Joint interview of the Oceania Young Rider Team
The Young Rider Championship will take place during the National 3DE at the National Equestrian Centre Taupo (New-Zealand) from 15-17 May. The 2015 event incorporates the Senior and Young Rider Oceania Team Championships. Two teams of four riders and horses will represent Australia for the Championships. Prior to the departure to NZL, we were very lucky to have a chat with the four girls of the YR team - Shenae Lowings, Isabelle Bowditch-McIntyre, Teegan Ashby and Kenya Wilson - and get their impressions on the big event ahead.
1) You have been selected for the Oceania Eventing Young Rider Championship in Taupo (NZL) from 15-17 May. How do you feel about it ?
Shenae: This is my first time of being one of the combinations in contention for selection on an Australian Young Rider team, so when I received a phone call saying I had been selected I was over the moon with excitement and felt very relieved and content as all my hard work leading up to selection had paid off. I received so many congratulations from my supporters and West Australian competitors that it finally dawned on me that I and fellow team WA member Kenya Wilson will be representing the whole of Australia, which scared me just a little when I realized that all the hard work is really just about to begin. I’m looking forward to the challenge of doing my Family, Friends, Coaches, Team members and Australia proud and just can’t wait to get to Taupo amongst the Team atmosphere as travelling with the seniors will help me gain invaluable experience.
Isabelle: This is my first time representing the country on an International scale, so I am ecstatic about the news! It is just going to be such an amazing experience to travel overseas with my horse and compete in another country. I’m also excited to be given the opportunity to be part of a team, and have the support of my fellow team mates to achieve our best whilst competing.
Teegan: I am so excited about being selected to ride for Australia again. I was a member of the winning Young Rider Oceania team in Melbourne last year and I am over to moon to be given the opportunity again!
Kenya: I am not one to react very much. Some people say they don't see me nervous, I just internalise everything. I feel a mixture of emotions- excited, nervous, calm and as if the work is just beginning. I try to keep myself calm and focused on what is next... I'm looking forward to just getting on the truck and getting on my way !
2) Can you tell us about you latest good results that got you to be selected in the team ?
Shenae: The end of 2014 definitely played a huge part in my selection for the team. In October 2014 we had a great CIC event called Swan River Horse Trials, which was run at Dryandra. Venture Sky High competed fantastic through out every phase of the competition, scoring a 46.2 penalties in dressage which had us lying in first place. Jumping a clear show jumping round with only 1.6 time penalties to add to his score from XC. Finishing in First place on a total of 47.8. After that I travelled across to Camperdown VIC to compete in the CCI 2star at Lakes and Craters Three Day Event. Again Venture Sky High did a superb dressage test sitting in first place on a 45.2 penalties, jumping a clear show jumping round and clear jumping in XC, adding 9.6 time penalties to his score. We finished the competition on a score of 54.8 in first place. The final event, which would have influenced my selection was an event called Capel held in March 2015. We were sitting third after dressage on a 48.8 penalties, show jumped clear and XC very well only adding 1.6 time, finishing the competition in second place on a 50.4.
Isabelle: My best results for this year are as follows: 5th in CNC2* Scone Horse Trials in March, 4th in CIC2* Berrima Horse Trials in April. Last year I achieved 3rd in CCI2* in Quirindi in July, my local event. Grandios is going from strength to strength in competition, and I am feeling very positive about the Oceania Championships and really look forward to it. I had a fantastic ‘training’ run last weekend at Camden Equestriad. We achieved our highest dressage percentage at the 2* level, and had a positive cross country round in the mud! Great training conditions before departing to NZL!
Teegan : My horse Waitangi Password aka Princess Secrets or Secrets for short and I have had some great 1* results last year and were competitive at both Wandin and Albury in the CIC 2* classes.
Kenya: I was happy with my result at the end of last year, completing my first CCI2* at Adelaide International 3DE, placing 5th in the Young Riders. This year has started off very well for me with two personal bests of a 3rd at Capel CNC2** and a win at WAYER CIC2** which was a huge result for myself and Whinny !
