Horse magazine january 2014

JANUARY 2014 $7.50

SADDLEWORLD DRESSAGE FESTIVAL YOUNG EVENTING CHAMPIONSHIPS CARL HESTER in AUSTRALIA

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4 - The Horse Magazine

JANUARY 2014

Eventing Leaderboard

Showjumping Leaderboard

National Young Rider Leaderboard

Transitions

Dressage Festival

The Great Debate - Should Princess Haya go?

Rider of the Year - Christopher Burton

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Adelaide Three Day Event38A Showjumper who Cares20Vicki @ Wodonga

Carl Hester’s Masterclass at Equitana26

World Young Horse Champs at Mondial du Lion63

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On the Cover: Christopher Burton and Jamaimo Photo: Roz Neave

www.horsemagazine.com

Page 78Meet Germany’s New Coach

Editor: Chris Hector CEO: Roz NeaveAssistant Editor: Ute RaabeDesign: Alexandra MeyerPhone: (+61) 3 9421 3320 Fax: (+61) 3 9421 3375E-mail: [email protected] Address: PO Box 2316 Richmond South 3121

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I put it to both Maree and Mary, that – particularly after the unpleasantness that was the London selection process – people had a perception that Grand Prix dressage, particularly with a place in the WEG team at stake - had become a ‘war’ with the competitors at each others throats… and I was laughed down by both of them.

“No way,” said Mary, “Ree and I are really good friends and we always have been, I actually can’t imagine where people get that idea from. I am actually shocked that anyone would think that.”

“I can imagine where they get it from,” chimed in Ree, “They get it from Channel 9. It has not been my experience at all. I haven’t had the experience of Mary, I had a limited time trying to get on the team for Beijing, and traveled with Heath and Rozzie, and Brett and Kristy and Lyndal and Mary, and we all got on incredibly well. One week, one of us would do well, and the rest of us would be crying, and then you’d do well and they would be crying, they were fantastic, really supportive and kind to me, who had never done it before. Mary was living just up the road at Hubertus Schmidt’s

stables, and we met up and went out at night. I could call her, and ask, what competitions should I go to, because she has a lot more experience and knowledge and she was fantastic. We never had any trouble with anyone. It is the same here at Werribee, we are stabled together and it is lovely.”

Is there a point in the selection process, when extra pressure cuts in…

Mary: “Always coming up to those last selection events, there is an extra pressure that comes on that you don’t feel at any other time. I’m feeling it a bit today, I have to say, because for me, this is an important event, but that’s a good thing because I perform that much better under pressure. I have to feel the pressure to do my best, I do best under extreme pressure.”

Do you have to come up with a coping strategy?

“I just did, I just went to see the sports psychologist. We got locked in Julia Battams’ truck and I didn’t think we were ever going to get out! I use sports psychologists when necessary, and find

that I have to control myself. I can get a bit fired up, small things can set me off, and I have to learn to control myself.”

What do you do with the psych – a talk thing or do you use a bit of meditation?

“Previously I have used a bit of meditation. I know Ricky MacMillan used to use meditation really effectively. Meditation is great to try and centre yourself and stop being scattered – to make you really focus on the job in hand, and meditation is a great way to focus because you just take all the noise out and try and clear your head. And that is something I have to concentrate on because it doesn’t come naturally.”

Ree, you seem to have a strategy of trying to put as much pressure on yourself as you can, talking up your chances…

“I am trying to change a little bit the way I do things because I tend to bite off more than I can chew. I tend to say, yes I can do that, riding everyone’s horses, helping everyone with their horses, and then trying to do seven of my own. Now,

GRAND PRIX COUNTDOWNwith Maree Tomkinson and Mary Hanna

DRESSAGE FESTIVAL

THM spoke to two of the leading contenders for the spot-from-Oz on the dressage WEG team on the afternoon before the first leg of the World Cup competition, the Grand Prix.

Two different ladies with different approaches to their lead-ups: Maree Tomkinson was chilling out, while Mary Hanna had just got off her Prix St George ride….

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probably for the first time, maybe ever, I’ve got just Diamantina here, and I’m taking the time to focus on my horse and what I need to do with her. I’ll do the same at Boneo, just focus on her. It has been a really difficult year for me, but it has sort of cleaned out my closet. You find out who the people are who are supporting you, that has freed up a lot of hanger-oners, that’s been good.”

The mare can be difficult in the warm up arena – is that hard, that the last couple of minutes are harder than what happens in the arena?

“She is a little bit like Mary, she kind of needs that to get in there in her best way, and she did that from the beginning. Like the Five Year Old class at the World Championships, she was just totally out of control, and Christoph Koschel said to me, ten more minutes Maree, and I said, let’s just get it over and done with. But she goes in there and she is fine, she knows her job and she is really good. I’ve done a bit of noise training with her, I’d like to say it was my idea, it was Stuart and Karen Tinney’s idea. We’ve sewn

an IPod into her bonnet, and I can put that on at home, playing presentation sounds, clapping and cheering, and trying to desensitize her to all the noise. We’ll see, hopefully that will help.”

