Maddison Vallender and Ronan R. Image by Michelle Terlato Photography//Willinga Park.
Indulge me for a moment while I reflect on the success of some of the horses that have passed through our hands at Ryans Horses. Much as I am naturally proud of all these horses, I’m posting their achievements here to illustrate just what wonderful riders, owners and trainers we now have in this country to bring out the best in these horses.
Heath Ryan, pictured here riding Astronomical at Dressage by the Sea. Image by Michelle Terlato Photography/Willinga Park.
“We feel very privileged that
such wonderful riders have
schooled these horses…”
The weekend of 20-23 February 2025 was the Willinga Park Dressage by the Sea CDI. A big show. Ryans’ Horses, or offspring from our stallions and/or mares carrying our bloodlines, really flexed muscle and performed outstandingly in the big classes with a variety of different riders. Good riders. Australian riders. We are very proud of all of our horses, and we feel very privileged that such wonderful riders have schooled these horses with so much effort and Tender Loving Care. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
BZ RAFAEL – Black gelding by Regardez Moi out of Jillian R (Jive Magic)
This gelding was bred by BZ Warmbloods and is ridden by Breanna Tillitzki. Breanna groomed and travelled with Regardez Moi and myself during his hey-day for some 12 years competing all over the world. Now Bree has her own Regardez Moi in BZ Rafael and it is Bree’s turn to ride and compete with a superstar! Karma! At Willinga, Bree and BZ Rafael won the CDI3* Grand Prix Special (that is the big class amongst the best of the best in Australia). They came second in the CDI3* Grand Prix, and fourth in the CDI3* Grand Prix Freestyle. That will put them in the front running at this early stage for the 2026 FEI World Championships in Aachen, Germany. Woohoo! What a superstar!
Breanna Tillitzki and BZ Raphael. Image by Michelle Terlato Photography/Willinga Park.
BRONZE BOY R – Buckskin gelding by Byalee Briar out of Red Legs R (Regardez Moi)
Bronze Boy R was ridden by Rozzie and was bred by Ryans Horses. In an earlier life, as in this time last year, Bronze Boy R was galloping around CCI4* events placing and winning right at the top with myself in the saddle. Today in the big dressage classes, he is already knocking on the door in international competition at the top placings in Grand Prix with Rozzie now riding him. Rozzie and Bronze Boy R came fifth in the CDI3* Grand Prix, fifth in the CDI3* Grand Prix Freestyle and fouth in the CDI3* Grand Prix Special. Wow! And Bronze Boy R is not just a pin-up beautiful horse, he is the most gentle and happy character. Bronze Boy R and Rozzie are still in the early stages of their partnership and without a doubt these performances are going to get better and better. Very exciting!
“Bronze Boy R is not just a pin-up
beautiful horse, he is the most
gentle and happy character…”
Rozzie Ryan and Bronze Boy R. Image by Michelle Terlato Photography/Willinga Park.
REMEMBER ME – Black gelding by Regardez Moi out of Marge R (Richmeed Medallion)
Remember Me was bred by Ryans Horses and was bought by the Clark family when he was just a foal. Jess Clark has been the owner and rider now for 16 years. Of course, he was a foal when the Clark family bought him and so quite small. Jess is quite small. Remember Me has grown and grown and now stands close to 17.3hh. Massive! Jess has not grown and is minute. Tiny, tiny! Remember Me absolutely towers over Jess. Pretty funny really but nothing funny about their magnificent achievements. Remember Me looks so like Regardez Moi and is massive and magnificent. I mean really magnificent. Again, in the big classes, just like the above two horses, Remember Me and Jess came ninth in the CDI3* Grand Prix and third in the CDN Grand Prix Special. What an achievement. From an Australian Pony Club family buying a beautifully bred, cute little dressage foal to an Australian Grand Prix dressage rider rubbing shoulders with the best Australian Olympic riders ever. Magnificent achievement. We are so proud of you Jess and Remember Me.
“Remember Me looks so
like Regardez Moi and is
massive and magnificent.”
