Equestrian Life’s May issue is out now!

This issue, our cover story features Olympian Shane Rose, who was thrilled to be back competing at Adelaide, and even more thrilled to bring home the Adelaide International CCI5L* on long-time partner, Virgil. Shane has a number of quality horses that might get him to Paris, but having Virgil in his “back pocket” is pretty satisfying!

We also catch up with two other eventers making headway on either side of the country. West Australian teenager Ellie Gough has just won her first CCI3*S class with her Warmblood cross, Don J’Amee, while Victorian OTT enthusiast Sophia Hill and 11-year-old Thoroughbred Humble Glory finished third in their five-star debut at Adelaide.

This issue, Heath Ryan looks at performances from our current top dressage riders, reviews the Sydney CDI, and explains why a good performance by the Aussie eventing team at an upcoming event in Ireland is important for our Paris 2024 prospects. We also see another side to Heath as he spearheads fundraising for our team picked for the Virtus Global Games in France. Get on board!

Coming from a family representing seven generations on the land, quiet achiever Megan Bryant’s innate work ethic is paying off. Roger Fitzhardinge follows her journey from Cowra to recently winning the five-year-old championship at DJWTS on her homebred black gelding, Dankesohn MBE.

Just home from her international adventure is German-based Aussie Simone Pearce. Over the moon at her surprise invitation to the FEI World Cup Final in Omaha, Simone tells Adele Severs how proud she was of stallion Fiderdance and what they’ve achieved together in less than a year.

Para dressage riders kicked off their campaign for the Paris Paralympics with a show of force at the Leader Equine Dressage Spectacular at Boneo Park, where Bridget Murphy was on the ground for us and reports on the stand-out performances.

In show jumping, Edwina tops-Alexander is no stranger to the Olympics. Dawn Gibson-Fawcett checks in on her at the fabulous Longines Arena in Doha, Qatar, where Edwina confides that she would love to go to her fifth Olympics and has “two very good horses” that could be in contention.

Helen Chugg and Amanda Madigan also know a thing or two about producing great show jumpers. Roger Fitzhardinge reports on their latest star, Diamond B Vivienne, who was judged Champion Jumping Horse at the Sydney Royal. They say, “tell a gelding, ask a mare and discuss it with a stallion”, says Roger, and Viv was definitely one that needed asking!

In our other regular sections, Dr Kerry Mack shares her insights on how to improve your self-management at competitions; veterinarian Dr Maxine Brain explains the challenges of treating a common cause of hindleg lameness; and Suzy Jarratt delves into the hits and misses of the movie flop, All the Pretty Horses.

And in a special heads-up feature for winter, we bring you the lowdown on rugging – the range, the materials, the layers, and all the factors that determine what’s right for your horse. For those of us south of the tropics, it is essential reading!

Start reading our May issue here.