It’s been a feast of dressage over summer and we are delighted to bring you the cream of it in our March magazine. We have it all covered, from young Charlotte Phillips’s outstanding performance with CP Dresden to David Shoobridge’s exciting young stars, Mary Hanna’s new charges, and a masterclass with Gary Lung in Tasmania.
However, first up we congratulate Will Enzinger on his appointment as the new High Performance director for EA. As Heath Ryan says, welcome to our world, Will! Heath predicts this could be a game changer, given it’s the first time he can recall our HP Director actually having an equestrian background.
Charlotte Phillips, at 21, has earned a ticket to Omaha after she and CP Dresden posted a personal best of 74.275% in their CDI-W Grand Prix Freestyle at Dressage by the Sea. Given it was the FEI World Cup Pacific League Final, Charlotte now has an invitation to the FEI World Cup Final. Roger Fitzhardinge was at Willinga Park and is thrilled to report on Charlotte’s great ride plus offer his views on Dresden, with whom he has worked with in the past.
Equally buoyant is David Shoobridge. Coming off big wins at the Victorian Dressage Festival at Boneo Park to close off 2022, what next for his young stars? In an extensive interview with Sunday McKay, David opens up not only about the personal satisfaction that his Hanoverian stallion Vittorio DS is the second generation in a line that he has bred – he is the third generation he has ridden! David discusses his breeding program, his young horses and how he found balance in his life, making sure he has time for the next generation Shoobridge – his daughter. It’s a great read with lessons for us all.
Back on home soil after her World Championship campaign, Mary Hanna is effusive about plans for her two new horses. She tells Adele Severs she usually prefers horses around the 17-hand mark, but “this time I’ve got one that’s 16.2 hands and one that’s nearly 18 hands!” Oh, and she has broken her rule about never riding stallions again.
Tasmania’s dressage community turned out in force for their first dressage masterclass with Gary Lung, where Mim Coleman reports that he wanted “real grassroots riders and real horses”, which proved a winning formula at the packed-out Coal Valley Equestrian Centre. With Dressage & Jumping With The Stars coming up, Roger Fitzhardinge takes us through the finer points of his top five exercises for young horses – reminding us that the most important thing is to have fun. On this subject, Kerry Mack was momentarily caught off guard by Roger when he asked her at Dressage by the Sea why she gets up early every morning to ride. Now happily back on her front foot, she explains ‘What Motivates Me’ in this issue, and fun has a lot to do with it.
Someone else who is having fun is James Arkins. The star show jumper is back home after a giddy year in Canada and the US and a World Championships badge, and had so much success with his two horses that he attracted offers he couldn’t refuse. The North Americans are so impressed with the quality of Australian horses, he tells Adele, that he has been tapped to scout for more. Fascinating prospects for Australian horses!
On that note, American-turned-Aussie Christan Trainor has the same faith. She firmly believes Australia can produce European quality horses, as she is proving at Glenhill Sporthorses. “I like putting these nice horses under Australian riders,” she says as she introduces us to her team.
Another team success story is Romsey Park, which has just a big day at the Barastoc HOTY. Christine Frost tells us that her black Thoroughbred Ink’s win in the Open Large Hack class is like a “dream”. Now in its 54th year, the HOTY is a prestigious fixture on the showing calendar, one that has been supported by Barastoc from its beginnings. What a great partnership!
In Health, vet Maxine Brain discusses the salivary glands of horses – nothing to worry about, but worth keeping an eye on. In Lifestyle, enjoy Suzy Jarratt’s ongoing series on Horses in the Movies, this time with a rock ‘n’ roll romp through medieval times. Yes, it involves Heath Ledger…
Finally, never argue with a judge and never write off a racehorse. Susie Hoevenaars – Olympic judge, no less – says her first dressage horses was a “cast-off”, yet they went places, and what she saw in the off-the-track classes at Boneo Park recently confirmed that Thoroughbreds will always have a role to play in dressage.
As always, have fun riding!
Robert McKay AM
Contributors
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HEATH RYANNational equestrian personality, international dressage and eventing rider, Olympian, judge, coach and breeder, Heath is never backward in offering his unique insights into the sport and industry.
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ROGER FITZHARDINGEAs a judge, coach, competitor and commentator, Roger’s passion to tell the real stories behind the horses and horse people shines through in his unique brand of equestrian photojournalism.
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DR KERRY MACKGrand Prix dressage rider, coach and Mayfield Farm stud principal, Kerry draws on her learning as a qualified psychiatrist to approach training from the cerebral perspective as well as the physical.
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MIRIAM COLEMANDressage enthusiast, blogger and keen photographer, Mim Coleman provides an insightful and witty commentary on Tasmania’s close-knit equestrian scene.
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DR MAXINE BRAINDr Maxine Brain is an equine vet dedicated to achieving optimal equine health and performance with her team at Kilmore Equine Clinic, which she founded.
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SUZY JARRATTSuzy has a rich background in newspaper journalism and radio broadcasting in NSW and nationally, and last year won an international award for equestrian journalism.
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Robert McKay
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Sunday Batters
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Adele Severs
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Photography credits:
Jessica Atkins Photography, Tazzie Eggins Photography, Jenelle Christopher, Michelle Terlato Photography, Equestrian Australia High Performance, Roger Fitzhardinge, Amy-Sue Alston, Stephen Mowbray, One Eyed Frog Photography, Angie Rickard Photography, Equisoul Photography, Hippo Foto – Dirk Caremans, 4CYTE/Derek O’Leary, Dr Maxine Brain, Simon Scully, Tracey Janson, Trish Stagg, Amy Griffiths & Equine Images Victoria.
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