In this issue
Hazel Shannon and 19-year-old WillingaPark Clifford have now won Adelaide CCI5*L an incredible four times. Their partnership spans nearly 15 years and 58 starts at FEI events across the levels – including 16 completions at the elite end in four or five-star long-format events. Hazel says they’ve continued to evolve as a partnership, and despite his age Clifford is better than ever.
Our horses give us so much. As Poseidon Animal Health’s founder Linda Goldspink-Lord explains, we should be focused on improving their lives in any way we can. Through her own personal health journey and a desire to give back to the horses she loves, Linda has now made this ethos her profession.
Freya Inggs’ journey with horses and Pony Club is one of resilience, patience, and personal growth. From her early days at Riding for the Disabled in Darwin to becoming a cherished member of Canberra Riding Club Pony Club (CRC), Freya has faced challenges that many might shy away from. But it’s her connection with horses, particularly her partnership with her horse Captain Jack Sparrow, that has been her grounding force.
As the daughter of successful harness racing trainers, Allira Bond grew up around horses. At 16, she’s now carving out her own success in the show jumping world and has inherited not only her family’s love of horses, but also a sound knowledge of equine nutrition. Like her parents, she trusts HYGAIN to fuel her performance team.
Hazel Shannon and WillingaPark Clifford made world history in winning their fourth Adelaide CCI5*L event this year. Totally remarkable, unbelievable, almost impossible. All of that and more!
The show jumping world was shocked and saddened to hear of the sudden passing of Tulara stud principal, Mark Fraser, who along with his wife, Anna, established probably the most successful breeding ground for show jumping horses in Australia.
After a nine-year hiatus, Showcase of Showjumping returned last weekend at Windsor Polo Club in Richmond, NSW with a bang. Originally launched by Kerrie Winning, this year’s event was proudly supported by naming rights sponsor Divas Beverages and saw the next generation in Jamie Winning-Kermond and husband Jamie Kermond take the reins with Kerrie’s guidance and support.
From brilliant tulip gardens to award-winning restaurants, cool-climate wineries and boutique shops, Bowral is the embodiment of Southern Highlands charm, only 90 minutes south of Sydney. Of course, it is also famous as cricket legend Donald Bradman’s hometown, the Bong Bong picnic races… and now its dressage championships.
Horses can be great learners and can recognise your mood by your expression, but just how intelligent are they, and is it intelligence as we know it? How do we really evaluate how clever horses are?
With the shoulder-in and travers established, it’s time to move on to the final of the lateral exercises and the culmination of this work for the FEI classes – the half-pass.
Alexander wasn’t as great as everyone expected. It disappointed cinemagoers, investors, the stars, and Oliver Stone... but there are some excellent horse action scenes and bareback riding.
With his ears pricked on cross country, 19-year-old Warrego Marco Polo galloped to victory in the CCI3*S at the recent Canberra International Horse Trials. As rider and part-owner Emma Mason explains, her partnership with ‘Marcus’ came about by chance – and eight years on, she’s still enjoying the ride.