3) Tell us about your horse you will be taking to NZL ?
Shenae: Venture Sky High aka Squirrel is a 16.2 hand 11 year old Warmblood X TB. He is by a Warmblood sire Northern Ariel and out of a TB mare called Chinny Chin Chin. I purchased Squirrel in 2011 as a 7 year old who had competed up to pre novice level over in NSW. Previous to Squirrel I was riding a 14 hand pony so getting on a big warmblood horse was definitely a shock. His strongest phase would easily be dressage, his presence can fill up the arena, along with his exceptional movement. The Xc phase hasn’t been the easiest for us but he is now at a stage where he feels so bold and is becoming more and more rideable, I can gallop out the start box with confidence and have fun. We have developed a very strong 4 year partnership to where we are today and he has developed into the horse that we were always hoping for and has given us so much more. Bigger and better still to come.
Isabelle: The horse I am taking to NZL is Grandios. He is a 10yo chestnut Warmblood gelding by Grand Cru and Belcam Aroma. I bought Grandios 5 years ago from Sam Lyle, who has success at EvA95 level. Grandios, more fondly known as Bobby is a very kind and willing horse who gives 100% in everything I ask of him. He is a very careful, sometimes a spooky horse, but is very brave and always answers to every demand I ask.
Teegan: The Princess (Waitangi Password) is a 2006, bay, WB x TB Mare who just stands at 15.3 hh. She is a super little horse who loves to jump, cross country is her favourite! She has been with me for 12 months now and we actually imported her from New Zealand! She will hopefully enjoy her trip back to her home country! She has had some great results at Taupo with her previous rider so hopefully she knows where she is and can perform well.
Kenya: I have had a long relationship with Whinny (Winifred Fair), getting her for my 12th birthday as a 6 year old for my first horse after having ponies. She is a 15.1½ hh Cleveland Bay Sport Horse with the biggest heart and head (physically :) and mentally ) ! She is a truley amazing little thing with the cross country being her strongest phase. She hasn't been the easiest all the way through as she can be extremely stubborn, probably to smart for her own good, and she is the dominant mare of the paddock but all this make her the horse she is with the personality to get her around the courses she is faced with.
4) How will you get prepared in the weeks coming ahead before Taupo ?
Shenae: I’m trying to treat it as a normal 3DE event, by preparing my self and my horse the best I can to give us the greatest chance to perform well. Keeping up with fitness is very important as I have heard Taupo is quite an undulating course so need to ensure Squirrel is at peak fitness. Also frequently running through my dressage test to recognize any weaknesses that need more work as well as XC and show jump training. I’m competing at a 2 day event down in Moora the weekend before we leave on the 2-3rd of May just to give us a nice confident run.
Isabelle: Leading up to departing AUS I am getting regular lessons from my two coaches; Vicki Robertson (dressage) and Ron Easey (showjumping). My dad, and main mentor, is my cross country coach and also assists in the general fitness of the horse.
Teegan : In the lead up to Taupo, my main aim is to keep her happy and healthy. She will be doing lots of fitness work and plenty of dressage lessons! She will go to a jumping show this weekend and just keep ticking along until we leave.
Kenya: I think at this stage my biggest part of preparation will be topping off our fitnesses levels, taking into consideration the fitness lost on the 4 day trip to Sydney and the flight to NZL and the rest days the horses will need in between. I will also be focusing on my dressage. I will go to Sydney to Shane Rose's stables on Thursday night and do some training and preparation before we leave for New-Zealand.
5) What do you expect in Taupo for you and the AUS team ?
