What a feast for the senses ... three days of colour, entertainment, education, top class competition and a stunning collection of the best young horses which seem set to play an  important role in the future of Australian Dressage and Showjumping as we seek to take our place as a dominant force internationally.  Melbourne turned on her glorious specialty - clear sunny Autumn days, mid 20 degrees and just perfect for a horse show.

The weekend was shared with fans of "horse power" of a different kind as Melbourne played host to an international gaggle of 'petrol heads', in town, to enjoy the motor Grand Prix.  This event was immortalised at the Gold Pass end of the main arena by a huge mural  (below) which put everyone in the mood for 'high powered' fun.

Susannah Clarke introduced the guest riding judge and visiting star, German triple Olympic Gold Medallist Monica Theodorescu  (pictured right), we all looked forward to seeing her ride and listening to her informed  comments at the Saddleworld Masterclass.  Monica gave a very interesting talk and demonstration on Thursday evening, titled ...  Building Confidence.  Lighting did not allow rider pictures, so sadly I cannot share any images of Maree Tomkinson's wonderful mare Diamantina - she was sensational and a credit to Maree who campaigned in Europe with great success.

Unfortunately Monica was not well and by the end of her exhausting day on Friday, she had lost her voice and needed to stay in bed to recover. Fortunately, Danish Olympic rider Lone Jorgensen was in Victoria  giving a clinic at Boneo Park in Rye and was in the audience.  (Lone is pictured on the elegant and hot) Hardhofs Ludwig at WEG in Aachen in 2006).  Lone graciously took Saturday's Saddleworld Masterclass for Monica and we enjoyed her friendly, down to earth approach and perfect English.  I am sure Lone won many fans.

Racing Cars - the 2009 theme - what fun!

All horses were able to make a grand entrance through the PSI curtains at A

We must acknowledge the long time support from our friends at PSI (Performance Sales International), in particular Dr Ulf Möller for his personal interest and generous approach to offering advice and valuable assistance to our riders and trainers.  Ulf must be well pleased with the improvement that he saw this year. Ulf's Masterclasses are a highlight of his visits and we often get to meet horses that started their career in Germany at PSI - Ulf is pictured with the PSI logo in the background.

The Event Director Carolyn Coleby and her hard working committee and team must be congratulated for a job very well done.  I am sure that the horses, competitors, judges, scorers, volunteers, along with the grooms,  supporters, owners and spectators, all felt that the competition was conducted with them in mind. It is difficult to think of everything and keep all participants happy,  but the attention to detail that was put each and every aspect of the show ensured that this event is equal the the best in the world ... and a highlight on the Australian calendar ... not to be  missed by Dressage and Jumping fans alike.  Well done and thankyou to the scores of volunteers who make it possible to put on such a big event and  keep the costs to a minimum.

At the Inaugural AEA Dressage With the Stars back in 1998, the visiting Judge, Anky van Grunsven was faced with finding some positive points to separate the huge entries of horses which had not undertaken any qualification events and this meant that some youngsters were having their first competition start. Anky was good natured and cheerful, but commented that at times, all she could see were legs and she felt that many of the 3/4 YO, 5 YO and 6 YO horses were not produced to the standard of their European counterparts.   Anky was very impressed by the TB stallion Cool Cat and said she would  like to take him home to The Netherlands.  It was lovely to see the breathtaking son of Cool Cat, Etienne (pictured above right) so well presented and ridden by NSW professional, Carolyn Henley. Etienne is one of the second generation of DWTS placegetters, out competing and proving the worth of this event when it comes to an unmistakable. improvement in the quality of Australian horses.  Etienne also showed the importance of some Thoroughbred blood when refining the modern sporthorse - a practise which is adopted by the leading European stud books like the Hanoverian Verband who are represented locally -  Hanoverian Horse Society of Australia.

This was year 2 of the new timing for Dressage and Jumping with the Stars and the Autumn slot has given a boost to this competition as we are seeing young horses at the end of their age group year ... with much more training and experience behind them.  The timing up until 2008 was mid December,  while this got us all into the Christmas spirit, the  horses had not been able to gain much needed experience in the 3 months from August 1 when they had their official birthday and were eligible to take part.

The Dressage and Jumping Young Horse classes are the highlight of this competition but for more experienced combinations the CDI-W (World Cup Qualifier) is a very important event.  We all  missed seeing the effervescent and positive Heath Ryan who was not present with his wonderful Black stallion, Regardez Moi,  as they were about to depart for the USA to take part at the World Cup final in Las Vegas.  It was disappointing for Mary Hanna to miss this event on her up and coming star Tango V, who has recently recovered from a virus but still not up to the demands of competition. 

The Grand Prix event and the Grand Prix Kűr were won in fine style by Brett Parbery  (NSW) riding Carolyn Lieutenant's leggy bay gelding Victory Salute.  Brett's musical ride scored a sensational 74.1% and sets up interesting times as they work towards selection on the Australian team for  WEG in Kentucky next year.  When Brett rode,  the indoor arena at Werribee was too dark for photos so I made a point of catching up and asking him about the win.  He said, "We have been working on this routine for a while and with Carolyn's help it all came together very well - I am stoked!   I also have to acknowledge Prydes Feeds as Sam (Victory Salute) has never looked better and he feels fantastic.  He is fit and healthy and his diet of Prydes EasiResult ensures the energy for good quality work at this top level - thanks Prydes!"

