Woodmount Lolita CCI4****L at Melb3DE
What an event the ZEEP Melbourne International Three Day Event was! This mare’s outstanding results this year earned her a place in the Australian Senior Team for the Oceania 2022 Championships and it was a great experience to be a part of this!
So many people to thank for this opportunity – firstly the unwavering belief that Fiona Mitchell has in both me and this horse is second to none. To Wendy Jeffree and Michele Geoffrey Towb thank you for looking after both horses so well all week.
To Janet Houghton, all of those involved in organising, sponsoring and running the event as well as the army of volunteers – thank you. There is no feeling like competing at this event and to do it this time wearing the Australian colours was unreal.
I am very grateful to the Australian Equestrian Team and Equestrian Australia, along with the High Performance team and all their staff for their work and support. The coaching from Bettina Hoy was next level and we took away so much from the whole experience.
When I was selected for the team I was asked to provide a quote for the rider profiles and I struggled with this one, but during the showjumping last day of competition the saying “Lose with Dignity, Win with Pride” sprung to mind. I really had to dig deep and immerse myself to get the most out of those moments and remind myself of everything I had gained by being there, I am very proud to have been a part of it all.
Most of all I am really looking forward to being back in that position, only next time I plan to be on a horse and riding around in that victory lap next to my team mates!!
A big thank you to all of my sponsors for their continued support of my team.
(Woodmount Lolita CCI4****L Melb3DE – Photo credit: Equine Images Victoria)
Equus Helenik CCI2**L at Melb3DE
At last Heidi made it to a long format event!
This mare was ready to roll for this event a full 12 months ago, and while the extra training has not gone astray she actually has not got a huge depth of competition experience — so we were very happy with how she handled her first big 3DE. She has been a work in progress with lots of work going into her as we went but the potential on the flat is there, and now her gallop, fitness and way of going over the jumps have all improved and shows serious promise!
I am very grateful for the patience and support of her owner Pip Hodson, it felt like a very long wait to get to this point with lots of ups and downs along the way! It is awesome to at last have ticked this box and I am so excited now to kick on with this mare and see where she can go.
(Equus Helenik CCI2**L Melb3DE – Video credit: Click Capture Photography)