Australia Celebrates 100 days to go to the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games 2014

The 100-day countdown to the 2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games kicks off today and to mark the milestone occasion Equestrian Australia (EA) has released a countdown poster and is encouraging fans to join the celebration by sharing it on their Facebook walls. 

The following riders and horses feature: Top: Joann Formosa and Worldwide PB; Sam Griffiths and Paulank Brockagh (photo by Nico Morgan); Jamie Kermond and Colthaga (photo by Stephen Mowbray); Middle: Mary Hanna and Sancette (photo by Michelle Terlato); Alexandra Toft, Fassifern Vaulting, Bill Norwood and One Flashy Rooster (photo by John O’Hara); Bottom: Boyd Exell and team (photo by Franz Venhaus). 

Australia will be one of nine nations to field a team in each discipline when the World Equestrian Games gets underway in Normandy, France on 23 August.

Between now and then Australian combinations here at home and overseas will be giving it their all in a bid to secure a much coveted position on the Australian Equestrian Team.

2014 Badminton Champion Sam Griffiths has twice experienced representing Australia at major championships, recently at the London 2012 Olympic Games and in 2010 at the Kentucky World Equestrian Games. 

“To represent your country is what we all want to do. It’s the highest achievement for any Australian, and the greatest honour.

“I am always immensely proud whenever I can make a team and particularly an Australian team because it’s a strong team.

“It does differ quite a bit to Badminton because you’re very much focused on yourself, although there is a great Australian team feeling among the riders when we are at events so hopefully it won’t be too different when we get out to WEG.”

Griffiths says it is the disappointments of Games gone by that drive him to wear the green and gold once more. (In 2010 and 2012 Griffiths was eliminated after falling on cross country).

“I just try and do my best but unfortunately I haven’t got the greatest track record for Australia at the moment, but I am planning on making real amends to that.

“Now that I have represented Australia I want to personally take it to the next level of not just representing Australia but trying to win for Australia.

“Whenever I go out, I will be trying to do my best and perform really well and take it to the next level.

“We have a lot of really good riders both in Europe and back in Australia, so we have a lot of depth and good riders, so we are feeling pretty confident and strong.”

Talking about his Badminton win, Griffiths is full of praise for the horse that carried him to victory.

“Paulank Brockagh (Brocks) is just a wonderful horse. I almost get emotional talking about how hard she tries for me.

“She just has a massive heart, and when you have a horse like her which tries so hard you can do anything really.

“Brocks is just so consistent and she is getting better and better all the time. Give me a bit longer and I know I can knock a few marks off the dressage, then when I can do that she will be a horse that will be really hard to beat.”

The 2014 World Equestrian Games will take place from 23 August – 7 September. Follow the Australian team on Facebook –http://www.facebook.com/EquestrianAus and twitter - @EquestrianAus