Tayla Desmet jumped in the deep end when she relocated to the dressage heartland of Germany in 2019. Nearly six years on, she is very much in for the long haul – not only has she embarked on a career abroad, she also has a Grand Prix horse and an up-and-coming young star.

Tayla Desmet began riding at age five and started out at Woodend Pony Club. Here, she is pictured riding Mazza. Image supplied.
“Maus was definitely
very challenging in
the beginning.”
Tayla has had her Oldenburg mare Zaubermaus (Zonic) since she was just four years old. Together, the pair have risen through the levels, competing at Small Tour with immense success – including two 73%+ scores at the 2022 Aachen Dressage Days CDI in Hagen.
For the past three years, we haven’t seen much of this talented combination. Not worried about timelines, Tayla has been busy training at home towards Grand Prix; with Maus, it’s always been about more than competing.

Tayla has had Maus since the mare was a four-year-old. Image supplied by Tayla Desmet.
“There was always
something incredibly
special about her.”
With Tayla heading down the dressage path, Leigh recommended she begin training with FEI World Equestrian Games representative Maree Tomkinson. For the next seven years, Tayla did just that – and it was through Maree that she gained the ride on Grand Prix stallion Rodrigo III, competing with success at Young Rider level.
The next step was a young horse of her own, and that’s where Zaubermaus entered the picture. In 2016, Tayla and her family began searching for a young horse that could help her take the next step.
“We purchased Zaubermaus as a four-year-old from the P.S.I. auction; Maree Tomkinson rode her in the trialling session and recognised her talent,” recalls Tayla. “Maus was definitely very challenging in the beginning and there were many times where it was difficult to see the light at the end of the tunnel! However, there was always something incredibly special about her, a feeling that was definitely worth fighting for.”
Four-year-old Maus came to Australia and began her training, with both Tayla and Maree sharing the ride whilst Tayla was busy in her final year of school. Once she had finished school, Tayla took over the reins of the then six-year-old Maus full-time and the work continued under Maree’s tuition.

Tayla and Zaubermaus in theIR Grand Prix debut at Hagen CDI in June. Image by LL Foto.
After a couple years, Tayla, her family and Maree all agreed that Europe was the best place to continue their education and so Tayla and Maus travelled to Germany and spent a year with Patricia and Christoph Koschel – even travelling with the team to Wellington, Florida, at the beginning of 2020. While Wellington was a great experience, the timing of the trip with the pandemic unfolding made for a difficult return to Germany. Tayla’s family wanted her to return to Australia, but she knew if she did it could be even more difficult to return to Germany – and so she’d stayed. In January 2021, she and Maus began training with Ton and Alexandra de Ridder, where Tayla says she learnt so much over several years.
Now, Tayla is based at Sudenhof in Hagen. “It is super beautiful. The horses and I feel very happy and lucky to be here! I’m training with Sebastian Heinze, which has been so positive for our development. He is very dedicated, honest and has a calm presence that has really helped in developing myself and both horses considerably.”
GRAND PRIX DEBUT
“The step up from Small Tour to Big Tour is certainly huge!” says Tayla. “It is far more demanding and the importance of having a solid foundation of the basics becomes very clear.”
Tayla has taken her time – three years, in fact – between competing at Small Tour and Big Tour, but she says patience has paid off.
“The journey is challenging, but also incredibly rewarding as a horse develops to this level. From the very beginning, I knew Maus was special! However, it has always been important for me to give her the time and patience she needed to grow. My goal has always been to build a true partnership with her, and I am proud to feel that this is something we have achieved together. No shortcuts, no pressure to rush anything – just patience, consistency, and lots of time together out of the arena!”

Tayla and Dark Diamond, by Diamond Hit out of Zaubermaus, competing in the five-year-old class at Hagen CDI in June. Image by LL Foto.
Tayla says that seeing her 13-year-old mare now confidently taking on the demands of the Grand Prix, knowing the journey they have been on, is very special. “With Maus, it has always been about more than the sport and it is so rewarding to have built such a strong relationship over the last nine years together.”
Earlier this year, the pair stepped out for a couple of national-level Inter II tests prior to their Grand Prix debut – which was at Hagen CDI in June.
“From my perspective, the competition [at Hagen] was a real testament to the journey Maus and I have been on. Of course, there are always things you look back on and want to improve – but that’s part of what keeps this sport so humbling and addictive, it always leaves you wanting to grow more!
“[Hagen] was Maus’ debut at Grand Prix. Naturally, there were a few costly mistakes [the pair scored 62.087%]. But more than anything, I came away with excitement for what’s still to come following a fourth place in the Grand Prix Freestyle [67.635%]. She shows so much talent for the work and really gave a clear glimpse of the potential she still has to show in the ring. This is just the beginning for her at Grand Prix, and with each experience, I know she’ll only continue to grow. Our focus moving forward is to continue developing her confidence with the test so that she can reach her full potential and the scores that she deserves.”
THE NEXT GENERATION
Maus isn’t the only horse Tayla is now competing; she also has the mare’s son, Dark Diamond.
“Dark Diamond, [Zack as he’s known at home] is super special to me! I bred him while I was still living in Australia, and he’s out of my dream mare, Zaubermaus – so to now be training and competing with him in Germany feels like a full-circle moment!”
By the stallion Diamond Hit, Zack is one of the most loveable horses Tayla’s ever had. “He’s full of personality: super cheeky, playful, and curious. But the moment you get on, he switches into having incredible focus and motivation. He has such a fantastic character and temperament – always reliable and always willing to give me 100%. That kind of honesty in a young horse is rare, and I feel incredibly lucky to have that in him.”
Zack tackled his first ever five-year-old class and his first international competition at Hagen, which Tayla says was a big ask – however, true to character he handled the experience with maturity and ease. “He delivered two very solid tests, and it was nice to see him rewarded with 78%, knowing how much potential he still has to show. I rode him conservatively to make sure he had a positive and confident experience. Now I’m really looking forward to developing him further and giving him the chance to really shine as he gains strength and more experience.”
Tayla and Zack finished on the podium in third place for both the Preliminary test (76%) and Final (78.6%) at Hagen, and this young Australian-bred horse is definitely one to watch for the future.
THE NEXT CHAPTER
Having completed her university degree that she began in Australia, Tayla is now working in strategy consulting and juggles part-time employment with training and competing her two horses. With a professional career now well underway, her dream mare at the beginning of an exciting Grand Prix journey, and a talented youngster in the wings, jumping in the deep end and moving to Germany five-and-a-half years has paid off. With no immediate plans to go home, Tayla is in for the long haul and looking forward to seeing where this next chapter takes her. EQ