In this issue
Last month was a big one, especially for our Paris Olympics Australian Top 10 Dressage Leaderboard, with the Australian Dressage Championships a really, really impacting. For the first time ever we have multiple Australian riders who are smashing their way through the 70% barrier simultaneously.
At the 2023 Australian Dressage Championships, para dressage rider Rebecca Webber and off-the-track Thoroughbred Glenayre Skyline went down the centreline for the first time. They came away as the CPEDI2* Grade II Reserve Champions.
When Prodigal’s Return arrived at Fiona McIntyre’s yard as a 19-year-old, he was so run down she didn’t think he would survive. ‘Roy’ had fallen on hard times somewhere after retiring from racing, but is now a keen dressage student thanks to some special attention.
There was something special in the air at this year’s Dressage Nationals. With Olympic selection credentials at stake, there was never any doubt that the riding and the experience of horses and riders was going to shine.
The success of Stella Barton and Lord Larmarque, aka ‘Bug’, at the Australian Dressage Championships shows just what this sport is all about and what can happen when people come together with a common goal.
Australia has very strict quarantine laws that need to be adhered to when bringing in a horse from overseas, but they have proven largely successful in keeping our horses free of potentially life-threatening viruses, bacteria and parasites.
Welcome to the November issue of Equestrian Life magazine. This issue is led by an action-packed five days at Boneo Park, where the Australian Dressage Championships left everyone smiling.
They are brighter than donkeys, not at all stubborn, live to 50 and can kick sideways. They can also be successful stars of the small and big screens, if a string of hit movies featuring Francis the talking mule is any indication.
Australian eventer Ryan Wood has not only built a successful eventing reputation and equestrian business in the United States, he has just competed on his first Australian team in the FEI Eventing Nations Cup final on his 11-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding, Cooley Flight.
Australia has a huge future in the exciting sport of mounted games judging by our success at the ‘Worlds Down Under’ – the Under 18 Australian team made history by becoming the first ever Australian team to become World Champions!
Northern Territory Junior Indigenous Sportswoman of the Year, Lalwa May, at only 16 was the youngest member of the Australian team that enjoyed great success at this year’s World Clubs Tournament in France.
As a dressage rider it’s important to be able to decipher what judges’ comments mean. If you understand their terminology, you can better plan how to improve your horse and work towards those bigger marks.
Spring is here and some of us are lucky enough to be having foals... disturbed sleep, the excitement of the birth, delight in the new creature, and the stress all go together, along with the joy of sharing positive experiences with the newborn foal.