Sponsored Equestrian Rider Update

Mader has recently been in touch with our sponsored equestrian rider, Abbie O’Brien. Abbie competes both her horses, Rajah and Fleur, in the sport of dressage. As some of you know she is originally from Penguin in Tasmania and now resides on the Mornington Peninsula in Victoria at the Boneo Park Equestrian Centre. Here is what she has been up to in the last few months.

 

 

What a busy few months my team has had! After a successful campaign with both Rajah and Fleur to the Australian Dressage Championships held in Sydney in October, we then had November to get organised for the last major competition of the year – the Victorian State Championships held at Werribee. I only took Rajah to this competition as I wanted to really focus on him. He is my main competition horse at the moment. Fleur is still quite young so we are taking it nice and steady with her and so chose to leave her at home for that competition.

After three days of competition, Rajah and I were named Victorian Small Tour Champions. Small Tour is the level just below Grand Prix (Olympic level), so we are definitely well on our way to one day competing at Grand Prix level together. Talk about finishing the year on a high!

I went home to Tasmania over Christmas and New Year then back to Victoria to get the horses prepared for the Boneo Classic, which was held at the end of January. Both horses competed at this event. Fleur and I were named 6yo Young Horse Champions! Rajah behaved very well also – it was a big field of professional riders and we achieved great results finishing fourth!

My next event is an event called Dressage With The Stars which is in March and also held at Werribee here in Victoria. Again we are just taking Rajah as Fleur will have another rest from this competition and I will prepare her for the next one.

Also in January the National dressage squads were announced. I am on the National Senior Recognition Squad, National Futures Recognition Squad and also the National Youth Recognition Squad. I am the only rider to be on all three squads and also the youngest rider to be named on the Senior Squad! Onwards and upwards for the rest of the year hopefully! It has certainly started off well.

We wish Abbie all the best throughout the year and are excited to be involved with such a talented young person! For those who are interested in watching a clip of Abbie competing one of her horses, Rajah, please click here. There is a password lock on the video which is "Abbie" (case sensitive). Enjoy!