Australian Dressage team named for 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games

Equestrian Australia (EA) is pleased to announce the Australian Dressage Team for the 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games in Tryon, USA, this September.

Congratulations to the following riders;

Mary Hanna & Boogie Woogie 6

Alexis Hellyer & Bluefields Floreno

Kristy Oatley & Du Soleil

Brett Parbery & DP Weltmieser

Getting her first FEI World Equestrian Games call up for Australia, Alexis Hellyer, said she was over the moon to be headed to Tryon in September.

The 29-year-old is the youngest member of the team and will ride chestnut stallion Bluefields Floreno (owned by JJ Fuchs).

“It’s pretty amazing, I am a bit lost for words. It’s a surreal thing to have a dream and a goal come to this point at 29 years old,” said Hellyer.

“Flo is a young horse and he has an amazing attitude to work and he is super talented and we are impressed with what he is showing us so far.”

“We will grab the opportunity with both hands and run with it and make the best of it. I am so proud to be an Australian selected representative and so pleased with how far dressage has come since I started in it when I was 13,” she said.

Alexis Hellyer current FEI riding record;

https://data.fei.org/Person/Performance.aspx?personfeiid=10035280

It will be the fifth (1994, 1998, 2002 & 2014) occasion that Mary Hanna will be competing for Australia at the FEI World Equestrian Games.

At the last FEI World Equestrian Games in 2014 in Normandy, France, Hanna was bestowed with the honour of being the Australian team’s flag bearer at the Opening Ceremony.

The five-time Olympian will be campaigning at Tryon this year with Boogie Woogie 6 (owned by Mary & Rob Hanna).

Mary Hanna current FEI riding record;

https://data.fei.org/Person/Performance.aspx?personfeiid=10011352

Europe based Kristy Oatley, who has competed for her country at four Olympic Games and finished 10th for Australia in the team competition at the 2014 FEI World Equestrian Games in Normandy, is looking forward to participating after a strong year of form on the highly competitive European circuit with Du Soleil (owned by Rosalind & Robert Oatley).

Kristy Oatley current FEI riding record;

https://data.fei.org/Person/Performance.aspx?personfeiid=10011370

Australian Dressage Champion Brett Parbery is looking forward to the opportunity to compete at Tryon with his reigning Australian Grand Prix Champion DP Weltmieser (owned by Susan Duddy).

Parbery is no stranger to the WEG landscape and in Kentucky in 2010 he placed 9th in the Grand Prix Special which was the first time an Australian rider ever recorded an individual top 10 finish at a WEG.

Brett Parbery current FEI riding record;

https://data.fei.org/Person/Performance.aspx?personfeiid=10025879

Equestrian Australia’s Dressage Selection Panel Chair, Maryjane Crabtree, said;

“Team selection is based on a range of factors as outlined in the WEG 2018 Selection Policy and includes criteria as required by the FEI. These criteria include meeting key indicators such as achieving threshold scores during a set period with emphasis on recent scores, the experience of the riders and their potential to deliver, as a team, the best possible result for the team at WEG 2018. All horses also have undergone veterinary examinations and mandatory drug testing,” said Crabtree.

“For WEG 2018, riders based in Australia were given the chance to qualify on their home ground, unlike for previous major events where they were expected to campaign in Europe to be considered for selection. This initiative created a lot of interest with shows in the lead up period receiving good entries. “

“We recognise and commend the enormous effort that riders, horses, owners and connections have put into campaigning for WEG 2018 and offer our sincere thanks for their commitment to advancing Australian Dressage,” she said.

“We would also commend the relevant Organising Committees, officials and volunteers, of the shows staged in Australia for their vital part in the process.”

The Equestrian Australia Dressage Selection Panel also confirmed that two riders have been asked to hold themselves in reserve should substitutions be required.

The following riders will also be formally nominated for the 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games;

Judy Dierks & Diamond Star (owned by Vicki Newham)

Shannan Goodwin & Aristede (owned by Shannan Goodwin)

Australian Dressage Selection Policy for the 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games;

http://www.equestrian.org.au/sites/default/files/2018_WEG_Dressage_Selection_Policy.pdf

Article courtesy of Equestrian Australia