Postcards from the Saddle: Emma Currie at the Qld International 3DE

Leading up to and during the 2013 Queensland International Three Day Event, being held on 21-24 March in Warwick, young eventer Emma Currie, is kindly blogging for Horsezone...

24 March

Natalie Blundell and Algebra - winners of the three star class

The winners of the Over the Top State of Origin event - Team NSW

EVA 80cm winner - Rebel Morrow riding Warrego Whiskey - and placegetters

Wow, what a weekend! We are very lucky that we had good weather for the event (a tad hot though), as the rain held off until the event finished (thank you Mother Nature)! Unfortunately I have to make this quick as I am very behind on school work and frantically studying in the truck on the way home from the Queensland International Three Day Event.

This weekend was a success with a number of competitive and high level riders contesting the Queensland stage. Each day was run efficiently with competition, entertainment, trade stalls and quality food and drinks to keep riders and spectators happy over the three days.

The grounds looked absolutely fantastic and the effort that the team behind the Queensland International went to, was dually noticed by the quality and presentation of the Morgan Park grounds.

There were just enough challenges on course to cause shifts in classes and test combinations, however, each grade was fair and suited to the level that the horse and rider combinations were entered in. The showjumping was well run, with two lovely presented rings to accommodate for the 200+ horses.

I do however have some sad news to report....

New South Wales has beaten Queensland in the Over the Top State of Origin! The team takes home the inaugural trophy and bragging rights, as well as the prize money! Congratulations to the NSW team, led by Natalie Blundell.

However fellow Queenslanders, do not lose hope as the blues only won by . 5 of a penalty! Next year will be our year. As a friend said this afternoon at presentation
"as long as this isn't a turn in the tables and they don't win it for seven years straight, we will be fine."

Overall the Queensland International Three Day Event was a successful weekend. I, on behalf of the riders would like to say an enormous "Thank You" to all of the team behind the event including committee members, officials, volunteers, trade-stall exhibitors, photographers, spectators and of course the very generous sponsors of the event.

Congratulations to all riders on a fabulous weekend of eventing!

Thank you to all the Horsezone readers for your support!

Happy Riding,
Emma

A full wrap up of results to sixth in each class :

CIC 3*
1st - Natalie Blundell and Algebra
2nd -Kirsty Douglas and Cushavon Crackerjack
3rd- Natalie Siiankowski and Smart Show
4th-Isabel English and Feldale Mouse
5th-Kate Rogers and Papas Dream
6th- Eleanor Osborne and Mighty High

CCI 2*
1st- Stuart Tinney and Sydney
2nd-Maddison Simpson and Major James
3rd-Hayley Frelick and Bentleigh Oliver

CCI 1*
1st- Natalie Blundell and Girl With A Curl
2nd- Stuart Tinney and War Hawk
3rd-Natalie Blundell and My Aladdin
4th-Emily Hann and Canopy Grove Dimini
5th-Mathew Constance and Alchemist
6th-Brianne Heffernan and Keanu Surprise

CCN Senior Pre Novice
1st- Dean Morris and Ajax
2nd- Monique Searle and Jawarra Faith Hill
3rd-Luke Harmer and Ricochet
4th-Jess Somerfield and Goron Toron Rockstar
5th-Eleanor Osborne and Highborne Rocker
6th- Sheridan Sullivan and Kelcyn Princess

CCN Junior Pre Novice
1st- Maddison Simpson and Tiraumea Coachman
2nd- Chelsea Balcomb and Valley King
3rd-Laura Gilbert and Wilton
4th-Isabella Wilkinson McIntyre and Narrawah Park Wild Rose
5th-Isabel English and Ba Zinga Bing
6th-Caitlin Bucknell and Lord Elmilio

EVA 95cm (div a)
1st- John Healy and Highly Confidential
2nd- Hannah Lewindon and Veretti
3rd-Jennifer Kinsella and Kelecyn Bam Bam
4th-Sarah Corr and Cushavon Ego Magic
5th-Shane Eden and Edenvale Joshua
6th-Stephanie McKay and Monte Argo

EVA 95cm (div b )
1st- Madison Simpson and Fairbanks Cest La Vie
2nd- Terri Kolb and Leo De Janeiro
3rd-Jessica Robbins and Harpo Max
4th-Brieanna Jameson and Handy Andy
5th-Ashley Reid and Mr Giggles
6th-Jo Morris and Spinney Harlequin

