Rozzie Ryan's GV Bullwinkle Sold

Dressage

Australian Dressage News

Rozzie Ryan's Australian Olympic team horse GV Bullwinkle has been sold to Australian young rider Annie Simmons. The change will bring an end to the combination's four year partnership. The 17-year old GV Bullwinkle was owned by Olivia Bunn.

In 2010, former eventer Bullwinkle (aka Rocky) was sent to Ryan by his owners (Olivia Bunn and her father Peter) to be sold and so began a partnership that would see Bullwinkle and Ryan ascend to the highest levels of the sport, which included a trip to Europe where they campaigned for a position on the Australian dressage team for the London 2012 Olympic Games.

The pair was named as the team’s reserve which was an unforgettable experience for Ryan.

Following the Games, Bullwinkle returned to Australia and Ryan continued to compete the now 17 year old, but all the while the horse remained for sale.

"Rocky has been such an amazing competitor and such a generous horse throughout the four years we have been together," said Ryan. "He has been for sale since returning from the London Olympic campaign in 2012 and whilst it will be sad for Olivia, Peter and I to see him go, we are sure he will now enjoy his new role in helping to develop our future dressage talent in Australia."

The curtain may be coming down on the combination’s partnership but it is certainly not the end for crowd favourite Bullwinkle, who will continue to compete with his new owner, Annie Simmons of Queensland.

Simmons is on the National Young Rider Squad for Dressage and will keep in close contact with Ryan as she trains and competes with her new mount.

"Rocky has had an amazing competition history both in dressage and eventing, and we look forward to watching the next stage in his career," said Olivia Bunn of the horse she herself competed up to 3* eventing. "He truly is a wonderful, versatile horse and I'm sure his new owners will be very happy.”

Ryan and Bullwinkle recently secured one of eight positions in the two round dressage series that will determine Australia’s team for the 2014 World Equestrian Games. As a result of Bullwinkle’s sale this position will be offered to the second ranked combination, which is Maree Tomkinson and Diamantina.