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COURAGEOUS KIWI BLAZES HER OWN TRAIL (Part 8)

BY ROGER FITZHARDINGE

Having followed the European triumphs of her beloved Victory Salute, the most successful Australian-bred dressage horse of all time, Carolyn Lieutenant was devastated by his death in 2011; but nothing stands still for this dynamic horsewoman.

“As she knew so well, it was important
to have a good horse to produce a good rider.”

“This chestnut gelding, Waitano,
was very expressive and as
honest as the day is long.”

Carolyn Lieutenant’s life has always revolved around producing horses and helping to get them to the highest level possible, and Victory Salute, aka Sam, had produced some fantastic results internationally. However, his demise with laminitis soon after his return to Australia from Europe did not stop Carolyn planning for the future. The chance of competing at the London 2012 Olympics was gone, but the thought of finding another horse to follow in Sam’s footprints was foremost in Carolyn’s mind.

Carolyn continued helping with the campaign of Good as Gold towards Grand Prix with Brett Parbery and, when Brett was away, with David MacKinnon who would ride the horse and compete quite successfully. Good as Gold’s nature was a little hot and spooky, which sometimes made it difficult to show the best form that he could in competition.

Carolyn kept up her judging and was doing so at a young event horse competition when she met Malcolm MacRae and Mark Kiddle, who were scribing for her at the competition. She made very good friends with both of them and they asked if they could have lessons with her as they were based in Bowral in the NSW Southern Highlands. At this stage, Carolyn was still in Sydney, but agreed to go down to help them at their agistment property when she went down to see Good as Gold, or Will, as he was known. Carolyn was very impressed with Mark’s attitude towards his riding, his empathy and feel. And as she knew so well, it was important to have a good horse to produce a good rider.

The friendship grew and Carolyn became a mentor and a great help to both Mark’s and Mal’s riding and forward thinking. They were extremely respectful of Carolyn, her talent and her expertise. And as a mentor, Carolyn was very fond of them as well. The partnership continued to grow and Carolyn, realising it would be good to have another horse towards FEI, found a very nice horse by Wolkenstein, who was a son of Weltmeyer, that was ridden by Jayden Brown. This chestnut gelding, Waitano, was very expressive and as honest as the day is long. Mark competed Waitano, aka Teddy, at Prix St Georges, winning his first outing, then continuing on in 2012 to the Dressage With The Stars competition, where he again won the Prix St Georges.

With Carolyn’s eyes on the ground and Mark’s empathetic riding, this team soon produced some good scores and created a partnership for Mark with Carolyn and Waitano to go to Grand Prix. He’s now 20 years old and still competing. Malcolm MacRae was able to ride this horse in his first ever Grand Prix in what was probably a highlight of his riding career! The horse also carried Malcolm to riding class wins at Grand National and Horse of the Year shows. Waitano was a beautiful horse and many riders enjoyed a sit on him. Carolyn, Mark and Mal all enjoyed the journey that he produced for them.

ON THE ROAD AGAIN

Given Mark’s keenness and attitude towards riding Grand Prix, which he successfully did on Waitano, Carolyn thought it time to go overseas and look for a good young horse. Carolyn was always one for travelling interstate in Australia to horse competitions and shows to judge or give judging clinics, but she also loved her overseas trips. Mark and Mal were also very keen travelling companions with Carolyn on several overseas trips in Holland and England. Carolyn was not a great lover of attending Olympic Games, but has always attended World Championships and WEGs. In 2014, she and her long-time friend, Jen Howlett, went to WEG in France. It was a very enjoyable trip, especially the town on the channel coast where they stayed.

Carolyn loved England, especially Devon and Cornwall, so after France she and Jen hired a car and proceeded to travel wherever their hearts took them. They ended up in North Cornwall hotel, and by chance got a booking to the Rick Stein restaurant in nearby Padstow. The people they sat next to lived in the Cotswolds and, after a long conversation, invited Carolyn and Jen to stay with them.

Each day their hosts left for work, simply saying to Carolyn and Jen, ‘When you go out, just lock up and put the keys in the wellies at the front door!’ Carolyn says she and Jen had the most amazing few days visiting gardens in the area . Carolyn’s life, as always, was full of adventure, and she and Jen just went wherever they pleased and had an absolute ball; being great foodies and restaurant-goers, they certainly made the most of their time in Devon, Cornwall and the Cotswolds.

“Being great foodies and restaurant-goers,
they certainly made the most of their time.”

On their return, Carolyn continued to help Mal and Mark, and also with Will at Brett Parbery’s. The horse had now been given to Brett’s wife, Melinda. She adored Will and had an absolute ball riding him with no pressure as he took her to good marks in Prix St Georges. By this time Carolyn had moved to beautiful Bowral where she loved her gardens and the climate, and was also helping Mark and Mal. During a freak snowstorm in Bowral where Mark and Mal were leasing the property from Catherine Olsen where the indoor arena roof caved in under the weight of the snow. Fortunately the Pavier family (Vince, Louisa, and three girls) who had hacks invited them to move all fourteen horses to their place. They are all still there to this day!