EVA 80cm (div a)
1st- Rebel Morrow and Warrego Whiskey
2nd- Emma Taylor and Just My Style
3rd-Lee Brown and Koyuna Sorceress
4th- Dean Morris and Angel
5th- Megan Cooper and Toby
6th-Mary Bates and Nandawar Makalu

EVA 80cm (div b)
1st- Brianne Evans Gumm and Belcam Claire Scarlett
2nd- Jess Somerfield and Sharellen Gambol
3rd-Luke Harmer and Miss Ginabe
4th-Charlotte Price and Cushavon Jitters
5th-Alsion Denny and Mr De Lago
6th-Mattea Davidson and Diva D

23 March

The 10 Minute Box

Nicholas Ballard riding Icarus Conaire in the Eva 80cm supporting Breast Cancer - proving that real men wear pink!

As the final day of competition gets underway at the Qld International 3DE, Leaders in the 3* Natalie Blundell and her horse Algebra are accepted in this morning's trot up

Cross country day has to be my favourite day in eventing. The adrenalin rush that runs through the horses and riders, the triumphs and the tantrums and of course the holding and shifting of results. 

Today for me was spent in between the 10 minute box and tacking horses up. Needless to say I am suitably smelly (odur de equine) and a little tired. After working in the 10 minute box at Adelaide, it has to be one of my favourite areas to groom in. The action and excitement is intense, the riders come back from the course (hopefully) thrilled with their ride, and with lots to report. The cooling down of the horses is a fast process with people buzzing around and everyone knows their exact jobs. Of course if your team is lacking in numbers there is almost always a group of people that are willing to jump in and help out. The atmosphere is generally electric. I have to say its a bit disappointing not getting to be a rider this weekend, however, I have loved grooming. It's the best feeling when the rider you are working for comes home happy, when you all get in and work to cool the horse down and the whole 'team' just comes together. This is the best feeling because you know that in some way you have contributed. 

Today saw not a huge shift in the CIC 3* placings with Natile Blundell and Algebra holding onto their first place position, Kirsty Douglas and Cushavon Crackerjack sitting in second. Natile Siiankowski and Smart Show Off have moved up from fifth to third, only 1.5 penalties behind Kirsty. 

Stuart Tinney and Sydney hold their position in the CCI 2* with Debbie Kopp and King Tim sitting in 2nd. Maddison Simpson and Major James moved from 4th to 3rd after cross country. 

In the Altech CCI 1* Natalie Blundell took Stuart and My Thai's first place position. Natalie's Girl With A Curl takes second and Stuart Tinney and War Hawk third. 

Queensland rider Dean Morris and Ajax stay in first position in the senior pre novice with Luke Harmer and the scopey grey horse Ricochet in second.  Jess Somerfield and Juilanne Broadbent's Goron Toron Rockstar move from 8th in the dressage to 3rd following cross country. 

In the junior pre novice Madison Simpson takes the lead riding Tarremeau Coachman, Chelsea Balcomb and Valley King take second and Isabel English and Back Zinga Bing take third. 

Currently in the Over the Top State of Origin the Mighty Maroons hold the lead over the Blues!

The puissance showjumping was held tonight and I have to say it was an interesting event with riders bidding to take items of clothing off to stay competitive. At the prime height of 1.6m Helidon rider Gemma Creighton took home the $500 winner's prize. 

Trot up begins at 8.30am tomorrow and then for the showjumping which is indeed the decider of the event! Will it be QLD or NSW taking home the $5000 prize and inaugural bragging rights? 

I'll be back to give you the final wrap up from the event.

View all Emma's photos

22 March

Day 1 of competition has come to an end and what a day it was! 

A number of competitive combinations took centre stage today, with team Nalgebra - Nat Blundell's lovely grey horse Algebra taking the leading position in the Davcar horse floats CIC 3* on 49.30 penalties. Not far behind in second is Kirsty Douglas and Cushavon Crackerjack on 51.30 penalties followed by Hannah Walls and Qubec NZPH on 52.50 penalties. 

