A Champion in the making - Daniella Dierks - Bates Australian Dressage Championships

Daniella and Aber Hallo (photo: Toni Venhaus).

 

Dressage is one of those unique sports where competitors of different ages and genders compete in the same arena. It usually takes years of hard work and exercise for both horse and rider to have the reflexes and fitness to compete at an elite level.

The horse’s athleticism could be compared to a gymnast. Their controlled strength is paramount and without the appropriate focus, high achievement is not possible. 

Like all sports there are always competitors waiting in the wings to challenge the current champions. Daniella Dierks is one of those. Her parents have been high achievers in dressage. Her mother Judy has represented Australia on numerousoccasions and her father is known as one of the best trainers in Australia. Although Daniella has been working hard for many years it is only in the last few years that herperformance history proves that she is a force to be reckoned with.

Over the past few months, Daniella has had a very successful campaign on two of her rides, Aber Hallo 29 and Luxor 118. In early September at Clarendon which usually attracts the top horses and riders from New South Wales, she came first and second in both the Medium and Advanced on the same two horses. Then a week later at the New South Wales Championships she was Champion and Reserve Champion in the Medium Championships and fourth and fifth in the Advanced. Daniella on Aber Hallo were also the 2011 Dressage NSW Medium Horse of the Year. So it’s not surprising that Daniella is ranked in the top ten for the same classes at the Bates Australian Dressage Championships.

So where does Daniella get such a wonderful string of horses? Daniella is the head trainer and rider at Mulawa Arabian Stud. This stud is owned by the Farrell family and is one of the top performance Arab studs in Australia. Their reputation is impeccable. Although the Arabian stud is going strong they also have bred and imported a number of horses which are doing extremely well in the dressage arena. Aber Hallo 29 with Daniella in the saddle has just been picked to be part of the Equestrian Australia’s National Futures Squad for Dressage. More than 150 horse/rider combinations applied to be assessed at Talent Identification Days conducted in each state. The National Performance Director and National Selectors viewed horses aged from 4-9 years of age, and selected the Futures Squad on criteria expected to predict future success at elite levels of international competition. "Aber Hallo" is one for the future and some say has ability to represent Australia at the top level.

It seems apparent that Daniella is lucky to have the support of the Farrell family and they too are lucky to have Daniella as head Performance Trainer. Kate Farrell, daughter of Greg and Julie, is also competing at the Nationals on Luxor 118. Kate recently won the Advanced Dressage Champion at the 2011 New South Wales Young Riders Championships.

Daniella and Kate will be extremely busy with four horses competing from Mulawa Stud. If their recent track record is anything to go by, they will finish these championships with a smile on their face.

Quick Link

• For tickets or more information, head to www.dressagensw.com.au/nationals