There was never any doubt in our minds as to who our ‘Eventer of the Year’ would be for 2024.
Although, by the end of this little tribute, you’ll see that it isn’t just one person but a rider, his wife and his horse. And that rider is Shane Rose.
Shane had quite a year in 2024. It started with a bizarre episode in Australian eventing history with what became known as the ‘Mankini’ affair, where Shane went to the party dressed as an equine vet and attracted more than his fair share of attention.
Putting that behind him, Shane then zipped across the Tasman Sea to win the CCI4* at Horse of the Year Show in New Zealand, and it looked pretty much set that Shane and his 19-year-old equine partner would be winging their way to Paris in pursuit of another Olympic medal. Just days later he was lying in a hospital bed with a badly broken femur, fractured pelvis and ribs and the prospects of competing at Paris 2024 looked dim.
But Shane has overcome many adversities in the past and sure enough, one week after the accident, his thoughts had already turned to getting Olympic fit. And, as we now all know, he did it.
At Camden Horse Trials in May, Shane was out of his wheelchair and walking around the event where he told us he had ‘no doubt’ he’d be ready for the Olympics, after having had a few tentative rides on Virgil, although he did admit it was almost easier to ride than walk.
He did ride at Melbourne International 3 Day Event in June and, although he still didn’t go cross country, he proved his readiness a few weeks later by riding around a full 4* course, getting the fitness tick of approval from selectors. The final nod came when Shane and Virgil were selected as part of the team of three to compete for Australia at Paris 2024 and, although a third medal didn’t come off, this truly was an occasion when just to compete was a victory.
Having been ridden by his best friend at yet another major Championship, Virgil the wonder horse was officially retired at Sydney International 3 Day Event in November with too many accolades to list. Just some of them, according to EquiRatings are;
More international wins (16) than any other Australian horse;
Winning one in every three of his 45 international completions;
Oldest horse to win a five-star event (Adelaide 2023, age 18);
First sub-30 finish at Adelaide (28.5);
Represented Australia at four major championships, including Tokyo 2020 where he took Olympic team silver;
Plus of course, the ability to make Shane cry when he talks about him!
And let’s not forget the other person who deserves a big round of applause for her efforts in 2024 – the seemingly unflappable Niki Rose, wife, mum of four, top class rider and all round superwoman. Not only was she there every step (wheelchair rotation?) of Shane’s recovery, she also rode Virgil while Shane was unable to, keeping the veteran horse in top condition and ready to successfully compete at the Olympic Games.
Many years ago, when we were writing the book An Eventful Life – Life Stories of Eventing Champions, Niki told us that Shane’s slightly tipsy marriage proposal went along the lines of him ‘liking her more than food’ and that she was ‘on a par with beer’!
We’re guessing that Niki may have surpassed the beer now.
