Morgan, Julie and Ailish do Friday trot-poles at Hill Cottage Dressage with Charlotte

Overall Champions
From left – Right: Grade 1A – Morgan Webb Liddle; Grade 4 – Kaye Hannan, Grade 3 – Lizzie Sobecki, Grade 2 – Danielle Weymark, Grade 1B – Joann Formosa

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The Boneo Park CDI3* played host to Para-Equestrian classes for the first time in 2014 and the event  attracted a strong number of entries, including a host of WEG hopefuls eager to post strong scores to help their bid for one of the four team positions.

In order to be eligible for selection to the team which will compete in Normandy, riders which are campaigning from Australia need to compete in two of the three observation events. The third will be held in Sydney from 18-20 February and the first was staged back in December at the Saddleworld Victorian Dressage Festival.

National Performance Director for Para-Equestrian, Julia Battams was impressed with the progress being made by riders.

“The national dressage and Para-Equestrian clinic which was staged leading into this event has certainly been of benefit to our riders and this is reflected in the scores from the weekend.

“We have a number of riders challenging for just four positions on the WEG team and the healthy competition has led to some very good scores.”

The weekend didn’t go to plan for 2010 WEG bronze medallist Sharon Jarvis after her horse Lets Imagine suffered a minor foot injury just prior to the start of competition.

Her disappointment was slightly alleviated by a kind gesture from a former team-mate.

“When Jan Pike found out Lets Imagine had been ruled out, she asked me if I wanted to share her ride Cocon, so I rode him in the grade three while she rode him in the Grade IA.

“Jan and I were team mates in Beijing and I found this to be such a lovely gesture. It really picked me up after I found out that my horse couldn’t compete here this weekend.”

Jarvis is hopeful her mare will be fit for the final observation event in Sydney.

“We’re confident it is only a minor issue and that she’ll be ready to compete in time for Sydney,” said Jarvis.

Overall champions for the weekend were:

Grade 1A – Morgan Webb Liddle

Grad 1B – Joann Formosa

Grade 2 – Danielle Weymark

Grade 3 – Lizzie Sobecki

Grade 4 – Kaye Hanna

Full results from the weekend are available HERE

Thanks to Rob Hanna for making today’s presentations

What an achievement. Of course this would not have been possible without the extraordinary coaching and warm-ups by Charlotte Pedersen at Hill Cottage Dressage, Ralphy’s beautiful presentation by Julie Scougall, assisted by Adele and Bianca. Thanks for being such a great support team.

Huge thanks also to Morgan’s major sponsor Kyneton Toyota who keep our Landcruiser on the road and to John and Ros Bradbury for their belief in Morgan. Thanks also to Prendergasts Earthmoving for their recent donation.

To all our friends and family, and the kind people who we only know on FB, your words of encouragement and support are greatly appreciated.

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to begin

Aus Para Power spokesperson Jan Pike emailed and asked if I would like to attend one of the two training and assessment days at the end of May 2013?  As I know that this is a dynamic and inspirational group, I was delighted to be part of this inaugural and innovative session.

Jan explained,  “With the ‘World’s’ coming up, we felt that it was important to get the Para riders together and give them the opportunity to ride before international judges and listen to their advice about training and preparation, to give the best chance for success at the up-coming qualifying events … and perhaps be part of an Australian team.”

On the back of the outstanding success of Australian Para rider, Joann Formosa, at the London Olympic Games, the “Para Equestrian” movement has really gathered momentum and found direction, with many more riders now involved.  Because of the number of helpers required, there was a large group of people participating and they travelled great distances to be at the Melton Equestrian Academy to take advantage of this very positive and beneficial initiative.

Right:  NSW riders, Dale Spring, Jan Pike and Sui Watts share a happy moment after their assessment rides.

Catherine Shelley, the Melton Equestrian Academy’s proprietor is well known for her generosity and support and she has given Jan Pike a great deal of assistance … and the ride on her wonderful 7 year old ex-racehorse Pinky, who is indeed a very special equine.  Pinky has an  amazing temperament and shows a human-like understanding of Jan’s physical difficulties.

Left:  Catherine Shelley is well pleased with the success of the two day clinic.

Jan was born with Cerebral Palsy and has very little physical strength and co-ordination.   The patient and knowing grey seems to understand that some of Jan’s movements are involuntary and do not mean anything, while others are the influences that he should listen to, in order to perform a dressage test with her.

Catherine said, “The Thoroughbred can be the perfect horse and we have to work with them when they retire off the track to give them the confidence and experience to do the job with our Para riders.  Not all of them graduate to the level of Pinky, but this is also true of other breeds as well! These two days have had the support of Equestrian Australia, who really encouraged the initiative and Racing Victoria Limited, who see this as another way to give retired racehorses an opportunity for a future.  I would like to thank them both for believing in us and supporting our training clinic.”

“I would also like to thank everyone who took part over these two days and of course their helpers, the judges and clinicians who gave the riders such valuable feedback and advice to help with their preparations for the up-coming qualifying competitions.  This format has been very well received, it is a first of its kind and surely not the last.” said Catherine.

Right – Mary Longdon and her pencillor enjoy the balmy Autumn weather

“Mary Longdon (Victoria) and Nell Marshman (NSW) judged and gave a detailed critique to each rider and we were very grateful to Helen Heagney for attending and talking to the riders on the final day.” Catherine explained.

The team spirit, joy of learning and improving was very evident and Australia is set for a very bright future in this relatively new arm of equestrian sport.

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Morgan’s goal is to qualify for the World Equestrian Games in Normandy in 2014 – the next world championship for Para-Equestrians. Morgan missed out on qualifying for the London Paralympics by a heartbreaking 0.9%. With her condition progressing, Morgan is aware she might not be able to ride by the time the 2016 Paralympics come around. SO, she and Ralphy are hard at it training, fund raising (horse riding and getting international competition experience are expensive!) and making the most of each and every day! Watching Morgan train and seeing how much she ADORES her horse was truly a PLEASURE and a sight to behold!

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