Mary do you think it is going to be a big advantage to get the Australian qualification to go to the selection trials?

“If it is a rider who has already had experience in Europe, then I think it is a big advantage, you can just focus on

the important things, you won’t have to over-compete your horse to get into the trials. With competition in Europe, it’s best to go quite early, or at the last minute. For me, it is best to do as little competition as possible because my horse had such a heavy campaign for the Olympics, I would like to do a minimal campaign this time. He’s had plenty of exposure in the big events, he doesn’t need more of that, he needs to just do what is required.”

Ree, what is your strategy?

“For me, it is a huge thing to put Diamantina on a plane. It is going to cost a lot of money and I’ll be away for a long time without income. Last time I went I didn’t get on the team, so it would give me a lot of confidence to go knowing that I was already in the selection trials. She would need to do a couple of competitions, she hasn’t been there since she was a young horse. She should be right to get over there earlier and do a few small competitions in the lead up. I think it would be a huge advantage to win the selection from here…”

Well, Maree took one mighty step in that direction by winning the Grand Prix with a score of 69.894, while Mary scored her trip to Europe, via a place in the

World Cup Final in Lyon by winning the Freestyle with a score of 71.825.

Friday night at Werribee Park, it is the first leg of the Pacific League World Cup Final, and also the third of three selection events for WEG on home soil.

One Australian-based combination will automatically be selected to the ‘long list’ of eight combinations based on average scores from the Grand Prix class at three of the following four events the 2013 Australian National Dressage Championships CDI-W, the Equitana CDI-W, the Dressage Festival CDI-W and 2014 Boneo Park CDI. Nine combinations are on my starterlist for tonight, with two of them in serious contention of boarding a plane to Europe with their horse in two months time.

Maree Tomkinson has already won the

Grand Prix event in Sydney; Sheridyn Ashwood was the winner at Equitana. However, she is not here tonight and this leaves Maree and Mary Hanna as the two favourites for Werribee. Winning tonight’s Grand Prix would be a huge relief for Maree, as it would put her one step closer to that coveted automatic ‘long list spot’.

Despite the occasion only a handful of spectators can be seen in the gallery. This will work in favour of some horses tonight, my neighbour rightly points out. You can almost hear a pin drop in the arena, that is until the young guy on sound control puts on some poppy tunes. He is quickly sorted out by the Chief Steward and we are back to more subdued background music. Yet despite the poor attendance, it is nice to

see that some of the international guest judges stayed back for a glass of wine to watch the Grand Prix.

I have learned a new word today, ‘earthbound’ and after the first half of the competition I understand the meaning rather well. Yes I admit, I am a little spoilt coming freshly of the European Dressage Championships in Herning but this is a selection event and a World Cup final after all. We see a nice passage here, straight one-tempis by the next horse, some lovely transitions there, but sadly there is no test with the continuity that is required to crack the 70% mark.

Mary Hanna and Sancette are the third combination to enter the arena and I am expectantly leaning forward.

So what happened? Ute Raabe reports...


KEVIN STAUTA SHOWJUMPER WHO CARES... Story by Chris Hector &

Photos by Roz Neave

Just getting to meet up with Kevin Staut was exciting enough. For some reason our normally trusty GPS refused to admit that the road where the training centre is based actually existed.

Our phone rang, it was Kevin on the line. “Weren’t we supposed to meet half an hour ago…” “We certainly were but our GPS won’t tell us where you are…” “Where are you?” “Not sure but there is a big while marble crucifix on a stand right next to us.” “Don’t move.”

Next thing you know, a motor scooter is puttering around the corner, and a sweetly smiling Kevin Staut – who had every reason to be a little grumpy having to wait on us – was ready to show us around Haras de la Chesnaye.

Earlier in the day we had visited the breeding arm of the HDC operation, the Haras des Coudrettes, where one of the young horse trainers, Julie Gadel, had shown us around one of the most beautiful old studs we have ever visited, with paddocks filled with youngstock with mouthwatering pedigrees. Like the chestnut two-year-old colt, by Orient Express out of a Kannan mare.

Orient Express is a really exciting stallion by Quick Star, who is currently starring in the competition arena with one of the HDC riders, Patrice Delaveau, and with the WEG in Caen as the immediate aim, his breeding commitments have been severely limited.

What breeding! The colt is by Orient Express (pic opposite page) out of a mare by Kannan


Julie explains that HDC is the creation of Armand and Emmanuelle Pette. Initially the riding interest was from Mrs Pette who bought a ‘nice horse to ride’ and the interest ballooned, and when we arrived Julie was helping the daughter, Sarah, school her horse.

