MANE EVENT EQUESTRIAN SUPPLIES ARE PROUD TO ANNOUNCE THEIR SPONSORED RIDERS:

BEATRIX STEWART

Being born with a love for horses, I had my first glimpse of “dressage” at the age of 10, whilst watching “News Week” at school and seeing the amazing Granat win Olympic Gold. I decided then and there that was what I was going to do, and it started a slow burning fire of desire to do well in this sport. I was finally in a position to start riding dressage in my early 20’s with a hot Chestnut T/B registered as Static. In his first year we went from basic prelim to Medium. We would travel the 5 hrs from our Gnowangerup farm to the SEC at least 2 times a month to compete. We were also selected by Harry and Margo Boldt as members of WA’s first Talent Squad (or the Olympic Squad they called it then). Sadly our big dreams were shattered the next February with his death to a ruptured Caecum through peritonitis. I picked up again with another crazy red T/B, Bundacudgee whom again went to medium before I retired him as due to his racing career his distress with loudspeakers etc made it unfair to continue to ask any more of this beautiful horse. He liked the grounds in Albany and won many leaderboard awards, trophies and championships in both Hacking and Dressage. At the same time I had started with my first Warmblood, Joshua Brook Odindy. He was highly successful, with a swag of State Awards at every level, including the WA State Young Dressage Horse overall Champion in his first year. He represented WA as part of their dressage team in Victoria in Elementary and Medium, finishing in the top 7. Following a move from the Great Southern to Mundaring, I then started another Warmblood Nalaura’s Impact with whom I won again State Championships, 6yo Young Dressage Horse of the Year, many AWHA awards and then was asked to be part of the WA team to travel east again in his first year of competing. Sadly he suffered a freak accident in the paddock and had to be put to sleep. JB Odindy was by then training FEI when I started the beautiful young stallion Barrabadeen Class Act, who was already a champion as a yearling with the Warmblood competitions. His first outing under saddle was the State Young Dressage Horse where he took home the 4yo honours! He then went on to achieve great things again in all levels of dressage, with a cupboard full of championship rugs. The partnership travelled to NSW in 2010 and were the highest achieving WA representatives that year with a top 7 finish in the advanced tournament at the Sydney CDI. Class Act was also a regular member of the State Dressage Squad for many years. In the meantime Odindy was training GP and ready to debut at this level when he was struck down with ARG toxicity from hay purchased off property. This was a tragic end for such a successful horse. Class Act started competing FEI and in 2011 was the Swan River Champion of both PSG and Inter 1, winning the Combined Horse Transport transport to the East coast to compete. He enjoyed great success that year with 6 championship titles and leaderboard wins in WA. Following time off for major surgery this partnership finally got to compete again at the State Championships in 2013 where Class Act suffered damage to his suspensory ligament and was forced to take major time off. 2014 saw the introduction of Yetar Springs Rival to the competition arena with his first comp being at Gidgegannup where he achieved the highest percentage of the comp (75.09%). Some of this partnerships achievements in his first year include Leon Baker Classic, Novice and Elementary Champions, highest % of the championship (winner of the pearl), and both the Novice and Elementary champions at Margaret River. Rival also was the 5yo Champion Young Dressage Horse at Margaret River. This years goals include BBD Class Act competing again, having Rival more settled in his outings so that he can comfortably showcase his amazing talent and the introduction of the gorgeous and talented filly Chantilly to competition. Beatrix also stays very busy coaching some very talented horse and rider combinations which is thrilling for her to be part of other riders achievements and goals.

TRACEY BURGESS

"My love of horses started at a very young age with me stealing my Mums old one eyed horse to ride with my older sister and friends. After doing the pony club thing, Prince Phillips games and local riding in Geraldton I had a break for 10 years before the bug bit again in my late 20’s when I got my first thoroughbred, View Master. We competed up to 1.25m showjumping and elementary dressage. After being a spectator at the Adelaide International Horse Trials in 2010 my desire to compete in eventing competitions became too strong and I had to find a horse that was more suitable to this type of competition and the travel strains that came with living in Geraldton. My current horse Black Diamond who is also a TB came onto the scene in 2012 and we started travelling the 1000km round trip from Geraldton to Perth to compete, seeing us win Wooroloo 2 in the Prelim class. My desire to improve continued to grow and at the end of 2013 the decision was made to move closer to Perth to make this possible. The move has enabled me to compete more with less strain on my horses from long hours standing on a truck and to have access to regular coaching which has helped immensely and enabled us to upgrade to 1*. At the end of the 2014 season we finished second in the Equestrian WA 2014 eventing rising star awards and won the award for the highest placed 1* combination over Brigadoon 1 & 2. During 2015 my intention is to upgrade to 2* and also continue to compete in showjumping and hopefully with the help of my coach, Beatrix Stewart, start competing in official elementary dressage competitions. My ultimate goal is to compete at the Adelaide International Horse Trials initially in 2* and the after that who knows. I also have a young Warmblood/Andalusian gelding, Admiral, who commenced his ridden career in 2014. During 2014 Admiral regularly attended rallies at Gidgegannup Equestrian Association which has helped to expose him to groups of horses and has assisted with his training. In 2015 Admiral will attend a few eventing competitions and will hopefully settle into the competition scene."

KINGS TOWN WELSH COBS Riders - Paige King and Lauren King

We are thrilled to include a whole sponsored team from Kings Town Welsh Cobs, from breeding, starting and competing these guys do it all. Paige is also a well know and loved photographer around the WA show scene. Breeding Welsh Cobs from their property in the hills of Perth, they have become the breeders of choice for horses with great temperament and trainability with the movement to match. Both girls compete in breed shows, dressage and jumping with their own and clients horses. Mum, Teresa is there to help and support the whole team. Paige and Lauren have been riding for many years and enjoy campaigning their own horses as well as clients horses. Getting them used to the competition arena and giving them the best start to their ridden careers, these ladies both ride beautifully with a natural talent. Kings Town Welsh Cobs have too many accolades to their name to write here but we are sure they will continue to clean up in the competition and breeding arenas for years to come!