The summer holiday break just went too fast!
We hope you all had some super family entertainment and rest but for us, owning a property means there is not a lot of time to relax. The horses had just a few weeks off - we don’t like to leave them too long as they take longer to bring back up to competition standard, so three weeks is about it.
The team is now back in full swing, and it was just awesome to attend Wallaby Hill Extravaganza in early February, which it is so much fun. We took a full truck and all horses were exceptional with placings in the 1.25m, 1.30m and 1.05m, so never a dull moment!
Camden Hunter Trials followed two weeks later, again with a full truck of 1*, 2* 3* and 4* horses having showjumping and cross country runs. The Bicentennial Park at Camden is looking exceptional after the rain and there are some fab new cross country jumps! All horses were again looking ready for the season coming up
Oceania here we come.
We are delighted that the Australian Senior Team for the Oceania Championships will have Stuart as the 'team leader' (English translation for Chef d’équipe!) at the Horse of the Year Show in Hastings, New Zealand from 7th - 10th March. With Stuart's knowledge and years in the sport he enjoys sharing his expertise and mastery of the sport and this year the Australian team has some new contenders from our 'next generation', which is very exciting. Kenya Wilson (WA) Oliver Barrett (NSW) Olivia Barton (NSW) and Andrew Barnett (NSW) make up the Senior Team riders with Sophia Hill (VIC) as team reserve.
They will all travel next week to Hastings, NZ to compete on the well-known Chris Ross designed CCI4*-S course. Good luck to all the team, their horses, and grooms.
Stuart has also managed to combine some eventing clinics in Western Australia with EWA Awards Night, where he was invited to present some of the eventing awards - thanks for the invite, EWA!! It is always lovely to see our Olympians still in the sport and giving back
A big April and big news
April is all about the Adelaide Equestrian Festival where Stuart is the CCI5* Assistant Course Designer and Gemma will ride in the CCI3*-L so it’s going to be a big month for The Tinney family. Being involved with the Adelaide Equestrian Festival (taking place this year from April 18th – 21st) is always a privilege and we love it!
Stuart will continue his course design education as Assistant to CCI5* designer, Mike Etherington-Smith with his plans for competing more focussed on the Melbourne International 3DE in June, where he’ll ride Kerry Blair and Alice Weller's 'Viennese' in the CCI4*-L.
Gemma however will be riding PHS Hilton (hopefully) in the CCI3*-L at Adelaide. And now some more big news, as Gemma has also made the decision to go the UK for 18 months+, something that every young ambitious eventing rider should do as Britain has the events, the competition and she wants the experience.
Of course, we will sooooo miss her - but a few trips to see her will break it up, no doubt!
Can we just take a moment to thank our amazing sponsors: BATES Saddles, CopRice, Horseland and CEVA Equine, including ECOMIST, HIDEZ and PROTEQ equine bedding.
March Calendar
MARCH: 3rd/4th: Stuart WA Course Design
MARCH: 4th/10th: Stuart Chef équipe at HOY NZ, Oceania Australian Team
MARCH 9th/10th: Sydney @ SIEC: Gemma 3* Hilton, 1* Fernhill Aisling Star
MARCH 16th/17th Canberra: Stuart with Caruso at 2* and Catfish at 95cm. Gemma at 3* with Hilton and 2* with Fernhill Aisling Star
MARCH 23rd/24th: Tamworth International Eventing (FEI) Stuart riding Viennese at 4* (back up for Gemma as above)
APRIL 6th/7th: Scone at Ellerston - ALL horses and riders!
We’ll see you out there!