Julie had been recruited by Mrs Pette from Club Mediterranee, in the early days of their equine adventures. It was a good choice since Julie has helped prepare some young stars, including the current Selle Français six-year-old champion, Twenty du

Plessis (by Parco out of a For Pleasure mare) and the current five-year-old champion, Tallyne de la Pomme (Mr Blue out of a Royal Ardent mare) but it was time for our ill-fated effort to go in search of Kevin Staut, at the other HDC base… or as we were to learn, the second base, with a third under construction.

We followed Kevin and his scooter to a state-of-the-art facility – huge outdoor, huge indoor, perfectly designed stables, but Kevin explained, a new training centre was currently under construction and the Haras de la Chesnaye would become a training and sales barn, with lovely apartments available for riders who wanted to come and base and train and compete (Aussie jumpers are you listening?)

Kevin is one of the world’s top showjumpers, he is also the sort of interview that makes the journalist’s work a joy.

I was really impressed when I saw that you were going to Cambodia for Justworld International, because we don’t really think of showjumpers caring about anything except money…

“We need money to do our sport, we are fighting for the money to find some good horses, and to keep them with owners and sponsors, but yes, I had the opportunity with Justworld International to go to Cambodia. It was hard to find the time, to find five free days is not so easy because we have a competition every weekend. I had been thinking about it for a long time, and finally found some time.’

Left to Right: Kevin and Silvana at the London Games; Haras des Coudrettes - the breeding section of the group


First off the blocks was Kate Taylor-Wheat and her super cute Flowervale Florenz. Although not so eager to enter the spooky atmosphere to begin with, the chestnut gelding enjoyed a positive learning experience.

As Kate settled Florenz, Carl explained what he looks for when sourcing a new project, “First thing I look at when I buy a horse is paces rather than breeding. Beautiful parents don’t always produce beautiful children. I’m not only after the flashiest paces, but also the trainablility and rideability. How are you going to keep a big, flamboyant mover sound into Grand Prix? You want an easy mover. This horse has the first thing on the scale of training: rhythm.”

Kate had to keep her horse quite together and forward at the start but Carl wasn’t going to allow this to continue for the whole session. “Kate is quite rightly thinking of safety first. But now we want to look at where he puts his head and neck as he relaxes and becomes more rideable. Always work for relaxation. Then with more stretch his hind leg will be good. Does he look happy? I think he’s looking quite jolly. Kate, show me a rising trot and lengthen the rein,” requested Carl.

It was important that all the horses in the clinic were very easy in their stretching and Carl emphasized how important the warmup is. The horses at his own yard do about half an hour

of hacking and stretching before either he or Charlotte get in the saddle. When Florenz was resisting the stretch, Carl explained further, “He’s curling over away from your hand at the moment. He needs to stretch more. Look behind the saddle at what the tail’s doing. The tail will come up and swing side-to-side and the back will lift up. Your hand has to come more forward towards his ear, not down and his neck has to come more out. I want him to unlock himself. I don’t want the flashy movement at this stage. He shouldn’t curl over and disappear, the body should lengthen and you shouldn’t hold the whole thing together.”

The “big, floppy, weak” horse’s frame was changing during the corners and he needed to gain strength and better engagement. Leg yielding was then introduced to work on this and Carl wanted it executed in a rising trot.

“Let him feel like he doesn’t have to carry the rider and do the movement. If his quarters lead, he loses his balance. He fell out because you didn’t control it and let him run sideways. This is why dressage riders love mirrors. The little details and changes make a big difference. You don’t teach the horse to move off your leg by moving its head. You teach it from your leg. You did that well. Kate can feel when it’s right or wrong,” we were told.

Kate picked up on Carl’s way quickly and the trainer was obviously happy with the

Half way through his Masterclass at Equitana, Olympic dressage gold medalist and all-round nice guy Carl Hester remarked, “I never thought the British would be able to help the Australians. I’m quite enjoying it actually!” And help us he most certainly did, with the flair and good humour he’s become famous for.

Carl, with the help of some impressive Aussie riders and horses, took the audience on an express trip through the dressage levels, beginning with what to look for in a dressage horse through to Grand Prix.

REBECCA ASHTON CHECKS OUT CARL HESTER’S MASTERCLASS AT EQUITANA

Carl Hester with Kate Taylor-Wheat on Flowervale Florenz


result, “Now he stretches better because he works up on the bit. Such a different stretch than in the beginning. You don’t do one round and stop thinking, ‘oh I’ve made it’. Look how the muscles are now moving in his neck and back. This is a good place to finish.”

Linda Foster’s elementary level Neversfelde Samiro impressed Carl from the start with his super trot, “This is a beautiful horse. Do you know what I like? I like that I can’t hear it on the floor. The hind legs are active and under him,” enthused Carl.