CALLUM PARK GENEVA – Chestnut mare by Argentille Grenadier out of Callum Park Regardless (Regardez Moi)
Owned and bred by Susan Elekessy. Susan is one of those Australian riders who has inherited Australian horsemanship and has an innate understanding of how horses think. Susan is focused and hardworking and relentless and has a clear record of being able to train pretty much any horse from Preliminary levels through to Grand Prix. She has a natural synergy with the inner drumbeat of horses. Like most dressage Australians, especially back in the day, Susan’s first Grand Prix production was a Thoroughbred off the track. We here at Ryans are very lucky to have such a good rider investing their efforts of excellence in our bloodlines. Callum Park Geneva came eighth in the Willinga Park CDN Intermediate II, eighth in the CDI3* Grand Prix and first in the CDN Grand Prix Special. How good is that! Winner, winner!
Serena Ireland and Royalty R. Image by Michelle Terlato Photography/Willinga Park.
ROYALTY R – Chestnut gelding by Regardez Moi out of Josie R (Jive Magic)
Royalty R was bred by Ryans Horses and then sold through the Auction of the Stars when he was a yearling. Royalty R was originally bought by showing personality Andrew Buckley and his long-time supporter/owner Tracey Watkins. Royalty R started life as a show hack and did very well. Tracey bought Andrew out and engaged Serena Ireland to ride and campaign Royalty R as a dressage horse. Serena and Royalty R are both just beautiful to watch and have together progressed brilliantly through the dressage grades until today they are at the top end of the sport in Grand Prix. At Willinga Park in February in the CDN Intermediate II, Serena and Royalty R were third. In the CDN Grand Prix, they came fourth, and in the CDN Grand Prix Freestyle they were winner winners! They really rounded up some top combinations to win that big class. Just brilliant. Royalty R is now owned by Serena Ireland. Just a little bit of useless information: Royalty R is out of the Jive Magic mare Josie R. Josie R was also the full sister to JE Blues who with Tiani Stewart went on to be a 4* eventer. What a family of athletes. Josie R is also the dam of Frederico R, who was also competing at Willinga Park in the Advanced and Prix St Georges classes ridden by Katie Stewart.
Linda Krogh and Jigsaw R. Image by Michelle Terlato Photography/Willinga Park.
JIGSAW R – Bay gelding by Jive Magic out of Billy R (APH Copernicus)
Jigsaw R was bred by Ryans Horses and sold through the Auction of the Stars as a foal. He is now owned by Linda Krogh and ridden and campaigned by her. This has not been an easy journey with Jigsaw R incurring injuries on his way up the difficult dressage training ladder to Grand Prix. Fortunately, Linda was a forever owner and just never, never gave up. Today, Linda and Jigsaw R are part of the top group of Australian riders in dressage and are now competing in the top Grand Prix classes. In the CDN Grand Prix at Willinga, Linda and Jigsaw R came ninth. Linda qualified for the consolation Grand Prix class at Willinga and they won it! Winner, winner! Congratulations Linda and Jigsaw R.
Just a footnote: the dam of Jigsaw R was not really called Billy R. That is what we called her here at Ryans and it is so long ago I cannot remember her real name. However, what I can remember is that Billy R is a full sister to Centaur who was ridden by Ann Serao. Ann and Centaur in 2004 at the Sydney CDI won the FEI World Cup Pacific League Final and qualified to represent Australia and all the Pacific countries at the World Cup Final in Europe. That didn’t actually happen and was also a tragic story but suffice to say that Jigsaw R does come from a magnificent family of bluebloods and in Linda has found a wonderful partner. We at Ryans are particularly honoured to be part of this story, even if it is from a distance.
We are not finished yet and we are just talking Grand Prix here at Willinga. You know there are less than 2% of the Australian dressage population that ever achieve riding in Grand Prix at any show, nevertheless a top international show like Willinga Park.
