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Our proud Olympic history - 1996 Atlanta

 

The 1996 Olympic Games were held in very hot conditions. The Georgia International Horse Park was a wonderful venue with sheltered work areas to protect horses and riders from the sun and large misting fans worked overtime to help counter the heat and humidity.

The 1996 Australian Eventing Team of Wendy Schaeffer (Sunburst), Phillip Dutton (True Blue Girdwood), Andrew Hoy (Darien Powers) and Gillian Rolton (Peppermint Grove) dominated the Three-Day Event. Andrew Hoy (Gershwin), Nikki Bishop (Wishful Thinking) and David Green (Chatsby) rode as individuals.

The team success was not without drama. Wendy was competing despite breaking her leg just nine weeks earlier. She rode with the leg heavily strapped – a screw and plate holding the bones together.

After the dressage Australia was in 6^th position. The cross-country was big and tough. Gill had a nasty fall on the flat then remounted with a broken collarbone. Gill valiantly tackled the tough water jump only to fall again. Gill bravely finished the course but fortunately wasn't needed to ride again the next day. With three clear and fast rounds by the rest of the team Australia was in the lead by 60 points.

With just a few rails down Australia secured the Team gold. Wendy finished the highest placed team member and at just 21 years of age gained her place in the record books as the youngest woman to have won Olympic equestrian gold.  Quite an achievement for a combination that went through pony club together!

The Jumping Team consisted of Vicki Roycroft (Coalminer), Russell Johnstone (Southern Contrast), David Cooper (Red Sails) and Jenny Parlevliet (Another Flood) finished in 19^th place. Mary Hanna (Mosaic II) competed in the Dressage and finished in 24^th place.