Rozzie Ryan and GB Bullwinkle Rocked on the Road to the Olympics

Focus

Eurodressage F.O.C.U.S.

It took one special ex-eventer just two years to transform from a 3-star eventing horse into a Grand Prix dressage mount. He not only surpassed that unique accomplisment, when he went on to land himself a spot as reserve on the Australian Olympic team. Australian Grand Prix rider Rozzie Royan and GV Bullwinkle rocked the Australian and European circuit and caught the spotlight.

"GV Bullwinkle, aka Rocky, took to dressage pretty much straight away thanks to his good upbringing," says two time reserve Olympian Rozzie Ryan. "However, at the start Rocky was quite sharp and came with a few warning labels. He is very sensitive, but turned out to be incredibly generous, and once he understands something he will try so unbelievably hard. His eventing stood him in good stead in that he is a very forward and straightforward ride. He has three good clean and clear paces and no real weakness."

Owned by the talented eventing father and daughter team, Peter and Olivia Bunn, Olivia was the first to be inspired by this 16.3H bay gelding, and Rozzie was more than happy to take the horse to the top dressage. "Olivia was an international event rider and Rocky was one of her top 3-star horses.”

Bred by Kerry Uytendaal and sired by Rocadero out of a half thoroughbred mare Springfield Action (by Atilla Rex), GV Bullwinkle was spotted by Olivia when he was a youngster.

“Olivia moved on in different directions and eventually decided to sell Rocky. She thought he would make a good dressage horse. He was originally sent to us to sell but when he did not sell immediately and then proved to be better than expected. Peter and Liv very generously gave us the chance to try for the team. I have been riding him now for nearly three years," said Ryan.

With Grand Prix percentages over 70% in the lead up to London, Rozzie only just missed a shot at taking Rocky down the Olympic centreline, but says the experience was still something she will never forget.

"The trip to London with Rocky, as team reserve, was great," she stated. "Once you got over the frustration of being reserve rider the opportunity to ride amongst the best riders in the world was very inspiring and motivating. Undoubtably the best way to learn and improve! I also think all the Australian Grand Prix riders are inspiring. Many have to train in a fairly isolated environment and everyone travels miles and often days to relatively infrequent CDIs. This does at least make you learn to prepare for specific competitions as you know there may not be another one for weeks or even months, so you get on with it despite any setbacks."

Rozzie Ryan and GV Bullwinkle Making his debut at Grand Prix just over one year ago, Rocky is "one of her all time favorite" horses and Rozzie was amazed at how well this once adrenaline fueled eventer handled the Olympic hype!

"Rocky has a really sweet and kind personality and although he can be a little spooky he is brave, has a very big heart and is very reliable. Although he is not a classic dressage horse or particularly flamboyant he has great rhythm and is very correct so even from his first start at advanced level the judges liked him and commented on these good traits. I guess when we started with him we didn’t know how good he would be, but he progressed very quickly and did his first Grand Prix in about August last year."

Bullwinkle's trip to Europe was a huge learning curve for the horse and Ryan is extremely happy that her horse responded brilliantly.

"The intensity of the training and frequent shows suited us and I could really feel him growing in confidence. Even though he didn’t get a start in the arena at Greenwich we did the arena familiarization and he felt very cool and quite at home. He really felt as if he tried 100 per cent in whatever he did. I guess the only down side to his eventing apart from a late start to straight dressage, showed up at Hoofdorp where we did a warm up surrounded by cross country fences."

Ryan remembered that she felt her horse was convinced he was there to gallop and did a test with his heart pounding. "He still did it, but we made many mistakes because of the adrenaline,” she admitted.

Taken by the horse's intelligence, Olivia also had much success with the versatile Aussie horse and says she always knew he could go further in dressage.

"I bought Rocky because he had been taught to stand on a barrel. I never saw him do it but I was told he could," said Olivia. "I also loved that he just moved so well and looked like the type that could be lean enough to event. He had not really jumped but was competing at elementary / medium level dressage when we bought him. Within 2 years and with a few PN and 1 star wins under his belt he did his first 3 star."

GV Bullwinkle's eventing highlights were winning the CIC 3 star at Tonimbuk in Victoria and coming fourth at the world cup qualifier in Sydney.

"He stopped eventing essentially because I did. I had a fall and hurt my knee at a point in time when I was finishing my MBA at Monash University," Olivia explained. "Once that was finished I went straight into full time work and the horses I guess, did the opposite. I always knew that Rozzie would be a great fit for Rocky and thought that his international talent was for dressage not eventing."

In the same time frame, two years, Bullwinkle went from a super fit event horse having only competed up to advanced dressage with Olivia to Grand Prix. "To say he is talented and trainable is an understatement," Bunn added.

Admiring Rocky so much for his work ethic and honesty, Rozzie explained that the multi-tasker is now on his way home to Australia to be sold. She hopes this is just the beginning of GV Bullwinkle’s GP career.

"I think it is great he is coming home to be sold. I really hope he finds a home where he is allowed to show how much more he still has to offer. He is relatively new to Grand Prix, so who knows what is in his future!"

by Sarah Warne for Eurodressage
Photos © Astrid Appels