Last week, while many were bunkered down indoors with the air conditioner working overtime, keen equestrians were braving the heat to perfect their dressage skills at Yearlinga Park Equestrian Centre.
International Para Equestrian coach Mary Longden, Jindivick, Victoria, travelled to the Mid North to help SA’s Para Dressage riders prepare for the Para Dressage competition at the 2017 Boneo Classic later this month.
Clare’s Lauren French, along with Natalie Mellors, Gawler, and Noella Angel, Strathalbyn, were put through their paces by Ms Longden after deciding they needed some more training ahead of the only international Para Equestrian event in Australia.
Ms Longden was helping the riders to prepare for new international (FEI) dressage tests which she said were “harder than the last ones”.
“They have changed the freestyle and compulsory movements; but the girls are going really well,” she said.
Ms Longden – who has trained riders from across the world for international competitions such as the World Equestrian Games and the Paralympics – said it was difficult for Para Equestrians in Australia to get the competition experience required to further climb the ranks.
“In Europe and the United States they have a couple of competitions each month,” she said.
“We have Boneo.”
As well as the Para riders, number of other local riders also took the opportunity to have individual lessons with Ms Longden while she was in the region.
The Boneo Classic will be the first national Para Dressage competition for the girls, who said they were “feeling better” after their training sessions last week.
Lauren said it was daunting to be heading to Boneo – the first major Equestrian Australia competition for the three girls.
“We need to thank everyone who supports us all the time behind the scenes,” she said. “We all need a lot of help, and couldn’t do it without our supporters.”
- Help the team via their GoFundMe page, Get the Team to Boneo Classic 2017.