RONAN R – Black gelding by Regardez Moi out of Marge R (Richmeed Medallion)
Owned by Maddison Vallender. In the CDI Under 25 Intermediate II they came second. In the CDI Under 25 Grand Prix, Maddison and Ronan R again came second. In the CDI Under 25 Grand Prix Freestyle, Ronan R and Maddison were again second. Now these classes are for riders 25 years of age and under. Maddison is just 18, so she has another seven years at this level still to come. Ronan R is currently 14 years of age. The average equine Olympic gold medallist is 16 years of age and horses in their late teens and early 20s perform very well at the top end of dressage. Dressage is a sport which becomes richer as the knowledge and partnership between the horse and the rider becomes greater and greater. What a great sport and Maddison is probably looking at another six or seven years of Ronan getting better and better. I wonder if this is an Olympic partnership in the making.
Madelon McDonald and F1 Soliloquy. Image by Michelle Terlato Photography/Willinga Park.
TAITTINGER VDS – Black gelding by Regardez Moi out of Jolei Can Can (Jive Magic)
Owned by Dana Krause. In the CDI Under 25 Intermediate II, Dana and Taittinger VDS came sixth. In the CDI Under 25 Grand Prix, they came fourth; and in the CDI Under 25 Grand Prix Freestyle they came fifth. We at Ryans are so proud of Dana and Taittinger VDS. Back at home Dana is already working on her new youngster who is by our De Niro stallion Drumming R out of a Jive Magic mare. That is so exciting, and we do stalk Dana’s results at all of her dressage outings. Sorry, Dana, but we are addicted, and we only wish you so, so much luck. Dana has now made the difficult decision to sell Taittinger VDS; what an opportunity this presents for his next rider!
F1 SOLILOQUY – Bay gelding by Starnberg out of Litoria Caerulea
Owned by Madelon McDonald. Starnberg didn’t ever really belong to us but as a four-year-old and five-year-old, Starnberg was based with us here at Ryans and it was during this time that he was most used covering mares. There are not lots of Starnbergs out there competing in Australia. F1 Soliloquy was bred I think by Jeff Sharp at Rutherford near Maitland, New South Wales. Madelon McDonald has done a brilliant job to produce F1 Soliloquy to Grand Prix. In the CDI Under 25 Intermediate II, F1 Soliloquy and Madelon came seventh. In the CDI Under 25 Grand Prix, F1 Soliloquy came seventh.
Sam Jeffree and Santoro won the CCI4*L at Sydney 3DE. Image by Ashley Grant/The Blachat.
Just a little bit of extra Starnberg information: Senator Nymphenburg is by Starnberg but was actually bred in Germany before Starnberg came to Australia. Senator Nymphenburg was bought in Germany by Rose Deo and Jenny Gehrke and did go Grand Prix here in Australia with Jenny in the saddle. He was a really good horse. Also, the Sydney International Three-Day Event in November 2024 – the CCI4*L class, which is the top class and equivalent to Olympic standards, was won by the Starnberg gelding Santoro out of a Regardez Moi mare. Santoro is ridden by Sam Jeffree from Victoria and at the moment would be one of the frontrunners for selection for the Australian FEI World Championship team going to Aachen next year. Santoro was bought at the Auction of the Stars as a yearling by Sharyn Wyatt. Sharyn had the horse in training with Anthony Bartlett who said that Santoro was a Ferrari. Sharyn had replied that she didn’t want a Ferrari but wanted a nice dressage horse that could also take part in trail riding. So, after a moment or two Sharyn decided to sell Santoro. Now the Ferrari has won Sydney CCI4*L with Sam Jeffree. Woo hoo! There are not many Starnbergs out there but the ones that are, are good ones!
So there are nine horses that were either sired by one of our stallions here at Ryans or bred out of one of our mares carrying Ryans’ bloodlines. All of these nine horses are competing in the Grand Prix classes. That is truly amazing. At the risk of repeating myself, less than 2% of all horses make it to Grand Prix. We are so proud of these horses and eternally grateful to the riders who have dedicated their lives to producing them.
Following are another 16 fantastic horses and their riders who also competed at Willinga Park in February. Keep in mind that just to qualify for Willinga Park is indeed a great honour. We are very proud of all these horses and again really grateful to all the riders who put in so much effort.
