Carly Heislers and Aparicio Photo courtesy Samuel Noakes
An Eventful Life filmed all competitors on cross country at
SMZ J.B. Tooradin Estate Horse Trials 2020 - order or view videos here
24-year-old Carly Heislers and her five year old off the track thoroughbred Aparicio (Mork) led from go to whoa at the SMZ JB Tooradin Estate Horse Trials in Victoria where competitors can always enjoy good going, even in the late Victorian summer conditions thanks to the sandy soil of the coastal area
“I love attending events at the lovely Tooradin Estate owned by Sally Francis, where we can always be sure of a nice sandy track, no matter the weather. I did forget the bug spray though unfortunately and got eaten by mosquitoes while jump judging!” Carly told us
Carly, a Wonthaggi Pony Club member, and Aparicio, who is owned by her uncle John Craddock had travelled from nearby Phillip Island to compete at Tooradin where Aparicio continued his winning form, finishing on their dressage score of 70 ahead of second placed Keely McGovern riding Equineaffair Enchanted and third placed Elishia Edwards riding Chilled By Choice, both on a score of 75 penalties
“I have been lucky enough to have been riding Aparicio for just over a year. He began jumping and eventing with me last year; winning the Young Event Horse at Wandin before moving up to EvA95/Grade 2 level and since then he’s won a number of events including Avenel, Wonthaggi, Pakenham and now Tooradin"
"He has barely had a dressage result under 70%, and rarely touches rails or has cross country faults so I’m super excited for his future – I’ll be hopefully stepping him up to 1*/Grade 1 after the PCV State Horse Trials Championships in a few weeks’ time” said Carly
Tracey Gorick and Callanish Emrys
Tracey Gorick and the Welsh pony Callanish Emrys also led after the dressage and, although they dropped one pole in the show jumping, they were still out in the lead of the Grade 3.1 after cross country (watch their cross country ride here) with a score of 35 ahead of Kylah Brewer and Hi Ho Tonto who took second place on 37, a few penalties ahead of the rest of the field
Kylah Brewer and Hi Ho Tonto (above ) and Lil Dean and Little G Radiant Glo (below) added a splash of colour
In Grade 3.2 Hayley Duncan and Von Ratki moved up from second after the dressage but then added nothing to that score of 33 to take the win while second placed Lil Dean and Little G Radiant Glo made an even bigger jump to move up from ninth place after dressage
The winner of Grade 4.1, Bethany James has been associated with the Tooradin Dalmore Pony Club for many years and has competed many times at the Tooradin Horse Trials but this was a special win for her
“Being a part of such a rewarding and encouraging club and the scheme of pony club, my riding journey has been nothing short of exciting” says Beth “I have competed regularly in the JB Tooradin Pony Club Horse Trials and this was my first year leading from start till finish and taking out the win. I always remember my first years competing in the event getting eliminated at the water jump every year, but the lessons it taught me were far greater than the prizes at the finish line”
“My horse, Otis, is a Clydie cross who I have owned for approximately five months and he is the most caring and sensitive soul of a horse I have ever come to own. He came from a loving family who unfortunately did not have the time for him anymore and was only ridden a couple times a year for five years after being broken as a two-year-old. We have had to develop a strong nurturing and sensitive relationship together as he found it very difficult to trust new people after being so close to one family for nearly his entire life and the irregularity of contact with humans”
“JB Tooradin Horse Trials was his first horse trials, having only had a couple of dressage events under his belt in the previous months. We had just one cross country training session prior to the event so I really did throw our trust in the deep by entering, but I guess the result showed me exactly where we were at with each other"
"Going through the water was so exciting for me as, despite his inexperience and no understanding of a water jump, he was able to place some trust in me and go right on through. What an amazing horse, he is truly one in a million”
You can see what Beth means in the video above!
Jaelina Kiley and Watch My Style
Jaelina Kiley and Watch My Style took out the Grade 4.2 (watch their cross country ride here) on their very good dressage score of 20.5 while Bree Harvey and Rathowen Sprightly won the Grade 5 on another very good dressage score of 8.5 (and we particularly the stylish pink ears on cross country!) ahead of second placed Nevaeh Waetford riding Snowy River on a score of 12.5
