AEA Dressage with the Stars 1999

Report by Berni Saunders

Pictures by Dolly Van Zaane

Class 3    6 year old Horses -  Round 1
Sponsored by Blue Hors

Amourazaq No. 94 was ridden by her owner Claire Condos.  The thoroughbred mare is by Alfarazdq (USA) and out of a mare by Rassendyl (USA).  For me this was a nice horse with good average movement but needed to do much more and the 17th. placing in this class says that the judges were of the same mind.

No. 81 the grey mare Shimmer by the NSW Equestrian Centre based stallion Salute (imp by Saluut) and out of a mare sired by Zadkine.  One of the few greys that I have seen by Salute, Shimmer is a lovely type and was ridder by her owner Edwina Alcock.   I feel that Edwina needs to work on the mare's self carriage and lightness in order to allow her best to shine.  In this competition they cam 14th.

Northern Adonis No 95 was next and ridden by European born and trained Anna Auer.  Adonis was bred at one of Victoria's most successful performance horse stud,  Northern Warmblood Stud.  He is owned by dressage judge and much admired coach Natalie Frew and R & A Devney.  This horse has a really nice uphill canter but unfortunately failed to swing enough in the trot.  His walk also became tense which caused the judges to hold back the marks and placed him 18th.

Anne Smith's quite recently imported gelding Simply the Best was next to go.  His wonderful markings and type caused the judges to mark him top of his group of three and comment 'that he was ... simply the best'.  His workout was quite smooth and some tension spoilt the elasticity of his strides.  He is by the stallion Sao Paulo and out of a mare by Gibsy.  Anne rode her horse very well and they were rewarded for their polished performance with 4th.

Susie Duddy's 1998 Bates Young Dressage Horse of the Year No 97 Donna-Carrera was next to go, and of course everyone's expectations were high.  Susie was unable to be at this year's event due to a family commitment and so, Heath Ryan took the ride.  Donna-Carrera is by the international super star dressage sire Donnerhall from a mare by Rafael.   The mare looks a pleasure to ride ( I was also remembering Anky's remarks last year, to this effect) but occasionally lost a little rhythm in the trot.  But it was a soft and elastic display with no resistance for 2nd. spot, just three marks from Ritual.

No. 89 was next, the gelding Larapinta Ovell Baron, he is owned and ridden by Ann Leviston.  This horse is by the stallion Duell Schultz who was imported by Ralph Grosby in the early days of Australian Warmblood breeding.  His spent his final years, much loved at Ande Heggie's Warre Gunyah stud in Kinglake in Victoria.  Baron is out of a thoroughbred mare by Red Lord. The work was unbalanced and horse was on his forehand too much of the time, not much admired by those in search of a future dressage star, so the judges had him down at No 21.

The part Arab Synergy No. 91 was next.  He is ridden today by the charming Charlotte Nordgren (Scarlet to her friends)  This horse is by the NSW Arabian stallion Killibinbin Padriei from an unknown dam.  I thought this was a very sweet horse without being outstanding or spectacular.  The work was accurate and mostly correct and they were rewarded with a further chance in the second round with 8th.

Rob Clay's ride for owner Avril Williams on Bela Bartok was probably disappointing for both of them as the horse was quite unsteady and unbalanced and this highlighted a rather poor neck set.  Bartok is by the late Theo Wagner's much loved Moselfischer from a mare by Senny. They cam in at 23.

Fleur Dawkins rode her own, and Anne Smith's No 88 Sunbury Lodge Gem,  by the very well performed stallion Fame of Wondaree, owned by Cate Wallace.   Michael Klimke would have been very interested in this horse, as his sister Ingrid is having huge success with another mare purchased from Anne, Sunbury Lodge Black Pearl.  Pearl is also by Fame of Wondaree. Gem is out of a thoroughbred mare by Lime Headline.  Even the 'family association' with the breed could not bring the placing beyond the awarded 22nd.

No. 83 is next - Heatherton Park Galactic bred at Queensland's Belcam Stud and by the imported stallion Grannus ll from a thoroughbred mare by Nightfall.  Hayley Beresford (formerly from WA) rode this horse to perfection with 'ringcraft'' to burn.  Had she obeyed the curt instructions of the MC Merrilyn Hamilton-Smith, she would have found herself wedged in between two very modest movers and her horse would not been given the chance to show his extravagance.The experience that riding for one of Victoria's leading producers of performance horses - Jim & Emmie Schmul's Heatherton Park, has given Hayley,  was apparent.  Hardly a wrong step - and Galactic who has lost the sight in his right eye showed heartwarming trust and confidence in his capable rider. 3rd. placing must have pleased Hayley, the Schmul's and Ulrich Klatte who were all keen for this success.

Janet Gray who owns and rides her Heidelberg (imp) gelding with a good deal of success in Victorian dressage competitions was probably a little 'stage struck' in this huge atmosphere as Mr J Black lacked the sparkle and forward swing that is his trademark.  Well known showjumper Art Uytendaal and his wife Kerry bred this horse from a mare by another Ralph Grosby horse Atilla Rex.   They were unlucky to end up just outside the top ten on No 11.