Just Dance – Bay gelding by Jive Magic out of Richmeed Dancer (Duntroon). Owned by Katina Smith and ridden by Jake Parbery. CDI Junior Team class, fifth. CDI Junior Individual class, fifth. CDI Junior Freestyle class, seventh.
Fortune Cookie – Black gelding by Fiji R out of Lucilla R (Ludendorf). Owned and ridden by Isabella Anderson. CDI Junior Team class, seventh. CDI Junior Individual class, sixth. CDI Junior Freestyle class, sixth.
Sunny Morning R – Bay gelding by Starnberg out of Just Morning R (Jive Magic). Owned by Samantha Vella and ridden by Amelia Maree. CDI Childrens Test A, fourth. CDI Children’s Team class, third.
Bangalow Gold – Chestnut gelding by Questing R out of Forget Me Knot R (Fiji R). Owned and ridden by Layla Kropp. CDI Childrens Test A, fifth. CDI Childrens Team class, sixth.
SR Penhaligon – Chestnut mare by Promise R out of Prozac. Owned and ridden by Katherine Bennett. CDI1* Prix St Georges, 13th. CDN Intermediate I Consolation, second.
Jude – Black gelding by Jive Magic out of Marge R (Richmeed Medallion). Owned by Sue Hearn and ridden by Rachael Simmons. CDN Prix St Georges, 17th. CDN Intermediate I, 15th.
Callum Park Damascus – Chestnut gelding by De Niro out of Callum Park Regardless (Regardez Moi). Owned and ridden by Susan Elekessy. CDN Intermediate I, first. CDN Intermediate I Freestyle, second.
Pamela Bice and Floren R. Image by Michelle Terlato Photography.
Frederico R – Chestnut gelding by Fiji R out of Josie R (Jive Magic). Owned and ridden by Katie Stewart. CDN Prix St Georges, 21st. Advanced 5.1, 27th.
Mindarah Park Rupert – Bay gelding by Mindarah Park Ramadan (Regardez Moi) out of Pumpkin R (Promise R). Owned and ridden by Mary Warren. 6yo First Round, foruth. 6yo Second Round, fifth.
Total Impact CBM – Chestnut gelding by Total Hope out of Kaludah Tinkerbell (Jive Magic). Owned by Christine Crawford and ridden by Robert Schmerglatt. 5yo First Round, 12th. 5yo Second Round, first on 86%.
Rosetta – Black mare by Regardez Moi out of Dunmaid. Owned and ridden by Sinead Wills. Advanced 5.1, 20th. Advanced 5.2, 25th.
Anaki Park Qristal – Chestnut mare by Questing R out of Riccadonner. Owned by Glenda De Wit and ridden by Rebecca Rooke. Medium 4.1, second. Medium 4.2, 13th.
Florencia – Chestnut Mare by Fiji R out of Kalimna Praise. Owned and ridden by Sally Hurt. Medium 4.1, 15th. Medium 4.2, 28th.
Floren R – Chestnut gelding by Bluefields Floreno out of Reeces R (Regardez Moi). Owned and ridden by Pamela Bice. Novice 2.1, 15th. Elementary 3.1, eighth. 5yo First Round, ninth. 5yo Second Round, 12th.
Rosco R – Black gelding by Regardez Moi out of Jam R (Jive Magic). Owned and ridden by Isabell Vocks. Novice 2.1, 17th. Novice 2.2, 18th. Elementary 3.1, 24th. Elementary 3.2, 15th.
Majestic R – Bay gelding by AEA Metallic out of Jandy R (Jive Magic). Owned and ridden by Alexandra Shepherd. Novice 2.1, 23rd. Novice 2.2, 22nd. Elementary 3.1, 16th. Elementary 3.2, 11th.
It will be very interesting to watch this second group of 16 horses. I am super confident that from this group will come forward maybe half a dozen Grand Prix competitors for Australia. Thank you to everyone. EQ
Cheers, Heath.
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New year, new challenges on the home front. While my wonderful partnership with Bobby Dazzler has come to an end, I look forward to bringing on the new kids on the block.
Heath Ryan broke the German rules in the 1980s by putting a dressage-bred mare to a dressage-bred stallion. Regardez Moi was the result, and his legacy is legendary.