Second place in the Grand Prix went to Victorian rider Charlotte Pedersen  on the imported Danish gelding, Come to Me. Runner-up in the Grand Prix Freestyle was Dr. Kerry Mack riding her wonderful stallion Mayfield Pzazz.. We all appreciate seeing him back in action following his long, ground breaking stem cell treatment for a lameness that did not respond to conventional cures.  It is great to see him well  ... and in such fine form. Again light was the photographers enemy, so I included a picture of Pzazz working with Christof Hess in November 2008.

The Prix St Georges and Inter 1 Freestyle classes are a glimpse into the future of the sport at the highest level ... and the sport is in great shape as we see talented combinations coming through.

The Inter 1 Freestyle was won by NSW rider Nicholas Fyffe on Jenny Rapson's beautiful Hanoverian stallion Ferrero Rocher and they placed second to Linda Foster on Mauritius in the Prix St Georges with Victorian rider Meaghan Willis on Roxbury Armistice third.
 

Talented young rider Robbie Soster from NSW won the CDI-Y on the talented imported chestnut gelding Viviano - HTML clipboard a Hanoverian registered horse by Warkant.

He has settled well for Robbie and attests her tact and skill.  Pictured right Viviano.

 

Linda Foster on Mauritius

Meaghan Willis on Roxbury Armistice

Dressage & Jumping with the Stars is more than a horse show - it is an educational experience and each of the three days gave the chance to attend a Masterclass by a world authority.  It is great to see the top riders and trainers in a lesson situation and we all appreciate the generosity of the riders who share their experiences - good and bad - with us.  Most people have some knowledge of horses and will understand that they are not driven by ego's or pride and just do what horses do!  For those who look beyond the personalities and pedigrees there are some gems and this is a few of the highlights from Monica's lesson with talented young Victorian rider Hayley Gilbert on  her imported mare Odiana K, a KWPN mare by the Dutch stallion Jazz and  has been classified into the main stud book of the HHSA.

Hayley took it all in ... and later told me that Ody was very tired after her Lesson with Monica and this meant that there was not enough 'petrol in the tank' for their PSG performance later that day.  Hayley said "I felt that two hard sessions in one day might be too much, but it is not every day that I get to have a lesson with Monica Theodorescu and so this was my priority.  Ody will be starting at Grand Prix soon and I can use the help of someone with Monica's eye and experience!"  Hayley is sponsored and supported by her mum Lyn Gilbert from The Riders' Shoppe who is always there for the sport of Dressage.

Above - Monica Theodorescu Right - Odiana K and Hayley Gilbert get some great training ideas as they move towards their first start at Grand Prix Level.

Ulf MÅ‘ller from PSI fitted a Masterclass  into his busy schedule and this was an opportunity for us to listen to the advice of a real 'Master' and to meet some sensational horses who were bred and started in Germany.
First to go was talented young rider Lilah Nieuwland and her wonderfully soft and feminine mare, Wajama, by Weltmeyer from a Trakehner mare.  Wajama was purchased from Hof Beckerode (Koschel) with help from Lilah's instructor Maree Tomkinson.This mare is a St Pr St mare (State Premium Studbook, is the English translation), which is one of the top awards given to mares in Germany and equal to the Hanoverian Elite mare award in Australia. She is registered with the HHSA and Lilah plans to do embryo transfer with her.

Ulf kept the work to simple basics and to Lilah's credit, the session went smoothly and Wajama made lots of friends in the audience.  It was easy to see the quality of paces, an alert but compliant attitude to training and beautiful soft paces - lovely work Lilah.

Second horse to go was the bay gelding WS Donatello, owned by well known identities Peter and Caroline Wagner.  WS Donatello is an Oldenberg gelding by Dormello out of a Rubenstein l mare.  He was purchased from PSI in August 2006 and has competed successfully since his arrival in Australia, with score over 70%.  He is currently working towards PSG and Ulf helped Caro with some of the work at this level.  Even so, the main focus was on the basics ... softness, straightness, achieving self carriage and lightness. Ulf showed his personable good humour and insisted that Caroline "make him straight,  like me, I am straight!"  The audience cackled and the lesson resumed.

Third horse in was the spectacular chestnut that caught  my eye in the warm-up ring on Thursday.  He has it all, good looks, a short coupled and powerful frame, spectacular movement with fancy knee action and to top it off, great colour and 4 white stockings.  He is the type that heads my 'wish list' ... this was the recent arrival to Australia Amicello Gold is a fully licensed stallion, owned by Lesley-Anne Taylor from NSW.  He was purchased at the PSI Auction at Ankum in December 2008 and is trained up to Advanced level.  Amicello Gold was approved and performance tested for breeding and sport.
Ulf did not go for fancy tricks (even though it was clear that the horse has plenty) it was the quality of the contact, the connection and straightness that were the main focus of today - I am sure that an experienced rider like Lesley-Anne will know what is needed to take this wonderful horse to the top. Congratulations - it is fantastic to see such horses here in Australia.

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