Linda then tried the canter and Carl got more demanding, “At the moment he’s a bit up and down with the shoulders in the canter. He needs more reach. Although the trot is good, he’s on the forehand in the canter. Sorry, Linda, no more trot! He needs to be in a more uphill frame. Make the canter small enough so you’re thinking pirouette so he starts sitting. Look low down to the inside hind leg. He should sink here in the fetlock. Look there and not so much the front of the horse. He needs to let down in that fetlock much more.”

Carl suggested that 70-80% of Linda’s training with this horse should be at the canter as the trot was not getting him stronger.

The next focus was on lightness. “Is that your giving?” enquired the Englishman, “In England we say that’s a Scottish give, ‘cause we all know what the Scottish are like! You’re elegant with a good position, but the horse should be more on your seat and less on your hand. But don’t give everything away when you ride forward. Keep him uphill. At this point you must not override. I’d rather see the horse do a mistake. If you’re working this hard now, there’s going to be a hell of a lot of sweat at Grand Prix!”

An exercise to help the horse engage and sit better was leg yield at the canter. Still Carl wanted more sitting, “It was obedient, but not sitting. If you want scores of 70% and above, you need both.”

The risk of mistakes was not a problem, and Carl acknowledged how long it can take to get to Grand Prix and the difficulties one can encounter on the way, “If you’re a one horse owner, you know how frustrating it can be if things don’t go well. It can ruin your life, ruin your marriage. But you have to know it’s not always easy.”

Like most of the horses Carl worked with, things started to improve. The horse came lighter on the bit and showed some froth, and Carl was chuffed. However, there was still more work for Linda and it was time to tackle control in the corners, and Carl explained a helpful exercise:

“Trot up to a corner and halt before it. You have to ride the corners not just free wheel around. This is a good waiting exercise. He has to let you in and let you ride him. This is rideability. Now see if you can ride him around your leg in the corner and it doesn’t feel like the wall of death. You should be looking for the inside eye but not over flexing.”

Like the previous horse this combination finished with a long, stretching trot. Attention to detail was still required right to the end as Carl encouraged, “This is your basic stuff. You should be able to stretch him without him running forward.”

Next off the grid was Lisa Martin and First Famous. Carl was taken with the stunning mare’s athleticism; regular, engaged with a super shoulder movement, but warned that Grand Prix was a long way off. He also sympathised with us Aussies being so far away, “It’s very promising here at the moment in the lower levels. It must be very difficult living down here. You really do have to go away and train and see ‘out there’,” he advised.

It was straight into the movements with Carl reminding that each movement should have a start, a middle and an ending; preparation, maintaining the movement and then riding out of it and around the corner.

When the mare showed a difference in execution on each rein in the shoulder in, Lisa was asked to ride up the centre line, “You need to get control of the right side of the horse. You drifted about a metre to the left. Not too drunk, but a bit! You need to ride shoulder in with no bend because you’re worrying too much about the bend and it’s causing the neck to tip and twist. On the other rein, the horse is more naturally in her curve.”

When it came to travers, Lisa needed to create the angle more with her leg. The exercises, when executed correctly, improved the suppleness of the horse and hence the expression. There was then a warning about neck reining so as not to tilt the mare’s head and instead the rider was encouraged to stand up and step down through her inside stirrup more.

Carl Hester with Linda Foster on Neversfelde Samiro


As I predicted last month at Pau, Adelaide looks way classier than the French event. There is even a large crowd in place for the four-star dressage and so there should be, the setting in front of the brilliantly restored heritage grand stand is just perfect, as is the weather. The press room this year was enlivened by two Queensland ladies apparently hosted by Tourism South Australia. After asking the press officer to line up interviews with all the Queensland riders, one of them asked, what are these two sheets? Is the Cee Cee Fourteen different from the Cee Cee Twelve. Cee Cee Fourteen dressage it is from now on…

I guess the only quibble about the dressage at Adelaide might be, that as the count down to the WEG in Caen rolls on, this is surely the only ‘four’ star event with a ground jury that does not feature even one of the WEG judges (at Pau, two out of the three were WEG judges) and in truth, none of the threesome at Adelaide would be

considered for the gig, even if a couple of dozen of the world’s leading eventing judges fell under that proverbial bus. The jury for Adelaide is Ernst Topp (Germany), Vicky Brydon (Australia) and Anne Tylee (New Zealand).

Having said that, the top tests would not be out of place anywhere in the world. Shane Rose hits the lead early on Taurus, with a test that is the best I have seen him produce with the horse. More open in the neck, and that big loose, impulsive stride and wonderful rhythm. Two of the judges have them on 68 while Anne Tylee scores a 72. They end up on 69.56% or 45.7 penalties.

