Equestrian Australia High Performance Weekly Update – 5th July 2021

Today marks 50 days to go until the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, and less than 20 days to go until the opening ceremony of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

The first of our Australian team horses have begun their journey to the Games. Dressage will be the first equestrian discipline contested at the Olympics, and our team members are preparing for departure to Japan next week. Kelly Layne’s horse Samhitas flew from America for Germany last week to join fellow Australian team members Simone Pearce and Destano in Aachen to undergo the mandatory pre-export quarantine (PEQ). Australia based Mary Hanna and Calanta will be the very first Australian athletes to touch down in Tokyo on 13^th July, the day the Olympic Village officially opens, with Calanta currently undergoing PEQ in Melbourne before departing Australia next week.

Casebrooke Lomond, who will be ridden by Katie Laurie in the Jumping competition, has also begun the voyage from North America to Europe to join teammate Edwina Tops-Alexander and her mare Identity Vitseroel for PEQ. The remaining Australian Eventing and Jumping combinations will undergo PEQ at the Sydney International Equestrian Centre, home of the Sydney 2000 equestrian competition, and Chedington Equestrian in the UK before flying to Japan.

We continue to work closely with the Australian Olympic Committee and Paralympics Australia to ensure that all preparation is aligned with the necessary protocols and government requirements, and that the safety of our athletes and horses is not compromised during this final phase. We maintain open communication with all of our selected athletes pertaining to the safe movement of our team on the ground during the Games. Our High Performance staff continues to work tirelessly to ensure our athletes are supported throughout the journey and that they are given the best possible opportunity to pursue their podium goals at the Games. 

The Para-Equestrian Tokyo 2020 FEI qualification period closes today, 5^th July, allowing the nomination process with Paralympics Australia to commence. Currently the Tokyo 2020 Australian Paralympic Equestrian Team announcement is scheduled to take place on Saturday 10^th July.

Over the weekend five-time Driving World Champion Boyd Exell claimed victory at Royal Windsor Horse Show for an incredible 11^th time. Boyd and his team of horses competed in the CAIO4* Land Rover International Driving World Cup Qualifier Four-In-Hand competition against some of the world’s leading drivers from five nations. Royal Windsor Horse Show is the largest outdoor horse show in the UK and one of the most prestigious and important Driving events in the country, taking place this year for the first time since the Covid-19 outbreak. 

As we approach the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games competition period we will be ceasing our EA High Performance Weekly Updates for the duration of the Games. As is customary during Olympic and Paralympic Games, all official updates on the Australian Equestrian Team and their performance will be communicated directly by the Australian Olympic Committee and Paralympics Australia. Following the conclusion of the Games, we shall resume our weekly reports. 

We wish all Australian combinations a safe and successful Olympic and Paralympic journey and we look forward to watching them shine on the world stage.