Horsezone National Talent ID Program Aims to Discover Future Winning Combinations

The Horsezone National Talent ID Program for 2012 will move into full swing in the coming weeks with the commencement of Jumping and Dressage talent identification days. Results from the nationwide search will assist in determining the 2013 National Futures Squads for all Olympic disciplines.

Identification and selection into these Futures Squads is intended to put promising combinations on the pathway to international success, and possibly discover a future World Champion combination.

The National Talent ID series and Futures Squads are supported by Horsezone.com.au which is committed to fostering equestrian talent at all levels of the sport. This year’s talent identification days will commence in October starting in Queensland.  Jumping riders with a horse aged between five and seven and Dressage riders with a horse aged between three and eight may be eligible to attend their discipline’s talent identification day (riders are encouraged to visit the EA website for further information).

For talented combinations which have the potential of reaching the highest levels of competition, a place on their discipline’s Futures Squad provides both horse and rider with an entry point into the High Performance Program which opens the door to a wide range of support services. 

As well as receiving access to national clinics which assist in tracking performance, squad members are offered veterinary, sports science and sports medicine support - measures which aim to put a promising combination on the pathway to international success.

“The National Futures Squads are a vital part of the National Pathways program as they provide riders with access to many High Performance support services and staff including the National Performance Director and National Selectors,” said High Performance Manger Brett Mace.

“It is highly likely that some of the combinations selected for the Future Squads through this series of talent identification days will be representing Australia at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio,” he added.

The 2013 Futures Squads will be chosen by each discipline’s National Performance Director and National Selectors based on a set of criteria which aims to predict future success at elite levels of competition.

Further details of the Horsezone Talent Identification Days will be made available in coming weeks.

Quick Link

• Visit the Equestrian Australia website for information on Talent ID Days