Discipline: Dressage
Where you are from: Victoria, Mornington Peninsula
Who has influenced your passion for equestrian the most and why?
I am always really inspired by riders who have very good posture and can positively influence a horse’s natural way of going in a harmonious way. Watching strength and balance develop over time is very inspiring to me and highlights what can be achieved with good training. There are so many riders who can demonstrate this, but the person who has influenced by own development the most is my long-term coach Adam Riess. We have worked together for over 14 years, and I will forever be a student because I just never stop learning. I also really admire Will Rogers and enjoy learning about liberty training to really connect with the horses.
What has been your biggest riding-related accomplishment?
There have been many accomplishments that haven’t been in the competition arena, including those moments when something that I’ve been working with a horse that feels like will never be achievable, actually starts to get easier after being really difficult to begin with. I don’t think there is anything that tops that feeling, when the communication and coordination between you and the horse gets easier and you become more fluent together. But in competition, winning with Roseglen Toytown at the Victorian State Championships in the Advanced with a personal best score was definitely a highlight.
What do you do to prepare yourself for competition?
I am one of those people that has to be really organised in order to relax, so if I have enough time to prepare, I’m super cruisey at competitions. I also have a list, and a timeline order of what needs to be done by when and have to tick off the list. I always give myself a little bit of time in case things pop up. It pays to have a buffer!
What is your dream riding goal?
Just to be really good at whatever level I am at with each horse. I think that kind of frames up progression for me, so if you are good at the lower levels, you can move on to the next part of development of the horse… Then become good at that and then move on to the next part again. If you are consistently good, performances in competition are much easier to achieve in the way you hope. I’d love to compete in Europe on the International Stage, on a horse I trained myself.
Which is your favourite Johnson’s Natural Formula feed and why?
My horses love the Johnsons Fibre Safe. If I’m worried that the horses aren’t drinking enough in winter, they will get a little lunchtime fibre safe mash with a bit of stock gain in it. They slurp and drink it, and absolutely love it. Not only is it good for their gut health but also for hydration too.
