2019 Remi Stud Young Rider Scholarship winner Charlotte Stephens
© Stephen Mowbray
The Remi Stud Young Rider Scholarship is an annual Scholarship and is awarded to a very deserving Young Rider who has the talent and dedication in either dressage, showing, or eventing, but needs financial assistance to purchase a horse of their dreams. Cheryl O’Brien from Remi Stud has put together a great team of Supporters to help make this dream come true for one lucky young rider.
This Scholarship is an amazing opportunity for a young rider to have entry into the equestrian industry with support from a variety of Supporters. The Scholarship includes the ownership of a purpose bred Hanoverian weanling by Lauries As (imp) plus a support package which includes feed from Prydes Easifeed, registration with Equestrian Queensland, marketing from Equestrian Australia and the Brisbane CDI, legal support from HorseForce, a saddle, bridle and saddlecloth from Edwards Saddleworld, 10 weeks training by Team Van Den Berge, show product from Dr Show, riding attire from Belrock Equestrian, Veterinary care from Westvets, registration and merchandise from the Hanoverian Horse Society of Australia, hoof care from Meaker Farrier Services, and transport by Manuel Equine Transport. A total package valued at over $30,000.
Previous Scholarship winners are:
2013: ISABELLA WILKINSON-McINTYRE from Brisbane, Qld, was the inaugural winner. She is a dressage rider and was awarded the black gelding, REMI LIVINGSTONE S by Lauries As (imp) / Lanthan (Ger). Remi Livingstone S won the Preliminary Championship at the Qld Youth Championships recently, was Preliminary Champion at Figtree Pocket Dressage, as well as Champion Hack at Brookfield Show. He is a wonderful Ambassador for the Scholarship.
2014: ALEXANDRA BARLOW from Yeppoon, Qld, was given the brown filly REMI LIBERTY BELLE S by Lauries As (imp) / Fishermans Friend (imp) that she will pursue an eventing career with in the years ahead.
2015: JORDYN FAINT from Londonderry in NSW, received the brown gelding REMI FALL GUY S, who was donated as a tribute to the outstanding stallion Fishermans Friend (imp) who sadly passed away that year.
2016: GEORGE GROVER, an eventer from Tasmania, was awarded the dark brown gelding, REMI LORD OF THE VALE S by Lauries As (imp) / Court Musician xx who is the full brother to DJWTS 4 y/o & 5 y/o Eventing Champion, Remi Lord of the Realm. He travelled to Team VDB and went under saddle earlier this year.
Belle, Guy and Pete will be out eventing in the not too distant future.
2017: OLIVIA RUZSICSKA from Humpty Doo in the Northern Territory received the black colt REMI LAZZARINI S by Lauries As (imp) / EM Remi Burlesque by Belissimo M. Oscar is from a very successful competition mare line, the family of Remi Lambuca, which is the original mare line tracing back 4 generations of Remi Stud breeding. Oscar will no doubt suit Olivia’s dressage aspirations.
2018: SASKIA SMITH from Orange in NSW was awarded the beautiful chestnut filly, Remi Lauries Dream S by Lauries As (imp)/Remi Dreamcatcher by Desperados (Ger). By a Grand Prix stallion and out of a dam by a Grand Prix stallion, dressage genes run through her veins.
Remi Livingstone S and Bella Wilkinson McIntyre
© Stephen Mowbray
The winner of the Remi Stud Young Rider Scholarship 2019 was presented at the Brisbane CDI once again, and this year was awarded to Charlotte Stephens from Samford in Qld. Charlotte was awarded the Hanoverian colt, Remi Lauristinus S by Lauries As (imp) / Remi Fleurette by Fishermans Friend (imp). This breeding encompasses Grand Prix dressage bloodlines on both sides of the pedigree with Lauries As being a multiple Grand Prix Champion and FEI Horse of the Year in Australia; and Fishermans Friend was also a Grand Prix Champion and FEI Horse of the Year.
Charlotte’s story begins with a comment that her mother (Kristel) made in her reference for the Scholarship Application, which is “If I could say that I have left my children a legacy, I would want it to be the legacy of resilience.” And resilience is what the Stephens family certainly has!!
In the past couple of years, they have been confronted with many obstacles. Firstly, Kristel was diagnosed with breast cancer, not once, but twice, and only 3 months ago was diagnosed with a rare form of Leukaemia. Her brother was also the victim of a one punch attack. And then Charlotte fractured 3 discs in her spine and dislocated her tailbone following a schoolyard prank that went wrong. This required her to stand in class for 3 months, and then sit on a specially designed wedge cushion for another 3 months. This obviously put horseriding out of the question for over a year. And even when she finally got back in the saddle, Charlotte’s love of showjumping and eventing wasn’t achievable due to the nerve pain she endured when sitting back down in the saddle. Kristel said that Charlotte has been her tower of support during her chemo treatments, juggling Year 12 studies, her School Captain role, equestrian lessons, as well as being chief carer and morale booster for her Mum. She fits in housework, homework, horse feeding, and, being 17 years old with a license, has also had to drive her Mum to Emergency late at night when something goes wrong with Kristel’s medications. Kristel said that she often feels their mother/daughter roles are reversed, but that one of her greatest pleasures is watching Charlotte ride.
And with Charlotte unable to showjump or event any more, her riding future was severely in doubt. However, horses are Charlotte’s absolute passion and love, so Kristel encouraged her to shift her focus on to dressage. Unfortunately they only had Charlotte’s 20 year old jumping horse, but following advice from her coach, Anjanette Harten, her parents mortgaged their home, and purchased an 18 year old, one eyed, Anglo Arab schoolmaster called Red (more formally known as Aloha Redeema), and Charlotte has been able to continue her equestrian journey. She has taken to dressage like a duck to water, and following prompting from her other coach, Ruth White, she competed in the Qld Interschool Championships held at QSEC a couple of weeks ago, and not only won Reserve Medium Champion, but she also won the Medium Freestyle, plus an award for the most artistic freestyle scoring over 71%. Charlotte’s dream had always been to ride a freestyle, and it was one she designed herself from the internet! Charlotte selected her F/S pan pipes music as a special tribute to her Mum, who no doubt shed a tear when she heard it. There is no doubt Charlotte is a talented rider and a very strong and caring daughter.
So on one hand, we have Mum wanting Charlotte to continue with her riding dreams despite all the trials and tribulations the family has gone through in the past couple of years. And on the other hand, we have Charlotte who (in her own words) “would sincerely like to win this for my Mum. I would love the chance to thank Mum for always putting me first and showing me that life is about never giving up on a dream even in the darkest of moments”.
This is what our Scholarship is about – helping a deserving, talented and dedicated young rider to achieve their dreams in the equestrian industry. With young riders like Charlotte and the 6 previous Scholarship winners, our equestrian sport will continue to prosper in Australia well into the future.
Source: Press release
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