Thoroughbred eventing horse sire, Brilliant Invader also sired No 98 Koyuna Mouse Trap.  Koyuna Stud in country Victoria was founded by Howard Clarke who is renowned for his wonderful stallions Souvenir and Supreme,  Howards son is also making his mark in the Australian performance world.  The dam is by Khalif.   Mouse Trap (why Mouse Trap??) was ridden by his owner who was not able to help the horse to overcome his lack of education.  They cam in at 16th.

Imported as a youngster by Mary Hanna, well known dressage rider from Victoria,  was the impressive stallion Rituel.   No. 105.  He is by the great German sire Weltmeyer ll and out of Erika by Wendekreiss.  This mare is also the mum of Donnerheist - I can see some family likeness!!    Mary's working pupil Iveka Vangervan was aboard and did a  good job.  I saw some irregularity in the trot and some resistance, particularly in the canter. This must have been forgiven by the judges  who had him three points high than Donna Carrera for 1st.
Right:  Iveka Van Gervan lap of honour.

After the break cam AEA Esperence who was No 103.  The gelding is by the AEA bred Edwardo Rex and the sire of the dam was not listed.  Lisa Dowling is the owner and rider of this horse and she was not able to bring out any more that good average movement, but I am sure that they will be disappointed and keen to show that they can do better. 24th.

Northern Warmblood Stud again this time with No. 90 Northern Campion by Northern Congress and from Northern Favorana.  Campion is now owned by Carol and Nadia Coghlan and ridden by Nadia.  The horse was on his forehand and out behind. and when judging potential dressage this is a serious fault.   19th. placing and some homework for Nadia.

Victorian Young dressage rider Lisa Seamer did a very creditable job on her Anglo Arab No. 84 Sienna Tailor Made.  By Hilton Park Tempest and out of a thoroughbred mare by Blazing Fury, Lisa's family and friends would have been enormously proud of her efforts.  The horse began his work with too much head movement for my liking, but it improved considerably and they came in 5th.

No 100 Make Mine Champagne himself a lovely palomino,  from a mare by the well known 'pally' Champagne Charlie and by Goldmine Soverign,  is part owned and ridden by the very popular,   former showjumping legend,  Marianne Gilchrist.  His breeder Pamela Winch has retained part ownership in this lovely gelding.   Make Mine Champagne made too many technical errors in his work, failing to produce the correct bend in travers - both ways.  This was accentuated when working with others.  Some other minor resistances would have been costly and they ended on 13th.

Stormarn Troupador No. 99 a gelding by the WA bred Barrabadeen Talent and out a Holsteiner mare by Rumplestiltskin (Holl) is owned and ridden by Sophie Germein.   The horse was not up to the standard of the better educated in this class and his canter was naughty and drifted off the line of travel.  As straightness and suppleness are much admired qualities,  it is not surprising that he failed to impress for 20th. position.

Katrina Warne rode her younger sister's new horse No 96 Glendon-Brae Shine a lovely thoroughbred by Fayaad (Ire)  and the program says that the thoroughbred mare is also by Fayaad (Ire) (so I'm not sure if that is a printers error!)  A very pretty grey (pretty greys are very much at home at the Warne's with the gorgeous Zen an outstanding dressage performer for both girls, a stablemate)  His workout was smooth and obedient and even though the canter was a bit flat a very creditable 6th was the reward.

Paparazzi No 102,   by Queensland Hannovarian stallion Graf Landau (imp) and out of a mare by Fiery Ring.  This horse was bred by The Horse Magazine's Chris Hector and ridden by owner Michelle Buckley, who has enjoyed dressage success on her Arab Az Zahran.  Paparazzi was ridden in 1998 by Heath Ryan.   In this years workout  he was a little hollow and his canter became unbalanced at times.  There were some nice moments,  and they will get another chance as they came in 9th.

Sunbury Lodge Thomas another horse bred by Anne Smith.  She has given the young owner/ rider of the horse, Renee Pedretti much of the help that produced a very pleasant picture.  Todays work was not forward enough and Thomas seemed a little resistant to the suggestion that he should do more!  This horse is another by Cate Wallace's Fame of Wondaree (Sire of Ingrid Klimke's very successful eventer Sunbury Lodge Black Pearl) and from a mare with unknown breeding. I am sure that Renee and connections would have been disappointed with the 12th just two placings away from another chance.

EGO-Gauss No 44 is a lovely deep chestnut stallion by the Belcam Stud stallion Grannus ll (imp) and out of a Hannovarian mare by Wenita.  He is owned and ridden by Gippsland based Mark Kloonan.  The horse showed lovely movement, and an excellent temperament seemed to be there, but as he was on the forehand for too much of his work, he will have to do better in round two in order to move up to top three and a ride by Mr. Klimke.  10th.

Tjandamurra had a real 'fan club' as his owners Rob Clay & Marg England are well known faces at most of Victoria's dressage competitions.  Marg England is truly legendary for her tireless support for dressage ( and her daughter Genevieve no longer rides!)  Rob Clay is based on the Mornington Peninsula and is the horse's regular rider. The horse was bred by Dennis Crane and is by the warmblood stallion Daley K from a mare with Holsteiner breeding by Ashleigh Brigadeer.  Tjandamurra is really 'up in front'  but gets a little 'tight' at times.  He made a few mistakes and the picture was spoilt by the riders hand position which was far too high.  7th position gave them a chance to re-group and come back for another try with top three aims.