New Zealand's Julie Brougham continues her march towards qualifying for the Rio Olympics after arguably the best Trans Tasman campaign by a Kiwi dressage combination in recent years. She and her 12-year-old imported chestnut Vom Feinsten staked a strong claim at the 2015 Australian Dressage Championships finishing reserve champion in the FEI Grand Prix Special CDN, third in the FEI Grand Prix CDI-W Freestyle and fifth in the FEI Grand Prix CDI-W.
The Manawatu mum was very pleased with their efforts. “I am really delighted,” she said. “We achieved something more with every test we did.”
The highlights included Vom Feinsten’s canter pirouettes and also his extended walk in all tests. “He is such a hot horse. In the past he has had tension in the walk, but this time he got on and did three really good extended walks and was rewarded mark-wise.”
Brougham is confident that as Vom Feinsten continues to mature and gain experience as a Grand Prix horse there are still better performances to come. “We were very consistent overall and in the top five in every test. We almost broke into that top group last time (in May when they were fourth in the Grand Prix at Sydney CDI) but this time we were there.”
Brougham and Vom Feinsten were standing alongside the very best of Australia’s dressage who’s who, including Mary Hanna, Brett Parbery, Maree Tomkinson, Judy Dierks and Heath Ryan. The non-Australasian component of the panel of judges – Frenchman Alban Tissot, American Janet Foy and German Peter Holler – consistently marked Vom Feinsten well.
“We need to keep on getting out in front of those top international judges . . . unfortunately we only have two CDIs a year in New Zealand so it is important for us both.”
The combination had headed to Australia on the back of a very challenging few days at Equidays where Vom Feinsten was overcome by the atmosphere and environment of the competition – his first big outing since the Farmlands Horse of the Year in March.
“Heading straight to Australia after that was a real blessing,” says Brougham. “It would have been terrible to have gone home and have no competition until next year.” And they are heading back there in January too for the Boneo Park CDI.
Brougham is the highest ranked Group G rider on the Olympic rankings and already has two of her required four scores towards her meeting the Rio selection criteria. Vom Feinsten is owned by Julie and David Brougham.
Photos © Stephen Mowbray
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