Fran Cleland
Bits: Eventers qualify, peek at Parelli ranch and win for Exell
SCARY having to qualify to compete at the Paris Olympics but our Australian eventers have done it! The team of Shenae Lowings, Kevin McNab, Andrew Hoy and Shane Rose finished in first place at the Millstreet Horse Trials in Ireland securing the Aussies entry to the Games next year.
Lowings and her OTTB Bold Venture was first individually. Andrew Hoy’s Vassily did not complete, owing to a cut leg, but is ok.
There are 16 team slots on offer for eventing at Paris, including one for host nation France.
Germany, the US, New Zealand, Britain, Ireland, Sweden and Switzerland all gained a team place at last year’s World Championships, while Poland qualified at the recent group C qualifier in Baborówko.
Two Olympic spaces were on offer in the CCIO3*-L for unqualified countries in groups F and G. Apart from Australia, Japan China and South Africa were also trying for a place.
It was confidently expected that Australia and Japan would go through. Australia did, but Japan finished third and now must try again. They have three chances. At the FEI Eventing European Championship at Pin au Haras, France, in August, October’s Pan American Games at Santiago, Chile, and the final FEI Nations Cup show at Boekelo in the Netherlands.
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WHERE will you be for the next five days?
For many the long weekend will be spent at Werribee Park watching the Melbourne International 3DE. Seeing as though it’s just 12 months out from the Paris Olympics, there’s a lot to watch.
Australian-based riders are looking to impress selectors at the event.
Following his success at Adelaide, young gun Oliver Barrett will be taking on the likes of Olympian Megan Jones, World Championship representative David Middleton and three-time Adelaide winner Hazel Shannon, in his first 4*L. All are chances for Olympic selection.
Riders from all states feature in the entries, including four from Tasmania.
Tomorrow (Thursday), the future equine prospects of eventing in the four, five and six-year-old categories of horses go before judges Barry Roycroft, Prue Barrett and Sharon Ridgeway with the champion of champions crowned in the indoor arena tomorrow night.
Sunday is cross country day with the course winding through the historic Mansion lawn and Rose Garden.
The public attending show jumping on Monday will get the opportunity to get up close with the Melbourne Cup, the Caulfield Cup and the Cox Plate at the off- the-track marquee.
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BOYD Exell’s famous black four-in-hand team had a spell last weekend while the master took his young horses to compete at the Saumur Attelage competition in France. Second after dressage and marathon but a first in cones lifted the team to first place, ahead of his great rivals Chester Weber and Bram Chardon.
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IN Canada at the Nations Cup Showjumping competition, Australia’s young showjumping team was luckless, finishing in sixth place.
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WORLD famous natural horsemanship instructor Pat Parelli has decided to relocate his operation and has put his personal ranch Pagosa Springs in south west Colorado up for sale. The property includes numerous outdoor stalls, round pens, tack rooms, wash bays, training areas, two full-size arenas, a covered training arena, a 12-stall horse barn with a tack room, and two lean-to horse stalls. It will be auctioned on June 30. Have a sticky beak here.
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THE Northern Territory Institute of Sport’s jumping team member, Denver Vivian, has been selected on the Australian Mounted Games Team.
The International Mounted Games Competition will be held in November in Sydney. Denver is a versatile and talented young rider who has also represented the NT in Polocrosse.
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PRE-SALE tickets are available now for The Man From Snowy River In Concert, where audiences will experience the beloved Australian classic on the big screen accompanied by the powerful and emotive soundtrack performed live by the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra. Special guest stars include Sigrid Thornton and Tom Burlinson. It will be performed at the Arts Centre Melbourne from August 17 to 19. More details here.
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EQUESTRIAN Australia invites members to join them for a National Health, Safety and Welfare Online Conference that will look at how to future proof Equestrian Sport over three sessions.
Anyone who has an association with horses for competition, training, coaching breeding, or business purposes is encouraged to attend.
The conference is free to EA members and students studying in the equestrian field. For all other participants the fee is $30 for the entire conference or $12.50 per session.
Session 1 (July 10): Our sport participants - supporting your health and wellbeing whilst engaging in equestrian sporting activities.
Session 2 (July 12): Our sport environment - adopting a best-practice approach within equestrian sport. The importance of developing and implementing systems to minimise the inherent risks of equestrian sporting activities.
Session 3 (July 17): Our horses - it is a privilege for humans and horses to interact. Providing a healthy and safe environment for our horses, whilst maintaining their welfare.
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