After an almost three-year campaign in Europe, Australian Olympic team rider Jayden Brown has returned home to Australia. He continues to be based at his sponsor's yard, Willinga Park at Bawley Point.
Trek to Europe
With the help of his sponsor, the late Terry Snow and his wife Ginny, Jayden Brown move to Europe in the spring of 2022 in pursuit of Australian team selection.
For Brown it was not his first time in Europe. He first made headlines when he represented Australia at the 2008 Young Rider World Cup Final in Frankfurt (GER) on Widelo and at the 2013 World Young Horse Championships in Verden (GER) on San Andreas. In June 2017 Brown moved to Great Britain to work as head rider at Emma Blundell's Mount St John in Felixkirk, but returned to Australia at the beginning of 2019.
In January 2020 he was began working as head rider at Willinga Park and to maximize the rider's chances for selection for the 2022 World Championships in Herning and Paris Olympics, the Snows agreed to send Brown to Great Britain for a 2.5-year period.
The Olympic Dream
Brown was based in Gloucestershire and brought a string of horses along, including Quincy B (by Quaterback x Desperados), Sky Diamond (by Sir Donnerhall x Don Schufro), Fangio (by Flanell x Laurentio), Miana (by Franklin x Bordeaux) which he all competed internationally.
He showed at the 2022 World Young Horse Championships in Ermelo with Fangio and Miana, and represented Australia at the 2022 World Championships in Herning with Sky Diamond, finishing 41st in the Grand Prix with 69.674%. In 2024 he qualified Quincy B for the Paris Olympics, where he placed 23rd in the Grand Prix Special with 70.152%.
In Great Britain he also showed Willinga Park owned horses Tito (by Top Gear x Florencio) and Spot On (by Sezuan x Solos Carex), as well as Noblesse Oblige C&R (by Daily Diamond x Ampere) and Kasjmir V (by Jack Sparrow x Totilas) at national level.
Return Down Under
Brown is now set to return to Australia and Willinga Park.
"Ginette Snow, owner of Willinga Park, expressed her pride in Jayden’s Olympic selection. She looks forward to seeing him continue his journey at the state-of-the-art facilities Willinga Park offers," a press release stated.
Brown added, " I’m excited to be back to continue my journey and help nurture the next generation of dressage riders."
Jayden initially took 7 horses with him to the UK to train and compete with, and three will return home to Australia, one of which has been privately sold. "The horses remaining in the UK have found suitable homes to set them up for success, whether that be a continued career path or a well-deserved break," the press release read.
Photo © Astrid Appels
Related Links
Jayden Brown to Move to Great Britain in Preparation of Herning and Paris
Jayden Brown Hired as New Trainer at Willinga Park
Jayden Brown Makes U.K. Debut on Mount St. John Youngsters at 2017 CDN Myerscough
Jayden Brown to Represent Australia at the 2008 FEI Young Rider World Cup