It takes Shane’s other ride, the big Holsteiner, CP Qualified to top that. Right from the start, the pair looked polished and confident, and that Warmblood movement really is a bonus (though it might not be tomorrow…). Just a tiny whoopsy on the final change but this is a top ten test anywhere in the world. This time all three judges top the 70%

mark, with the Kiwi on a 76.33 and the other two on a 72. Penalty scores of 39.7 and at the end of the day, they will be the only sub-40 combination, which is a reflection on the quality of the judging rather than the quality of the tests.

The second last pair of the day, Stuart Tinney and Pluto Mio, also put together a very classy test, although they lack the impressive ease of Shane and Qualified. Even a little break in the walk doesn’t hurt too much; they end up on 69.67% for 45.

Last year’s winners, Sandhills Brillaire and Craig Barrett are looking great, again it looks like a PB from where I am sitting, two 70s from the visitors, 66 from Vicky Brydon, for a 46.8 to finish just in front of Christine Bates and Adelaide Hill on 48.2.

Sonja Johnson finishes in 6th on Parkiarrup Illicit Liaison on 49.2 – once again the Australian judge is the low score, 63.67, while the Kiwi has them on 70! They cop an error of course for

ADELAIDE 3 DAY EVENT

ADELAIDE 3 DAY EVENT

Story by Christopher Hector & Photos by Roz Neave


being late into the arena. Sonja protests saying that she was looking for the clock but couldn’t see it. It is apparently on the curiously positioned big screen, curious because it is tucked away in a corner, down low, where it is almost impossible to see the movement by movement judges’ scores as they flash up. I guess the view is better on the series of screens in the VIP tent.

The judges’ scores follow the current trend of playing it safe, stick on 6 and 7, never take a risk. As Dorothy Parker admonished, it doesn’t take courage to sit on the fence, just a fat arse, and it would seem that as far as eventing dressage judging goes, we live in the age of the ample posterior. Between 2nd and 10th there is only a margin of 6 points…

Amazingly at the end of a brilliant day of cross country action, there is still only a single showjump pole between

the top six! Stuart has ridden his usual foot perfect round on Pluto Mio to pick up just 0.4 of a time fault to grab the

leader’s jacket on 45.9, while Shane and Taurus also add 0.4 for second on 46.1. Shane and Qualified are amazing, they look so slow cross country I have

a feeling that they will be crossing the finish line just in time to present at the Sunday morning trot up, but even with a

spectacular trip through the water (see Roslyn’s pix!) add just 7.2 time to their total. It just proves once again what a wonderful rider Shane is.

‘It didn’t feel so bad, but when I heard the crowd I realised it must have looked bad - but wow!’ That’s Shane’s reaction when he saw Roz Neave’s sequence of Qualified first time through the water... fine on the way out

Left: Shane Rose and CP Qualified; Above: Shane and Taurus - and yes, that is a lunatic in the pond with a video camera

Through the water - Stuart Tinney and Pluto Mio


SHOULD SHE STAY

OR SHOULD SHE GO?

PRINCESS HAYA

Ute Raabe found a range of opinions from our panel

of international experts

A kingdom for a horse? Or a perhaps a horse for a Princess? The recent General Assembly of the FEI in Montreux certainly would have delivered enough material for dear old Shakespeare to write another sequel to Richard III, this time with Princess Haya of Jordan in the lead role. First Haya put out the feelers – maybe another term, then when there was an adverse reaction… ‘oh no, I will not stand again’ – to be followed by the FEI delegates (her courtiers) begging her to re-consider. Will she like Richard ‘reluctantly’ take up the crown again? If so it would be an extraordinary comeback.

The UK’s The Telegraph reported that Haya would have to face strong calls for her resignation at the meeting. That the scandals and outrage about the horse welfare crisis in endurance sport would be her demise, despite the Princess being a strong advocate of the “FEI Clean Sport” brand.

However, the rising number of horse deaths, injuries, doping and bribery in endurance, involving her husband Sheik Mohammed among others, put Haya in a tricky conflict of interest position. If you can’t keep the needles out of your husband’s stables, how are you going to clean up the Equestrian Federation?

Yet, in Montreux a different picture presented itself. Suddenly representatives from National Federations on four continents made impassioned pleas for Haya to reverse her decision not to stand for a third term as FEI President. One hundred NF’s signed a petition requesting another extraordinary general assembly as soon as possible to amend the term of the FEI President from a two-term to a three-term reign. What an overwhelming support. It may be important to note that those passionate speeches came from the representatives of Belgium, Mauritius, Sudan, Chinese Taipei, USA and Jamaica.

Interestingly it was Belgium’s own Pierre Arnould, endurance coach and FEI committee member, who attacked the FEI failure to take serious action to clean up endurance racing only weeks before the GA. Change of heart? Notable absentees in the

100-nation vote were the likes of Germany, Britain, France, the Netherlands and Switzerland… just a few of the major players in equestrian sport.

