Twenty two year old Amy Reilly from Bywong, just outside Canberra scooped the pool in the small tour at the EA Australian Youth Dressage Champions help at SIEC. She won the Dressage Qld Prix St Georges and the KEA Horse Training Inter 1 with some beautiful riding on her horse Michar…
“I train with Matthew Dowsley every two weeks and I have a home based coach in Anne Riley. I’ve had 13 year old Michar for two years. Brett Parbery found him for me. He’s originally from Denmark and had trained small tour when I got him and had done one Inter 1. We’re trying to get all our ones and things like that now. Neither of us have done it before so it’s a bit like the blind leading the blind! He’s my only horse. I’d love another but I just don’t have time.”
“I started riding when I was four and stopped when I was about 17. I finished school, went overseas and started Uni and had a couple of years off riding before going straight onto Michar. When I went to try him, Brett said, ‘Off you go!’ I was like, ‘Where are the training wheels?’”
“I’m doing a law / psych degree. I finish psych this year and have two more years left of law. It’s good because when I get sick of horses I go and study and when I get sick of study I go and ride. It balances out. There’s no time for anything else, just study and riding!”
Amy and Micar / photo: Julie Wilson
The three of you in the Inter1 all rode so nicely…
“It’s close, isn’t it? It was really good because I watched the other girls, I got off and watched the other two tests and it was so good to see such mistake free riding. Everyone’s training so hard. The quality of the tests was really good and we were all within 2% of each other. I’m really proud of the other two girls. I think they did a really good job.”
Introducing the Saddleworld Rising Star
Australia’s only Rising Star – Young Rider award recognising excellence over all three Olympic disciplines. Each monthly winner will receive a prize from the Saddleworld Range. To be eligible, riders must be under 21 on January 1, 2016.
Winners will be selected for their performances at Young Rider Championships, and will also be considered for their performances in open events.
This month’s winner, Amy Reilly, will receive a Grainge Elite Dressage Snaffle valued at $289.95 and will be in the draw to win her choice of a Pessoa Heritage Pro valued at $4,295.00 or PDS Carl Hester Euro Pro Saddle valued at $4,395.00.