Lyndal returns to form in last outing before Rio

Olympian and Rio selected Dressage rider Lyndal Oatley has had her final outing prior to the Olympic Games competing as part of an Australian team at the FEI Nations Cup event in Aachen (GER).

Oatley joined with World Equestrian Games representative Maree Tomkinson (Diamantina 4) and Sue Hearn (Remmington) as part of Australia’s three member Dressage contingent at the event.

Riding her London 2012 Olympic horse Sandro Boy, the horse with which she will also partner with in Rio, Oatley rode to a score of 71.671% in the Grand Prix for an overall 15th position (individual). 

Oatley admits to riding conservatively at Australia’s second nomination event for Rio as her horse was coming back from an injury which forced him to miss the first selection event. With Sandro Boy’s injury well and truly behind him, Oatley said it was time to take their performance up a notch.

“Today I felt it was time to, as one friend put it, 'get my rumble back’. It was time to take a little more risk and ride with more fire. We did that and I was really happy as it was a clean, positive and smooth test. The score was back to my average score over the season. It was a great preparation ride for Nissa (Sandro Boy) before Rio.

With Australia fielding a team in the Eventing and also World Champion driver Boyd Exell competing in the Driving competition, Aachen is always a popular event for Australians and Oatley relished the support from the crowd.

“I don't get to ride In front of my home crowd, so to be able to ride in front of so many supportive Australian supporters really gave me that extra go get it as it meant a lot to see so many Aussie supporters!”

Progressing through the competition Oatley scored 70.039% in the Grand Prix Special and 72.200% in the Grand Prix Freestyle.

Sue Hearn riding Remmington achieved a score of 67.500% in the Grand Prix and Maree Tomkinson riding Diamantina rode to a score of 65.043% . 

In the team’s event Australia finished with a collective score of 274.253.