Shenae: I don’t really know the two team members Isabelle and Tegan that well, but we have all been selected because we have proven our ability to perform and perform well, so we all hope it will be a successful trip. Kenya Wilson is a very good friend of mine and we work very well together and are always supporting one another. Even though I will develop a similar if not the same bond with the other team members it will be nice to have Kenya as we understand one another routines especially when is comes to xc and going through our course. Kenya and myself have both had an amazing opportunity to ride a John Nicholson course before heading over to Taupo, which is filling us with confidence and excitement, as it was such a beautiful yet challenging course and can’t wait to ride it. I do believe we have a very strong team and looking forward to being apart of it and carrying on the Australian Championship title.
Isabelle: I’m expecting Taupo to be wet! I’m aware that Taupo 3DE is the pinnacle event for NZL as it is the last major horse trials for their season, so the NZL team will be very eager to perform their best and win the Oceania championships. It will be tough competition for us.
Teegan : I would love it if both the Seniors and Young Riders could claim both titles and be Oceania Champions. It was an awesome feeling last year and I want to do it again! Individually, I would like to post a good dressage score and add no jumping penalties!
Kenya : I am very excited for the competition and can't wait to see the cross country course (my favourite part). I consider both Shenae Lowings and myself very lucky to have ridden around a John Nicholson cross country course already at WAYER CIC2** here in WA, which will give us a heads up on what to expect. Both Shenae and myself are good friends and know how each other function under pressure and work well together in preparation especially before cross country going through the jumps together. I don't know our other two team mates as well but I am looking forward to getting to know them better and I'm sure as a team we will all do our best !
6) What is your long term goal as a rider ?
Shenae: Would definitely be a top level eventing rider and eventually competing at all the major 4star tracks like Badminton, Rolex Kentucky etc. Would also love to be apart of the Australian teams in the Olympics and World Equestrian Games.
Isabelle: Most long term goals for any rider is to eventually compete at the Olympics ! It’s always been a goal of mine, but realistically I think I will be aiming for the 2018 WEG games with Grandios.
Teegan: As a rider, my long term goal is to again wear the green and gold at Olympic and World Championship level. I would also like to continue my riding, breeding, training and coaching business at Teegan Ashby Equestrian and see it grow into the future.
Kenya : A long term goal for myself would probably be to compete in Europe and one day compete for Australia at the Olympics and WEG although I would like to do this from Australia. That would be the top goal I could aim for !
7) Who is you role model in life ? A rider you admire ?
Shenae: I look up to most the top level event riders as each one of them have such incredible skills throughout all phases and have such a strong passion for the sport. I certainly look up to Sonja Johnson as she’s not only my coach but a great friend of mine who has given me so much of her knowledge and support. She has also proven that you can reach the top and be successful all the way from WA.
Isabelle: My role model is Heath Ryan. He is so dedicated and passionate about his sport, and really loves what he does. He is so approachable and friendly, and will always offer advice when you have a query or issue. If I ever become as successful as he has, I hope to attain the same attitude and approach he has, and become a role model for other up-and-coming riders, just as he has done so for me and so many other riders in the country.
Teegan: I am lucky enough to have attended the 2008 Olympic Games as well as the 2010 and 2014 World Equestrian Games and have admired many great riders but my all time favourite rider is Gillian Rolton, winner of two Olympic Gold medals with her horse Peppermint Grove. Im pretty sure her autobiography is the only book I've not only read from start to finish but read more than once!!
Kenya: I think this is one of the hardest question! There are so many talented riders with different aspects I admire. I think I look up to all the riders that have made it to 4 star level and competed for Australia with success however particularly those who have done it from Australia and Sonja Johnston who manage to do it from WA, over coming the isolation that Australia gives us on the world stage. I admire many older and more experienced riders in WA who always offer support to younger rider. However if I had to name someone it would be my Coach Stuart Tinney who has helped me a lot over the last couple years with my horses. Having the experience with many different horses so that you can not only transfer the knowledge to other riders but understand what it is that they are experiencing on that particular horse is an incredible trait that I admire ! He is amazing, he can stand on the ground and see what is happening with your horse and he is a great help both on the horse and of the horse. And also Sonja Johnson is a great inspiration as she has done it from WA which is huge since it is so fare to travel and she is also a great help at events, each day.
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