The Saddleworld  CCI 2* although  a small class, is competitive with  two Olympians, Rebel Morrow and Stuart Tinney. Tinney taking prime position on 50 penalties riding the flashy chestnut Sydney and Debbie Kopps King Tim sits on equal penalties to Stuart. Hillgrove Enviable and Rebel Morrow sit in third position on 56.10 penalties. 

The Altech CCI  1* sees Stuart sitting in first on My Thai, both Nat Blundell's horses sitting in second and Rebel Morrow .6 behind in 4th position. 

The Queenslanders are dominating the Snr Pre Novice with Dean Morris and John Healy's Ajax leading in front of my personal favourite horses - Highborne Rocker and rider Eleanor Osborne and Alice Coopers Salamanca in third. 

Talented young rider Isabel English leads the Jnr Pre Novice on Croyden Park Dancer, Celtic Giligan and Elizabeth Ballard in second and Isabella Wilkinson McIntyre closely behind is Nawarrah Park Wild Rose in third. 

21 March

Emma and fellow blogger, Sheridan Sullivan, at the Riders Dinner

Arenas all ready to go!

Usually the afternoon before dressage would consist of madly plaiting and working horses. Today I arrived late, missed trot up and did absolutely none of the above. 

For those of you who didn't read my last blog, unfortunately my horse injured himself in the 1* at Armidale last weekend. Therefore instead of competing this weekend I am reporter, groom (both horse and social), photographer, chef, errand runner and keen to do any other job that might come my way.

If you're wondering what a social groom is, I like to think of it as the person who makes sure everyone is in high spirits, that they are wearing the right attire before entering the arena, finds the positives in the negative situations, dusts people off if the event of fall and makes sure everyone is adequately feed and watered! 

Today trot up was held, besides the vetrinary and soundness element of the inspection - a fashion element has been introduced... Unfortunately I missed the fashions of the field today, but from what I hear the standard of dress was high and classy in true eventing fashion! So I will be sure to include updates and photos of the second inspection to be held Sunday morning. 

Besides trot up, arena familiarisation occurred with the pre novice to 3* riders taking advantage of the opportunity to ride in and around the competition arenas, which look absolutely amazing. I won't spoil all the surprises just yet but I had a look at some of the cross country fences today and there are some very exciting jumps on course!

Riders welcome dinner is on tonight and I've snuck down to the truck to quickly bring you this blog and then head back up there and be social.

All for now, and I will be sure to include more photos over the next few days. 

Good luck to all competitors, 

GO QUEENSLAND!

View photos in the photo gallery

19 March

Emma and Sunny at the vet clinic

Uh, what a horrible weekend! 

Of course in true equestrian spirit, as soon as you think you have an outstanding plan - a great big, giant ,huge road block stops you from completing what you dreamt of and worked towards.

Sunny was being an absolute gem  in the 1* cross country at Armidale on Sunday. Completing all of the most difficult fences on course with ease. 

I got to fence 15 which was a large vertical downhill, 1 stride to a ditch (a coffin like fence) where Sunny stifled himself on the first element. 

I cantered off for a few strides before pulling him up, retiring and walking home.  The Vet at Armidale was fantastic, acting promptly and ensuring that the welfare of my horse came first. After consultation with our Brisbane vet Katria Lovell from Redlands Vet Clinic and Jason from New England Vet Clinic. We collectively made the decision to load Sunny and with heavy hearts drove north. After a seven hour trip we arrived at Redlands at 10.00pm. Sunny had more pain relief and anti-inflammatories and the swelling subsided enough for X-rays to be done this morning. 

Sadly we will be having a little time off, hopefully it won't be too long a time before my lovely boy will be back out giving everything 110% as he always does. I am so disappointed that I won't be able to compete at the QI3DE on my beautiful Woodlands Suntaria.

So instead of a competitor it appears I will be a spectator, my Dad has worked hard as apart of the committee to ensure this event is a complete success, I will be there helping out my friends, all riders and cheering on the Queensland squad! I am happy to continue my blog writing and share the experience of being at the event although it may be stained with some tears due to my inability to achieve part of my dream for this year!    

I don't think that I have cried this much in my lifetime as I have in the past 24 hours. I just hate seeing something so precious to me in pain. He is being really well cared for at our vets, where he will stay for a few days to be monitored. He is already walking better and I am going down to use the massage pad and take him out to eat morning and night for however long it takes for him to get back to causing mischef around home. 

