Christopher Hector talks to Shane Rose…
Are you looking forward to the WEG in Tryon later this year?
It’s hard not to, when the horses are going so well. I’m really looking forward to the next few months…
Virgil is the one you want to be sitting on in North Carolina?
“I’m pretty confident that Virgil is the horse I want to be sitting on, over the past three or four years, he’s been on a fairly consistent upward curve. I’m now at the stage where if he can produce his best test, I am very very confident that I can finish on that. His best test is competitive at any event, on any stage.”
What does the selection process require – will you have to compete overseas?
“No, I’ve met the criteria already. The selectors have indicated that they would have liked us to do a CCI three-star or higher, a CCI in this part of the year – but the criteria said you have to have done one within the qualification period, which was from June last year, so Virgil qualified at Luhmühlen last year. I discussed it with High Performance, that my preferred option for him was to bring him back to Australia, and do CICs and One Day events in my preparation for the WEG, and they were happy with that.”
Shane and Virgil at Burghley – Trevor Holt image
“So my first proper run with him was at the Equestriad at Camden last weekend, and then the plan is for him to do One Day Events at Sydney and Melbourne, and hopefully that will get him selected – then I’d like to do a run around Camden in August – obviously I really want to do well, and I think the best preparation is an event just before we go over for the WEG, via England and on to America.”
“Basically I’m very strong in my belief that they have a window of opportunity where they can perform at their peak, and if I did an event in Europe on my way to the WEG, then I’d be compromising that window coming up to the WEG. My plan is to leave a month before the WEG, two and a half weeks in England, basically enough time to acclimatise and get over the trip – then a short trip over to the US.”
Next Shane talks about the lead-up to the WEG in Tryon
What are your training goals between now and the WEG?
“Working consistently to get that dressage test better. I’m really confident and comfortable where his trot work is at, basically the first three quarters of the test I’m really happy with. His halts have been really good and I am confident in his trot work, now it’s just keeping the consistency in his canter through ’til the end of the test when he starts to get a little tired and tight. If I can improve that, I think I can get into the lower twenties rather than the mid-twenties where he was at the weekend. I’ll be working on that canter to get so I can produce it whenever and where-ever I need to.”
Shane has been working recently with German Olympic medal winner, read Rebecca Ashton’s story – http://www.horsemagazine.com/thm/2018/03/bettina-hoy-teaching-eventers-dressage/
“You are always fine tuning the jumping phase, but he is naturally a brilliant jumper so we don’t have to focus as much on that, but there are three phases. And of course working on his soundness and his fitness…”
“The thing about Virgil is that he is very consistent in his temperament. He’s not a horse that changes at all with environment, which is pleasing after having a few that could change quite a lot, in my recent history. I know the moment I sit on him, how he is going to be on that given day. It’s nice to have that confidence that if things are going well in the week leading up that nothing is going to change if it is windy or raining, flags flapping, music playing, people moving or whatever.”
Shane and his talented home-bred, Swiper
“Obviously Virgil is my first preference, but I am very lucky that I have a very talented young horse in Swiper coming up through the ranks and showing a lot of consistency and improvement, over the last couple of years, and especially in the last couple of months. It’s great that I’ve got another horse that can do a really good test and is a great galloping jumping horse. He went so well last weekend at Camden where he was second to Virgil and hopefully he can back that up again at Sydney in the CCI***.
To see Shane’s rounds at Camden: https://www.facebook.com/search/top/?q=ridervideo
Rider Video films and produces personalised videos of cross country stages of eventing competitions. To order your cross country video, visit www.ridervideo.com
What sort of chance do you rate us at this WEG?
“I think if we can get our best four combinations to the WEG and through the WEG, then we are a very strong chance for a gold medal. Our three best scores can be as good as any other nation. Obviously Germany would go into any championships as strong favorites, but I think we’ve got three or four that can finish on scores as good as the Germans.”
Australia has a new team manager this time, what does Stuart Tinney bring to the mix?
“For me personally, we’ve had a very good close friendship over a number of years, we discuss a lot of things that relate to horses. Stuart has a great analytical mind, he’s very thorough in his processes. He has a good rapport with the people in the sport. I think the biggest thing about having Stuart involved is that he is still actively competing, he’ll be back riding after this, hoping to get to Tokyo, and it’s great to be able to discuss cross country options with him. With him such an analytical mind, that might make up for some of the short-comings at previous events, he’s very aware of tactics, and how those tactics might change as the competition develops. He’s good at making subtle changes that can become significant changes, especially in the dressage.”
Shane and Stuart, friends for many years…
Are you looking forward to going to another WEG?
“More than I have in previous campaigns. I been into a couple of campaigns where the horse might be going well, but there are certain things that make it more difficult, a horse that is a little more difficult in the dressage, or the jumping phase, or potential soundness issues, but right now, six months out I feel very very comfortable with where I am…”
Can our team rearrange things on the podium in Tryon?
