It seems that conversing about weather goes hand in hand with being in Melbourne! But after a Friday that treated us to the most miserable and wet conditions imaginable even for us Melbournians (and Melbournian hard-core eventers at that!) it was hard not to focus on the weather when writing this article (and continue to go on and on gushing in gratitude at how things changed overnight!). Suffice to say we had beautiful sunshine and clear blue skies for both days of the weekend for the Victorian Eventing Squad. Whilst it was a little wet underfoot following the deluge the day before, riders were still able to utilise the Werribee park facilities and get some valuable winter training time in.
A very young Ethan Enzinger, (pictured with YR Taylor Hague) who is only in his first year of life
but is already a regular at squad – this time Dad (Will) was is Japan but Super-Mum Emily was out coaching cross country
Out on the cross country course, Emily Anker was the instructor for most of the groups for the cross country lessons. She gave all riders lots of valuable advice and in true to form style left no rock unturned. She even went to a lot of trouble at the end of the day to take two show-jump rails out to the back of the cross country course to help a rider nail the arrowhead ... you would have to be happy with that level of dedication! Vanessa Canning also stepped in and gave a hand coaching some cross country lessons.
Em Anker out on cross country course with one of the riders
There was also a lot of talent and experience on offer from the show-jump coaches, with lessons being conducted over both days by Adam Wootten, Michelle Strapp and Paul Williams. It always helps having a follow-up session on the second day when coaches and riders can move forward on particular issues after having the initial familiarisation lesson on Saturday!
There were a few puddles around but nothing to put Michelle off her show jump coaching
This was also the case in the dressage arenas, with all members being offered two days of lessons with the same coach. For this discipline the riders were treated to sessions with Catherine Davies, Viv Axton, Scarlett Blakely or Charlotte Pederson.
Wellies were the order of the day for Adam as he got stuck into his coaching
Werribee Park was almost buzzing with activity for a non-competition weekend, with the facilities being shared with the Dressage Young Rider Program and a seminar on Sunday too. In between the training action some headed out on Saturday night for the 2013 Equestrian Victoria Awards Night and we all congratulated Teegan Ashby who was named the Eventing Young Ambassador of the Year.
All in all the weekend offered the Victorian squad members a great opportunity to dust of those winter cob-webs. Many of these combinations are into full work now preparing for the opening event of the season at Friends of Werribee in three weeks time. And who would have thought they would be doing that in bright and sunny conditions ... but as they say about the weather in Melbourne, if you don't like it, just wait a few minutes!
Article and photos with thanks to Wendy Jeffree