Pippa Cuckson, journalist for The Telegraphs sums up her experience at the meeting: “I was amongst the small media presence at the FEI General Assembly in Montreux, where six of the scribblers had a total of more than 150 years experience in reporting FEI politics. The Thursday was certainly one of the most astonishing days any of us have sat through.”

“The strain on the faces of FEI senior personnel was evident earlier in the week, even in the jolly environment of the first night party where, prophetically, entertainment was provided by acrobats, fire-eaters and contortionists.”

“Yet by Thursday there was near-delirium as federations pleaded to reinstate a third term for Haya, after all. […] On the day, the federations we’d expected to pipe up changed their minds or lost their nerve. Firstly, the petition for the third presidential term, started apparently by Taipei, was signed by 100 federations out of the FEI’s 132. It would have been salutary to pitch up in Montreux, having rehearsed your ‘Ma’am, with respect it’s time for you to go’ speech but then find you have misread the mood.”

Following the speeches, Princess Haya returned to a standing ovation from delegates (Note by the author: we don’t know if Sudan, Jamaica or Mauritius applauded louder).

Princess Haya herself brought in the two-term limit in 2006, but the FEI regional chairs continue to propose a statute change. The Princess herself issued the following statement “I cannot in good conscience put aside my beliefs and the commitment I made seven years ago now that the term limit I supported applies to me.”

We have asked a few industry experts around the world to share their view.

THEGREAT

DEBATE


“Well about Haya, it is simply impossible that she stays. Even though she is only Sheik Mohammed’s second, third or fourth wife, there is certainly a conflict of interest.”

“At the recent assembly in Montreux, two things became very clear. Firstly, the weakness of all the national federations, there was not one person who put their hand up for the position. Secondly, Haya has no doubt professionalised the entire FEI. She is probably by far the most powerful president the FEI has had in recent years. The question is: Who would like to struggle against someone holding such a very strong position within the organisation and who has that much money in the background?”

Rumour has it that the only other possible candidate comes from another Arabian country, the Kingdom of Bahrain?

“It is difficult to question the ‘one vote, one nation’ principle. It is working with the United Nations, why shouldn’t it work with the sport of equestrian? However, if you look at the sport of Dressage for example, by far the most of all Grand Prix Dressage tests are held in Germany, the Netherlands and Denmark. Then you have a country like Sudan or Mauritius that also has the same vote as these countries. I am doubtful that a nation that has never produced an international athlete should come up with a candidate for the FEI presidency.”

“All the Gulf states, UAE, Qatar, Bahrain – yes they have a history of horse sport, but more so with Arabian horses and Thoroughbreds. Maybe Saudia Arabia, their showjumpers have had some great success. But they have bought their horses – which is OK - but it is not based on 100% horsemanship and a real equestrian sports tradition in the country, rather on some individuals backed by petro dollars, it is not an ideal combination.”

“We will see, time will tell.”

“I was in the possibility to ask Haya in Barcelona what would happen if the NF can not find a new president. Her answer was crystal clear. ‘There are a lot of persons in the world who can replace me as president of the FEI and I will help the NF to find these people. When I was elected I made it clear. I will go for two terms, and no more.’”

“I hope Haya will step back next year and that the FEI will find a real captain of industry to manage this organization. The question of 100 National Federations asking Haya to stay is in my eyes a sign that they do not have any idea at all (and no vision) about the future of the FEI and the equestrian sport in total. In my opinion 85% of the countries (the 100 Haya adepts) who are members of the FEI have no equestrian knowledge at all. It is time for a president that is crowned in business, and not by birth. Democracy and cooperation completed by a bright vision on the future may be expected from a businessman. For a crowned head it is easier to be a dictator, especially when she comes from a region where democracy is written with invisible ink. On the other hand, I pay my respects for the way Haya did her job and I hope she will be connected to the FEI as fundraiser. In that she is the best!”

JAN TÖNJES Editor of the

monthly German

equestrian magazine

St GEORG

JACOB MELISSEN Journalist, author and director of Springpaarden Fonds Nederland, a group founded to supply Dutch team riders with top horses

My Generous Sponsors Bates saddles for keeping me in the latest and greatest saddles on the market. The NRG Team for keeping my horse looking great from the inside out with their wonderful supplements and equine cosmetics. My horses plaits have never looked neater nor their tails shinier! KEP Italia for your stylish and unrivaled protection in head ware. I’m so pleased to be riding in your helmets, I’ve finally found a helmet that doesn’t move on my head and I can hardly notice I’m wearing it. Equine Health Science for keeping my horses joints sound and their minds calm.I sincerely thank all of you and can’t express enough how much your support means.

Wishing Everyone a very merry festive season, and a bright and prosperous 2014!

