Royal, a first appearance for Andy. Also having never competed at Adelaide, Nat came along for the road trip and took Andy out in her rider class and the Ladies Hack.
Sienna had an excellent show and was named Champion Rider U18 and Champion Childs Hack; in the latter they performed a beautiful workout with a one-handed lengthening that almost had one judge in tears. The duo also held their own in the Open classes against some very seasoned professionals.
While happy to attend shows alone, Andy has often been accompanied by a 10.2 hand show Shetland named Benny, whom Sienna also competes – quite the contrast!
At this year’s Melbourne Royal, Andy was named Reserve Champion Childs Hack with Sienna in the saddle and was fifth overall and best performed Thoroughbred in the prestigious Garryowen with Nat aboard. Sienna and Andy also won Champion Childs Hack and Champion Large Open Hack at Geelong Royal, making it a very successful year in the show ring.
For the remainder of the year Sienna and Andy will switch their focus back to the dressage arena. The pair will contest the Off The Track Novice Championship and FEI Childrens Tests at the Victoria Dressage Festival – with Andy quite possibly the first Thoroughbred to contest the latter. Excited to get back out competing in the dressage ring, they have completed a couple of warm-up events and are set to put their best foot forward at the prestigious end-of-year festival.
Sienna and Andy, pictured here at Geelong Royal, have formed a solid partnership. Image by Lisa Gordon.
“Sienna has been able to
produce him all by herself…”
CLIMBING THE LADDER
“He’s still a 16.2 hand Thoroughbred and has his quirks, but he’s absolute gentleman,” says Samantha of Andy. “The amazing thing about him is that Sienna has been able to produce him this year all by herself; no one else has had to ride him. The fact he’s able to be produced by a 14-year-old is a credit to his temperament and Nat’s training.”
Sienna says the thing she loves most about Andy is the fact that he tries so hard. “He’s very willing to try anything. Whether it’s dressage or showing … he’s well-schooled, and if I want to teach him something he’s always very willing to try and learn.”
In comparison to her pony, there are a few things Sienna has had to adjust to: “It’s definitely different… I have to jump to get the rugs on him, and I have my step ladder to bridle him and do his quarter patterns! He’s a one in million… he’s just a very special Thoroughbred and a lot of fun.”
Nat is of course thrilled to see the pair doing so well together. “We couldn’t have asked for a better home for him; he’s landed on his feet. We’re super, super happy,” she says.
“He definitely has filled the role perfectly for Sienna. It’s just so good to see him with a young rider out there doing just as well as what we did together.” EQ
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