Location: Hahndorf, South Australia Discipline/s: 3 Day Eventing. Also compete dressage and showjumping First started riding: I got my first pony when I was 5 years old.
Favourite thing about riding: The connection you get with the horses when everything comes together
Current competition Horses:
Kirby Park Alofasudden 4 star Flowervale Maserati 3 star Kirby Park Invader 2 star Kirby Park Impress 2 star Kirby Park Grand Impressions 2 star
Personal training programs or approaches to a new horse, middle aged horse etc: I always like to make sure the horses are fit before they start too much schooling so they do a few weeks just on the hills trotting. The young horses get plenty of mini breaks during their training and they are not put on a strict program, I like to feel my way with them and take my time. The older horses going 1 star, as long as I have given them a really good base to work from they can go up the grades fast if they are coping but I will always take more time then less if given the choice.
Key approaches to troubleshooting some common training and horse problems within discipline: The cross country tends to be under trained by riders as it is hard to get onto courses to train. So I like to do lots of cross country training at home and I am lucky that we have a good training facility at Kirby Park. I will train narrow fences off banks and out of water using plastic drums and short rails. And I do a lot of walking over ditches and up and down banks on their own and into water. This way the horses really get to understand what the jump is they are jumping so when it gets bigger and more complicated there is no problem.
Work hard. Never give up. Have a plan. Always try to better your best. And above all keep smiling even when things are going pear shaped!!!
Barastoc feeds used: Barastoc Calm Performer Barastoc Competitor Barastoc Breed N Grow
Career highlights
Winning Adelaide CCI**** in 2005 on my home bred horse Kirby Park Irish Jester. Getting onto my first senior Australian team for the world championships in 2006 and winning a team bronze medal.
Winning a team silver and individual 4th place at the 2008 Olympic games. Being awarded the Anna Savage best and fairest award 3 times. Winning 3 out of 4 eventing world cup qualifiers in 2009 and 2010 in New Zealand and Australia.
My most memorable moment up until the Beijing games was winning the Young Riders National Championships when I was 16 years old. This was my first major win and it stuck in my mind. But after Beijing standing on the podium waiting to get my medal I was the most excited have ever been.