Completely Equine Advanced
The first day of the 2025 Sydney CDI began with two Advanced classes – the 5.2 and 5.3. A very large field of horses settled into battle out this big class, with the winner of both classes QS Sierra for Robbie McKinnon with scores of 69.913% and 70.090%.
On asking Robbie about her performances, her comments were:
“I am so happy with this fabulous mare. As you know I like my horses spicy and sensitive (Dave, her husband, chuckles in the background… ‘like herself… she gets it!’) and for sure Sierra is both of these! In the long run it will be to my favour, I think, so to make it through the two tests without a mistake…well (with a grin) except I can’t count to three! (Dave again chuckles… ‘she’s not good at accounting either!’)
“I love this mare, and it is truly exciting in many ways to ride tests as these on her. To come out on top is a bonus; there were some very fancy horses in the class and well done to them. Who knows what tomorrow will bring and you can only do what you can with what’s under you on the day, and we came out on top today.
“I do have to thank Lyndal (Oatley) who has guided me through so many tricky patches with positivity and confidence. She is so wonderful in her untiring enthusiasm and generous help… I couldn’t have done it only with Dave’s help… you know how husband and wife get on when it comes to training! “I have to thank the sponsors Completely Equine who generously sponsored the classes. Tomorrow is another day and I look forward to this CDI competition.”
In second place in both the Advanced tests was Arnage Totil Bliss for Kayla Simms with scores of 68.991% and 69.144%. This electric little black horse by Totilas is an absolute pocket rocket. They produced a mistake-free test and great percentages. On asking Kayla her feelings about the horse, his progression and his tests today, she replied:
“I have so much time for this horse. He’s really becoming part of me now. I could’ve perhaps showed a little bit more expression in some of the trot work, but there’s plenty of room for that later. I was really pleased with both tests being clean. His changes have always been a little excitable, and I was not always able to own them as I can now. I was very pleased that he stayed with me throughout the entire tests. His sharpness, quickness and enthusiasm for life and dressage is going to hold him in great stead for Grand Prix. It’s just a matter of taking time to make him feel really secure in all the basics… hopefully by the end of the year, we will be Prix St Georges and then it won’t be too far away before Grand Prix. His talent for the piaffe and passage is a real highlight.”
Tjibbe, ridden by Serena Ireland, had a third and a fourth placing. Serena was truly thrilled with this regal stallion. She describes him as a gentle giant: “He has a heart of gold. His stumbling block has been his changes, of which now are almost confirmed and established. His self-carriage and energy is a real highlight and his wonderful frame and presence is exciting to ride.”
Serena is very excited by his potential for Grand Prix also and she’s just taking her time to make certain that the changes are properly established before moving on. His ability to piaffe and passage she says is truly exciting.
It would be difficult to go past saying that the judging in the 5.3 was far from consistent. The placings and percentages were quite often well out of sync, for example 3rd vs 23rd place with nearly a 10% difference for one horse. It is a real shame to see these inconsistencies, but our judges need to gain more experience and what better time than to do so than with international judges and Olympic judges, so you can compare and work out what to focus on more. It happens, but unfortunate at a competition like this as it is a bitter pill to swallow for riders, coaches and owners. But that’s dressage!
Assistance Dogs Australia CDN Intermediate II
The Inter II was also a strong class, with Serena Ireland winning on the Regardez Moi x Jive Magic gelding Royalty R on 67.265%. This is only Royalty’s third Inter II, and asking Serena about this horse, her comments were:
“I am so lucky to have this horse that I bought as a Preliminary horse when he was seven years old. To see that he is now established in all the Grand Prix movements six years later, is very exciting. As green and inexperienced as he is, he tries his heart out and he did that for me today, as I had severe food poisoning and was lucky to make it through the test!
“I feel he has a real highlight in the flying changes at the moment and all the other movements are coming along extremely well. It was a mistake free test, but I know that in time and with a little more strength and positivity, his piaffe and passage will also be a real highlight. I look forward to the Grand Prix tomorrow.”
In second place was Sharon Potter riding Bradgate Park Amadeus on 67.088%. The test was very well ridden with a very uphill feeling and expressive passage and piaffe. Unfortunately, a mistake in the counting of the two tempis probably cost the test, but to be second in this Inter II, which is only her third time ever riding this level, is exciting.
On asking Sharon about her horse’s performance, her comments were:
“I’m so proud of this horse. He’s as timid as a mouse. He may look full of importance, but inside he’s like a little mouse. What I was so thrilled with, was for my third ever Inter II in my life, he really gained great confidence from me. As the test went on, he became more and more confident and started to show himself better and better. A little mistake in my counting in the three-tempi changes was a shame, but my overall feeling was wonderful.
“I was able to really think about the test and all the things I’ve been taught and helped with through my coach and the great team I have around me. I was able to take a breath and think about them. I look forward to riding the Grand Prix tomorrow and I must keep telling myself it’s only my third Grand Prix in my life and I should be very proud of the fact that we’ve come this far. It’s an achievement in itself to get to this level and I look around and congratulate all riders that manage to get to Grand Prix, no matter what the scores are. It’s a real learning curve at the pointy end and I’m loving the challenges and the thought that goes with producing such a test.”
Sharon looked like she had ridden a thousand Inter II tests. Harmonious and balanced and her aids effortless and smooth.
In third place was Del Piero ZF with a clean test for Alexis Hellyer on 66.176%. There is no doubt that this combination has really come to the fore at this competition. Del Piero ZF is looking so much more relaxed and in a slightly more open frame with good balance and expressive paces. It’s obvious to see the improvement in the self-carriage and lightness and ease and harmony between the two at this competition.
FEI horses through the trot-up
Of course, the CDI horses all had the trot up this afternoon and not one in any class was re-trotted nor one to the holding box. Fit, sound and very healthy horses and that’s a real positive.
First day done and dusted, with Robbie McKinnon and QF Sierra Advanced Champions and Arnage Totil Bliss for Kayla Simms runner up and that was unanimous!
