Rider of the Future Andrew Cooper in Top Form at Sydney International Horse Trials

Victorian based rider Andrew Cooper is a young eventing star on the rise and he’s been shining brightly at the Sydney International Horse Trials. 

Cooper, who was recently named on the Equestrian Australia 2017 Oceania Championships team, leads both the Bucas Rugs Australia CCI1* and the Tarraleah Park CCI 2* classes after the second day of competition with two off the track Thoroughbreds Hunters Hill and Doubled Vision. Cooper could not be happier with the progress of his two talented horses.

“They’ve been so good in both the dressage and cross-country so let’s hope it continues tomorrow and they have their jumping shoes on,” Cooper said.

The timing of Cooper’s form is perfect coming just days after being listed in his first Australian representative team.

He said he was thrilled to be part of the Oceania Championships team next month in Melbourne alongside the likes of Sydney 2000 Olympic Gold Medallist Stuart Tinney.

“It’s awesome, I’m so excited. Stuart is an amazing rider and someone we all want to emulate. All of us younger riders all want to be like Stuart and so to be on a team with him is fantastic.”

Young female riders are dominating the two main classes at the Sydney International Horse Trials so far .

Katie Taliana on Trevaglar II leads the Equestrian Australia CIC3* and Madeline Wilson and I’m Bruce are at the top of the Horseware Australia CCI3* results after cross-country day. Interestingly, the entire line-up of riders contesting the CCI3* class this year are all female highlighting a changing of the guard in the higher grades of the Australian eventing ranks traditionally dominated by men.

All the show jumping action on the final day at the Sydney International Equestrian Centre starts from 8am, Sunday 14 May.

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