Lissa and Malin Head Clover
As the daughter of a British mother and Australian father, Lissa Green has always had the option of competing under either country’s flag and earlier this year she announced her decision to now compete under the Australian flag
Lissa’s parents are both well-known in the eventing world with her mum Lucinda a six-time Badminton winner and dad, David, an Australian Olympic eventing rider but for Lissa “To me they never seemed ‘well-known’, they were always just Mum and Dad”
“It took me a long time to understand the magnitude of both their achievements and sometimes I still find it odd associating my parents with their history in the sport” she admits “Something I do remember however, was thinking that people in general were incredibly kind. Everyone always wanted to talk to Mum and Dad, even people we didn’t know and as a child I found that particularly inspiring”
Having ‘well-known’ parents can have its drawbacks however, especially if you want to follow in their footsteps, which made Lissa wary of jumping head-on into a professional eventing career when she was younger. It wasn’t until 2012, after finishing her degree in Criminology and Forensic Science at Bristol University, that she decided she could no longer resist the pull of the sport that had played such a large part in her life
“It took a long time for me to realise this is what I wanted to do” explains Lissa “I always knew I loved creating that bond and connection with the horses and thrived on the thrill of competing. On the other hand, I was desperately trying to be fiercely independent and I didn’t want to be associated with the same path as that of my parents and being known as simply ‘the daughter of’. I knew it would be an uphill road to mimic, or even come close to their achievements and with limited funds, almost impossible. To be a failure before you have even started is never appealing”
“As it turns out, it’s worked out really well. By the time I couldn’t hide from the urge to be in this sport any longer, I had (eventually) grown up, I was much more settled with who I was, had out-grown the inevitable party lifestyle and done all I needed to do with the ‘teenage rebellion’. Although I do feel like I am playing constant catch up with my peers, riders are in this sport for the long term, so starting later I’m hoping won’t matter”
The long term now includes the possibility of riding on an Australian team and it isn’t just her father’s influence she has felt drawing her to Australia. Early visits as a young child bring back memories of her grand-parents, stuffed tarantulas and thunderstorms (“My dad hid the tarantula under his bed when a thunderstorm started as he knew I would retreat to hide there!”).
Not surprisingly the love of riding started early. Lissa and her dad, David go for a spin
Then, at the age of 18, Lissa came to live in Australia for six months
“I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. This was a huge journey for me but any worries quickly subsided when I stepped off that plane”
“During that stay I made special memories with my long-lost family and was kindly allowed (to wreak havoc I’m sure) on eventing yards with Tarsha Hammond, Shane and Nikki Rose and Sam Lyle – all of whom mean a great deal to me after their kind support whilst I was out there. I have managed to come back another four times since that big trip, always for a minimum of six weeks. I would do it yearly if the horses didn’t take up so much of my time and if the flights were a little cheaper”
One of the horses that take up so much of her time is her 2017 Badminton mount, the 15.2hh ‘bull’, Malin Head Clover (Ali G), who Lissa has built a strong partnership with, despite some ups, downs and a few broken bones
Malin Head Clover and Lissa on course at Badminton 2017
“He was dubbed dangerous by most that knew him (we did not) so our purchase set off plenty of murmurs and whispers – none of which reached us until I was lying in hospital with eight broken bones after a fall at our first competition together. After that, it looked like he was affordable for a reason and it goes to show that, when you want something, you are blind – his recent horse falls with other riders were clearly on his record, yet my brain refused to acknowledge them”
“But this horse taught me more grit and determination than any other horse could. I competed him five weeks after I escaped hospital, which included surgery to plate my chin back together. I’d decided to delay my collarbone surgery (it was still in two pieces and showing no signs of healing) because in my mind I had to ride him before the season ended. I remember a wave of fear engulfing me as I was counted down in the start box. I didn’t want to go but I told myself ‘that’s fine, you don’t have to go, but if you walk away now, then you must walk away from the sport for good’”
“This amazing little horse taught me that a true partnership far outweighs any strength a rider may have. Over the next year he slowly learnt not to bolt every time I touched the reins and we became a team. Coming through the finish flags of the most difficult Badminton in decades, with an over-grown pony that looks out of place on any ‘professional’ event yard just proved how far that little man dug for me. It reminds me that after what we ask our horses to do, they owe us nothing and we owe them everything”
Finishing their first ever Badminton - Lissa and Malin Head Clover
Despite her family’s background in the sport, Lissa has not been handed ready-made top-level horses or been bought expensive horses.
“Most horses I have ridden have been a beg, borrow or steal job or have been ‘cheap’ problem horses we have tried to turn around. Although none of the rides have catapulted me into the spotlight, I wouldn’t change any of them and I have learnt such valuable lessons from each one”
Although now 16 years old Malin Head Clover is not a character that can be retired easily “He lives for ridden work, so I am undecided whether I will aim for another 4* or save him for the fun Winter European Indoor Eventing Season” but Lissa has several other potential stars in the stable including a five-year-old La Biosthetique Sam! (more to come on Lissa’s horses soon)
One day she hopes to compete one of these horses as part of an Australian team and the decision to compete under the Australian flag wasn’t a quick or flippant one
“It’s something that has always been at the back of mind. At school I always used to support Australia in the rugby, cricket and tennis, so it never felt new to want to be further associated with the country. In reality there was no point in deciding which country to ride for until I had given myself evidence that eventing was what I truly wanted to do. I always believed it was, but I don’t think you can definitely tell until you are tested beyond your wit’s end and come out smiling the other side”
“Badminton was by no means perfect, but what it gave me on the inside was something that will keep me going for a long while. With this personal evidence and confirmation of my future within the sport, the timing felt right to bring to the forefront a decision that had been on the cards for a while. A lovely chat with Sam Griffiths showed me an insight into the Australian Eventing Team and I felt the care for each other and camaraderie between riders was something really special. This helped solidify such a huge decision, every time I think of it, it brings a smile to my face and I really look forward to the coming years”
The six-time winner Lucinda films her daughter's first entry down the famous arena at Badminton
Competing for Australia however does not mean she will no longer be taking advice from a British eventing legend; her own mum, Lucinda who has been the biggest influence in Lissa’s riding career so far
“She has the most incredible understanding of the view from the horse’s perspective and is such an advocate for not dominating them and taking away their brilliance”
And her hopes for the future?
“My short and medium-term goals are much the same. I want to keep my head down, keep continually working hard to improve every aspect of my riding and management, to carry on building my horses appropriately toward reaching the long-term goal of being contenders on the world stage”