Shaun Dillon and the team at Baroona Sporthorses would like to thank the following people and companies that have supported them through out 2013….The owners of my wonderful horses, Carmen ter Rahe, Melissa Colman, Alison Dane, Paul McNamara, Sadie Hamblin. I can’t thank you enough for the privilege to ride these amazing horses! To all my students, I’m very proud of how far you’ve all come and I’m so pleased to be part of it. My vets Andrew Argyle and the staff at Wollondilly Equine. Derek Majors and the staff at Agnes Banks Equine Hospital. Thank you for always going over and beyond in order to keep my horses sound and happy and especially for your combined efforts of getting the TWO stunning foals on the ground via embryo transfer out of Kiteroa Sartoria!!!! My farriers Matt Scott and Brett Hudson. Your shoeing jobs are regularly complimented and rightfully so. A massive thank you and farewell to Cita Messchaert for being the most outstanding groom and support for me over the last 2 years. My very dear friend Katie Henderson, thank you for all your help throughout the year and supply of the best Lucerne hay around!!! Paul and Alison for allowing me to continue being based out of your stunning property and for everything you guys do for me and the worldly words of wisdom that you guys regularly enlighten me with it means a lot!

Cheers, Shaun

SHAUN DILLON

Tom McDermott would like to thank all the people who made 2013 another great year. We had many changes during 2013 - the biggest one was moving to Fernhill Estate at Mulgoa.

We would like thank our generous sponsors Fernhill Estate, Equiline, Equipe, James and Son Premium Feed, Ranvet, Trailrace Saddleworld, Tucci boots and Zilco.

Tom McDermott

For information on training and agistment packages, contact Greg McDermott on 0412 692275 or Jennie McDermott on 0412 051025 / [email protected]

www.fernhillestate.net.au


As we drive from Caen to Le Lion de Angers, the windscreen wipers are in over-drive. Oh no, last year the event was flooded out and abandoned, surely lightning – or at least thunder clouds – can’t strike twice! It’s just a drizzle as we drive through the historic village. Alas our hotel is shut – for lunch – and when we get to the competition venue, just a couple of hundred metres away, the press room is also shut. For lunch. They take their lunches seriously in France.

But the press guys are back on deck in plenty of time to give us the sheets for the trot up, good start lists, with breeding details, as you might expect for a show that has at its heart the business of breeding horses for the sport of eventing.

The once mighty national studs that dominated horse breeding in France for so long, are now fighting for their very existence, and one strategy has been to turn them into competition venues and for this they are perfectly suited. The Haras de Lion is so beautiful, not just the buildings but also the forest, and in the centre, a racecourse. It is a great spot for a three day event.

A superficial look at the entries in the six year old class reveals that Thoroughbred influence is on the wane… just three of the 43 entries are by Thoroughbred stallions. This is breeding analysis by brand, a very dangerous exercise in today’s world of performance horse breeding, as we shall see when we look a little closer.

There is only one stallion with more than one entry in the line-up, the Selle Français Jaguar Mail is the sire of two of the French entries: Takinou d’Hulm, and Tenareze, both classed as ‘Anglo-Arabe’. Let’s delve a bit.

Tenareze’s dam, Utopie du Maury is Anglo-Arab back six and more generations, just a couple of Thoroughbred and straight Arab individuals scattered some way back. The splendid

Horse Telex website gives Tenareze’s Thoroughbred and Arab blood proportion at 100%, but this is a rare instance of them not getting it right, since Jaguar Mail is only three quarters Thoroughbred, by Hand in Glove xx, out of a Laudanum xx mare, but then comes Adoret Z, who is by Almé out of a Hannoverian mare by Gotthard. This time, Horse Telex gets the percentage right 35.16% ‘blood’. Still the point is made, you can end up with a lot of Thoroughbred blood without a Thoroughbred sire.

You can also end up with a pretty fancy mover, Tenareze at the end of the first day of dressage is in the lead on 40.40, but the judges here are following the current trend of ‘safety first’, keeping the score range narrow. Not surprisingly there are a bunch of horses all with very similar scores.

Let’s try another tack, let’s see how that genius Michael Jung goes about finding star-after-star. This year he has the most gorgeous brown mare, Ricona FST, registered with the Sachsen-Thüringen studbook. She is by the Thoroughbred stallion, Ituango. Her dam,

MONDIAL DU LIONStory by Christopher Hector

& Photos by Roz Neave

The 2013 World Championships for Young Eventers

Tenareze and Thomas Carlile


I’m not sure when we first started visiting Gestüt Lindenhof, but it has long been one of our favorite spots in Germany. This time it was the first time we’d been there since Georg Theodorescu died, but there was still the same calm, civilized feel to the establishment – but of course, since Georg’s daughter, Monica is very much heir to the tradition established by her father and mother, Inge, who also died recently.

But there have been changes, ever since Monica was appointed German team coach; she has scaled back the activities at Lindenhof, although she continues to teach a number of very lucky pupils, and that list was just increased by one, when German team member, Kristina Sprehe finally decided that the drive to Hagen to the Koschels, was just too much, and she is now training with Monica.

