In this issue
I’m an amateur rider, a volunteer, an ENSW Board member. I pencil, pick up jump poles, support fundraisers and sit through long committee meetings. I ride dressage and eventing for the love of the sport – not the ribbons. My experiences will be similar to many others in our sport.
Eighteen months into her move to Team Fuchs, Olympian and World Championship rider Simone Pearce is already making waves at her new Swiss-German base. With a Grand Prix star now under saddle and more rising stars coming through, the Australian dressage star is proving that this collaboration with one of the biggest names in show jumping has all the right ingredients.
The journey continues with Bloomfield Vision, affectionately known in the stables as ‘Jeremy’. Two years ago, Jeremy developed headshaking — an affliction that has led us on a long and complex journey.
As the Virtus Equestrian movement continues to blossom here in Australia, new faces are common at each event; this year’s Hawkesbury Dressage Festival was no different. Thirteen-year-old Grace Murphie-Ryan from Leeton, NSW is one young rider looking to kick some goals in life – and that she did with a successful Virtus outing at Sydney International Equestrian Centre last month.
To coin a phrase, “a star is born” might sound a little corny — but just as Totilas and Edward Gal once redefined the sport, Zonic Plus and Belgium's Justin Verboomen look set to become yet another inspiring combination, bringing a new brilliance to a discipline that is often fraught with challenge.
With CHIO Aachen underway and the dressage action set to begin in the Dressage Stadium, Roger Fitzhardinge casts his eye over the CDIO5* Nations Cup teams, as well as the ever-competitive CDI4*.
Australian rider Tyla Schou is making a mark in the UK with a recent win in an Under-25 Intermediate II class on 68.137%. She also secured second place in both the U25 Grand Prix (65.214%) and the Grand Prix Freestyle (71.700%) with her four-legged partner Dennis Deniro. For many Australians, this was the first they’d heard of Tyla and Dennis, but riders in Western Australia know them well.
Gemma Tinney laughs off the fact that she was often known only as “Stuart Tinney’s daughter” at the beginning of her UK venture. The 27-year-old is enjoying her time in the famed horse country of the Costwolds – and is certainly making a name for herself on the British eventing circuit.
Blue Jeans first stepped onto the Pony Club circuit 18 years ago. In the years since, she’s partnered with riders of all ages and ability levels – and her latest might just be the most rewarding yet.
Olympian Jayden Brown has made the difficult decision to leave Willinga Park and is now based just outside Sydney. The Australian dressage rider has traded the picturesque backdrop of Bawley Point for a base that allows him to better manage his coaching and clinic commitments.
Paul Mescal proved as determined as he was obstinate in asserting himself on the set of the 2024 film, Gladiator II. For weeks he had practised leaping on to a moving horse. A stuntman wasn’t needed. “I can do it myself,” declared the star.
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.
It is superbly designed, practical, stylish, accommodating and what equestrians have been needing for a long, long time. Ballodair Park at Wilberforce, NSW, is owned by Karen Miller who has been developing the facility in the Hawkesbury area since buying the 70 acres eight years ago.
Nasal discharges are common in horses, with some indicative of a serious problem and some just nuisance value. They are, however, all worthy of investigation whenever they persist and show no improvement with either time or treatment.