Absolutely heartbroken at the moment.

We are so sorry to hear this news Emma and hope your beautiful boy is feeling better very soon. We are all thinking of you. The best thing is that you and he will be out there competing again, in hopefully the not too distant future!

12 March

The 1* test

Showjumping in the sunshine on Thursday (Pre Novice)

It’s been a while since my first blog (or novel) and I’ve deliberately sat down in the middle of school assignments so that I can’t possibly write as much as I did last time.

A lot has happened since my last blog, most of which has been rain.

This hasn’t been ideal considering the QI3DE is only two weeks away! In between then and now I’ve ridden at the Sydney double header, the midweek was a great event.

Sunny and I rode a somewhat nice test on the Wednesday to sit sixth in the juniors. Unfortunately on the Thursday’s showjumping I had a few lazy rails on course but we managed to step up our game cross-country to finish in our dressage position. What a beautiful course! Sunny and I had a lovely gallop around the flowing course to come in clear and under time. For our first run of the season I was happy with him.

Unfortunately when Saturday dawned it was cold, wet, flooding and well… very wet. But in true eventing spirit, the show must go on and I found myself in the pouring rain, warming up for my first 1* test in what appeared to be a swimming pool. Had I got the days mixed up, or was I lost? Apparently not, as there was a bunch of likeminded people riding around with me.

I like to think of optimism and that of an oncoming cold as the best way to describe the feeling amongst riders on Saturday. People did their best to look happy as they rode up the center line, to the judge sitting in the car with the windscreen wipers on the fastest setting possible.

I found myself wishing it would be over, although SIEC is a beautiful venue the weather made it hard to come out of the test smiling, thinking that you rode (or swam) the best you could have. However I do think for the circumstances every rider should be congratulated on the quality of the tests that were executed on Saturday.

By Saturday afternoon after the New Comers and Intro had run cross-country and the track was “squishy” in parts. As I walked around the track with friends Isabel English and Jen Kinsella, (both who were stepping up to the exciting 3* at the event) we spoke about the grueling possibility of the event being called off if we were to have more rain. Having completed the the dressage phase of the competition Bella and Jen were eager to ride their first 3* on Sunday morning. Unfortunately our words became a reality and following a whole night of rain, the Technical Delegates of the event deemed the cross country too wet to start competition and so that phase was cancelled. The option to show jump the horses was made available, but instead we got a head start home and began the drive in torrential rain.

Although it was disappointing we didn’t get to complete our first one star, I had a good ride in the midweek and got to ride the 1* test. Things like this can often set us back, but instead we are racing ahead, looking forward to our next competition. We have been home for close to a week and have had to usir the local indoor to keep horses fit for upcoming comps.

This throws out my usual weekly plans for Sunny of jumping and fitness work once, as well as flat work and a lesson for every other day, but we are working with what we have!

Next weekend brings either Armidale (NSW) 1* or Tamborine (QLD) 1* depending on the weather at the venues.

Two weeks' time sees the arrival of the much-anticipated Davcar Queensland International Three Day! It is sensational that we have  dual Olympians Stuart Tinney captaining QLD at the event.

Stuart, as a part of the QLD Over The Top State of Origin team is a very exciting prospect and we are honored to have him aboard!

The QI3DE is set to be big; there are a number of very generous sponsors, committee members and volunteers supporting the event to help ensure it is an exhilarating and worthwhile competition for riders.

So if you haven’t already nominated for the QI3DE I urge you to head to nominate.com.au and enter.

The nominations have been extended to the 15^th March so you have been given a little bit more time. Whether you’re a fellow Queenslander, a New South Wales rider, or from even further afield WE WANT YOU.

Come and make the effort to support what Queensland has to offer, I assure you, you won't be disappointed.

My Biology assignment and four others are calling. I’d better go…

Happy Riding,

Emma

11 February

Sunny and Emma

When saying yes to writing blogs for the Queensland International Three Day, I had aspirations of writing a blog as entertaining as the king himself, James Deacon, however, I'm not certain that I possess as much flair as him, so we will just have to see where things go!