Monica had a very pleasant start to her coaching career, achieving a gold medal at the European Championships - not surprisingly, she enjoyed the occasion…

“Herning was a nice competition to be at, often there are all sorts of restrictions, don’t go here, don’t go there, don’t do this, you are not allowed in there, but it was really nice and friendly.”

It was nice the horses at the top were all ridden in a horse friendly way…

“There are a lot of horses with quality, we are seeing more horses that are really special. You can see that it is just the form on the day that counts. The first three, four, five, could have all been good enough for a medal.”

The style of dressage has changed; there is a big difference between Salinero and Valegro…

“Of course, they are completely different horses. I think we are back to suppleness and relaxation, and definitely it is nicer to watch. I didn’t see one stressed horse there. Of course it is stress to go in such a big arena, but not in a negative way.”

To have such good competition that it was down to the last ride to decide who was going to win the medal…

“That was really good for the sport. It’s good when there is a lot of competition, and even better for us when we win. At the end it all went well for us.”

I was thinking about it, and it is nice for you as coach, because in former times, Germany was expected to win the gold medal every time, and if you didn’t it was a disaster, now you are not expected to win every championship and there is not so much pressure on you…

“As a rider in the team when everyone thought Germany was going to win, that was a lot of pressure, because you could only be so stupid as to make the team lose the gold medal. If you didn’t ride well enough, you could only be the stupid one, and no one wanted to be that stupid one who lost the gold medal. That put on a lot of pressure on. Now it is a different kind of pressure, you want to win, but you are trying your best and maybe another team is better. As long as you do your best it doesn’t mean you have lost anything. Four years ago in Windsor, we were fighting for a bronze medal. But it didn’t feel like it was before, where you felt you can’t even go out of the ring if you miss that gold medal, you can’t even go back to Germany.”

“Now sometimes the other teams are better, at Windsor it was tough to get the bronze, it could have been the Danish team. Now you don’t feel like ‘oh my god we lost a gold medal’ it is more like we did well enough to secure the bronze.”

Does it feel much different to be the coach not the rider?

“Not so different, you just feel like you want to pull on your boots and get your horse out of the stable. Otherwise, it is not so different. There is much more to do and to think about. Every word I say is so important, you can’t just say something without thinking. As a rider

Story by Chris Hector

Monica Theodorescu and the future of German Dressage…

Phot

o: S

hann

on B

rinkm

an


you are just concerned about yourself and the horse, now I have to think for a few more of them.”

Even for such an experienced rider as Isabell who made a mistake with her times at Aachen…

“Surprise, surprise, she was a horse too early. All of a sudden she said, take off the bandages, and I said to her, there is one more horse, and she said, what do you mean! No!! Yes. Where is he? Over there. I thought she would see that, and the Rolex clock, but things happen, even at Aachen when you have something in your mind.”

Is it a different dynamic that you have been recently a rider and the riders can relate to you?

“Harry Boldt had competed not so long before he became coach.”

Yours is more of a team effort, I see Jonny Hilberath up there with you in the stand and in the warm-up arena…

“Jonny is my assistant. There is much

more to do than there was in the 80s or 90s. Then it was just the team and the long-listed riders that Harry had to take care of. Now it is much more. It starts with young riders under 25; Jürgen Koschel helps with them. There are many more shows than we had before, there is much more to do than take care of a few top horses. There are the young horse championships, the selection trials for the World Young Horse Championships, the World Cups, it is a non-stop all year job now. We do more clinics, and I go to a lot of riders – I am visiting them almost every week.”

You are still riding yourself?

“I do here in the mornings when I can. I still have some students here, but less from foreign countries because I can help them here, but I can’t help them at international shows any more. I have a very good Bereiter, and she takes the young horses out, and takes care of clients’ horses. We still need to have this place running. I also have some riders who come here with a few horses for training for a couple of days. But we just have a few – not 40 like it was, that would be impossible.”

In the German system, a rider’s individual trainer can help them at a Championship – Mr Koschel was helping Kristina Sprehe at Herning…

“Of course. The horse spends most of the time in Mr Koschel’s stable, and she trains there. But I also go there before the big shows, and see how the horse is, so I am involved. Not getting to a show and ‘oh, that’s what is happening’ – then you get a problem in the communication. We have a very open communication with the riders’ own trainers, and the ones that don’t have a trainer; I have a very easy and open relationship with them. I have to know the horses, what they need, what they do, otherwise I can’t help.”

What does your selection process look like – say in the run up to the WEG?

“We will have the same trials as always, the German Championships in Balve and then Aachen. Also we consider other shows – we take notice of the top horse and rider combinations, wherever they are going: Wiesbaden, World Cup Finals.

Monica rides a display on Whisper at the Bundeschampionate, under the watchful eye of her late father, Georg Theodorescu

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Horse magazine january 2014