In 2016, Carolyn continued travelling around the countryside, judging and giving judges clinics. Her wealth of knowledge and enthusiasm to impart definite ideas towards judges was much appreciated by all who came in contact with her. Carolyn’s honesty was blunt and to the point but very well established. With great thought and experience behind her ideas, Carolyn’s judging clinics were always full of enthusiastic and respectful judges. She did a great deal in improving the judging system in Australia, especially in New South Wales.

That year she also travelled south to Boneo Park to catch up with some para-equestrians and to watch their National Championships. She was accompanied by her good friend Jen, so there was much more travelling around and interesting times at hotels and restaurants for the both of them.

It was in 2016 that Mel Parbery started riding Will and was being successful and loving the ride, with Carolyn also helping her along the way. Waitano was still being successful, but it was time to look for another horse. At this time, Carolyn’s brother David had become unwell and was becoming difficult to look after. Very conveniently, David took up residence in a nursing home a few hundred metres from Carolyn’s house in Bowral.

‘When you’re finished staying here,
just lock up and put the keys in
the wellies at the back door!”

IN THE MARKET

With David well cared for and close by for her to visit, Carolyn now had more time to continue her love of travel, locally and overseas, and it was soon off to Holland with Mark and Mal to look for a horse to take the place of Teddy. They were guests of Anneminke and Jeff Vincourt. Driven by Jeff they traveled around Holland  looking at many, many horses. Carolyn fondly remembers it was winter and it was like a snow-filled wonderland where they had the most fabulous time. As always, Mark and Mal made Carolyn feel very much at ease and well looked after.

A horse was eventually found, a beautiful bay mare. Unfortunately, they left before the vet check, thinking all would be well but the mare failed and Carolyn, Mark and Mal found themselves back in Australia not having a horse. Not ones to give up, they returned in May of 2017 and, after looking at 20-odd horses in four days, found a promising  horse called Ferdi, by Jazz. This horse had three great paces and rode very well and was subsequently purchased after passing  his vet check. To their surprise they had been looking at a stallion! During their time looking for Ferdi, they ran into old acquaintances Hans Peter and Edward Gal at a top restaurant. Carolyn remembers well it was a great reunion and a fabulous evening.  Ferdi came out of quarantine and was subsequently gelded soon after, and lived at Wilton with Mark and Mal.

Carolyn’s travels continued in 2018, when it was off to the World Equestrian Games at Tryon, North Carolina, where again, of course, her interest was high in bringing back the latest judging knowledge to impart to her pupils and her judging colleagues. On returning to Australia, it was to Brisbane for the 90th birthday of a very dear cousin, Desmond Kelly, who was an author and actor. It was a great family gathering and a reuniting of her family from New Zealand and her roots. They have remained very close ever since. Desmond is a very interesting and quirky character, full of get up and go, and not dissimilar to Carolyn.

In 2019, it was off to Willinga Park in February. It was a fantastic time and Carolyn enjoyed every moment – and who wouldn’t at Willinga Park where she was astonished by the enormity of the facilities and the fabulous gardens, architecture and infrastructure.

In May, Carolyn jumped at joining the Aachen Tour with Equestrian Life, a tour that she rates as one of the best she’s ever done, meeting so many fabulous people. Being up close and seeing their facilities and the truth of the sports that she was involved in was inspiring indeed. On returning, it was Ferdi’s first competition at Albury, winning a medium test on 67% with some very encouraging work and comments. But unfortunately, due to a minor injury, it was three months off.

“Carolyn’s honesty was
blunt and to the point
but very well established.”

TIME TO CELEBRATE

On 9 September in 2019, Carolyn turned 80 and there was a great party at a fabulous restaurant in Campbelltown that saw many, many friends from Australia and New Zealand attend. It was a fantastic day and one which will always remind her of her family and the strong support and network of friends she has. In 2020, Ferdi came sixth in a medium at Willinga Park again with 67%; super encouraging, but still not so easy to manage. He again had a minor injury and was out for some time but is back in work again now.

It is now the year of Covid-19 and unfortunately the world came to a bit of a stop. But Carolyn had a very unique and great band of friends around her in her new home in Bowral, and was able to continue her relationship, fun and friendship with Mark and Mal and the fabulous Ferdi, as well as helping Melinda with Will. Of course, this also allowed Carolyn more time for her garden, and if there’s something she absolutely adores, it is roses. She spends much time in the garden attending her fabulous lawns and roses, and really loves the weather and the whole attitude of the people around Bowral. Being close to her brother and having him in good care is also a great comfort.

This pretty well brings Carolyn’s life up to date here in 2021. Her days still are filled with excitement, and never a dull moment. From getting up in the morning and having breakfast and doing the crossword puzzle she spends more time in the garden with Sophie the staffie then goes and helps her clients and pupils, whether it be Mal and Mark or other pupils, or occasionally going over and helping Mel with Will. Her days are always very full and as much as she always has a good eye for the best in horses and people – and restaurants – she always has time to stop and smell her roses! EQ