Joy Charlton, Australian Dressage Judge and Selector, Passed Away

Dressage

Australia

The Australian Equestrian Community is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Joy Charlton.

Joy's contributions to equestrian sport span her entire life, and her influence on Australian Dressage has left a lasting legacy.

Rider, Judge, Selector

Charlton was inspired by revered equestrian figure Franz Mairinger back in 1953, when he came to an Australian jumping school, and was shown Super 8 vision of the Spanish Riding School in Vienna, where Mr Mairinger taught. She then knew equestrian sports was going to be her calling.

Joy was instrumental in establishing the National Judges Accreditation Scheme and was herself a respected National and International Dressage Judge for more than 35 years.

Joy's dedication to the sport of dressage was reflected in her steadfast work as a Volunteer, which saw her serve as EA Dressage Committee Vice-President and Coordinator of the EA Dressage Judges Sub-Committee throughout her career. Joy was also a Volunteer with Riding for the Disabled and was the Patron and driving force behind the Sutherland Shire Horse Owners Association.

Joy was a leading voice for the development and promotion of Australian dressage, serving as National Selector for the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games and National Selector for the Sydney 2000 Paralympic Games.

Throughout her life Joy’s commitment did not go unrecognised and she was widely decorated for her service to the Australian equestrian community.

Retirement

In May 2018 she officially retired from judging and her career was celebrated at the CDI Sydney. Charlton was given a special memento and her long list of achievements in the sport were read out to the assembled crowd during the presentation.

“It's just an honour to be able to be here tonight to see how this event has grown from when I started our first FEI weekend at Lochinvar,” she said at the time. “I just feel so proud that we started it all off, because they told me I was crazy, that we'd never get the FEI horses. But we got 21 after three years and it was just amazing. It's been an amazing career and I am going to really miss it.”

Order of Australia

In 2020 Joy was awarded the Order of Australia (AOM) for her services to equestrian sport. She was also named Equestrian Australia Volunteer of the Year in 2016 and Equestrian NSW Volunteer of the Year 2015. Joy was named the inaugural Gow Gates Dressage Person of the Year in 1991, and she was awarded an Honorary Membership from Darwin Dressage Club.

Joy will be remembered within the equestrian community as an incredible horsewoman who was always generous with her knowledge and experience.

Equestrian Australia shares the community's sorrow at this news, and our thoughts are with Joy's family at this difficult time.