I started riding when I was three and like most young riders began on a pony that did absolutely everything. A palomino with blue eyes- every little girl's dream and so, I was completely in love. Mum being the horsey one in our family snuck him home to our property, explaining to dad that we had to use the land for something and that he wasn’t that expensive (only telling him half the price she paid). Dad was astounded that you could buy a horse for such money; little did he know he was signing up for a lifetime of absolute horse madness. “Ziro” was a 2 years old and very green under saddle (hardly ideal) when we bought him, but he really turned into something special in the end and now carries two little girls around the pony club scene in QLD.

From then, I moved onto a beautiful horse that my parents and I thought might have been “the one” to take me into eventing. A big moving, athletic thoroughbred with talent to burn who had eventing experience, but unfortunately we discovered the onset of Degenerative Joint Disease and he had become unreliable for eventing. So at the age of 12 I’d learnt that this sport was ruthless. It gave you copious amounts of joy one day, and the next you could be completely distraught.

I’ve recently turned 16 this year and I am set for what we hope to be a big year eventing on my horse of three years Woodlands Suntaria, who we bought in Wagga Wagga, NSW. He was rising 5 when we purchased him and had completed a handful of local intro and prelim starts. Sunny as he’s known around the stables was a bit of a handful when he arrived in QLD; needless to say the horse of my dreams had a few nightmare competitions that I would rather forget about. Like all horses, he has his little quirks. However these “quirks” took almost a year and a half of competing in prelim before advancing to Pre-Novice.

We have a really good system working now, not only that but we have a great support crew and that makes it worth it. I have weekly lessons with my coach Tony Manca, and since starting lessons with Tony, Sunny and I have come along in leaps and bounds. I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to ride with Tony if I hadn’t started work for 4* rider, Eleanor Osborne. Eleanor is based on the Darling Downs at Highborne Farm only 30 minutes from where the QI3DE is being held. School holidays at Highborne consist of riding every day and grooming for her as well – she has put up with numerous trips full of me studying in the truck and has driven hours on end just to get me back to school on time from competitions. I also have an amazing sponsor; Mare Affair Performance Apparel (www.mareaffair.com.au) who always keep me in the latest looks in riding clothing and tack from brands all over the world.

Sunny and Emma competing in the Pre Novice, Toowoomba , QLD

In the future I have goals to ride at many major events but at the moment I am focusing on my immediate goals for this year. Riding consistently at 1*, top 10 in JNR’s at the QI3DE, qualifying & riding at Melbourne 3 Day, getting to ride lots of different horses, and furthering myself as a rider and a horse person (oh, and getting through the next two years of school would be good as well!)  If you’re a horsey high school student reading this or even if you were, you will understand the long hours extra we put in to keep up with our work because of the time we spend on the road travelling to events!

As a part of furthering myself this year I have recently taken on a new job as QLD Sales Representative with Over the Top Yards and Jumping Equipment (www.overthetopequipment.com.au).  OTT supply stables, yards and arenas, as well as cross country and show jump fences to riders and major events all over Australia. For those of you interested in purchasing any of the above equipment, there will be a great opportunity to view some of their products first hand at the Queensland International 3DE as OTT are one of the events major sponsors – sponsoring the State Of Origin component of the 3 day.

This year we start at Sydney double header in the midweek pre-novice and the weekend 1* followed by the Tamborine event held at Kelecyn, then onto NEGS at Armidale, closely followed by the QI3DE at Morgan Park, Warwick.

The event will be a really crucial ride for me as it is one of my qualifiers for MI3DE. The grounds are looking great, and with Dad as a part of the committee I’m seeing first hand just how much hard work is being put into what is set to be a big event.

Providing all goes well we will be entered in the 1* at the QI3DE. I’ve been riding the test at home for upcoming events and so far so good. Accuracy is a great place to start at any level, so for the 1* I’d like to try and ride close to a paper perfect test!

The countdown is on to the Queensland International and there is lots of time for improvement and changes.

I believe heavily in,

“You don’t always get what you deserve, but you always get what you work for.”

Let the hard work continue, Go Team Queensland!

Happy riding! Emma

Quick Links

• Read Sheridan Sullivan's blog
• Visit the QI3DE website for full details of the competition and to enter online
• View eventing horses for sale on Horsezone