Five Minutes With... Claire Seidl

Claire and Rolex competing at last weekend's CDI event held in Orange, NSW (Photo: Photofinish)

Talented competitor and trainer, Claire Seidl has had many successes in the show ring and Dressage arena in recent years, including winning Dressage New South Wales Rider of the Year, New South Wales Grand Prix KUR Champion, Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI) Horse of the Year, Australian National and Concours de Dressage International (CDI) winner, Horse of the Year, Champion Lady Rider at Sydney Royal and the Crane Trophy – just to name a few of her achievements!

Trained in Germany and England, in addition to training and competing on her own horses, Claire (a qualified NCAS Instructor) instructs riders in all competencies of Dressage from beginners through to FEI level.  She also takes horses for training from newly broken-in through to Grand Prix and has produced a string of top performing horses.

Claire believes that happiness and the well being of the horse is paramount.  She spends time cross-training her horses to give them a broader education which keeps them motivated in their work.

Claire has the ability to ride both with precision and accuracy in the competition arena and treats a difficult horse with feeling and sensitivity. She aims to highlight the difference between a captivating dynamic performance and a mechanically correct test.

"My aim is that through patience and understanding a powerful partnership can be formed which leaves a spirited impact" she said.

Claire operates and manages Tennyson Stud, which is located in the historic Windsor area, a western region of Sydney, New South Wales.  The 25 acre property of slightly undulating land with a plentiful water supply, has several well maintained grazing paddocks with shelters, round yards for lunging and a full sized dressage arena.  As well as one-on-one lessons and horse training, Claire also conducts training clinics for all levels of riders, which are held around Australia.

CLICK HERE to visit the Tennyson Stud website or you can even check out and ‘Like’ their Facebook page.

Horsezone recently caught up with Claire for a quick chat about Dressage and the busy year she has planned...

 

Claire, you’ve been doing very well over recent years, what do you enjoy most about Dressage training and competition?

I enjoy the daily training the most; seeing the improvement and development of the horses. The highlight of my day at the moment is schooling 6 newly broken in youngsters by my stallion, Worldwide PB. It is fantastic to be training with such talented young horses as the work is so easy for them. So my job is simply to guide them in the right direction.

At competitions I enjoy getting a chance to test our training in the arena and the heightened atmosphere, and getting feedback on our progress from both judges and onlookers. I especially enjoy the social aspect of a competition, catching up with other riders and seeing how they are progressing as well. It’s always a laugh getting ready for events with my support crew around keeping me sane!

 

In addition to your success with Dressage, you’ve also had great success in the show ring – are there any other horse sports that you’ve been involved with?

No I haven’t tried other ridden sports; my first horse didn’t jump and I always wonder what would have happened if I had begun in the jumping arena! 

In addition to our training business, we have a boutique stud (Tennyson Stud) and I am thoroughly enjoying the breeding. We have been very lucky to have started with our stallion Worldwide PB and a select band of mares who have produced us outstanding foals with amazing temperaments and athletic ability. So I am now becoming quite involved in the very different world of breeding and young horse riding, something I’m finding a huge change from both re-educating and riding FEI! I’m really enjoying adapting my riding to these youngsters and look forward to getting them out in the competition arenas soon.

 

What is your career highlight so far?

There have been many. Worldwide taking out the Advanced Cup and the PSG at the Sydney CDI was a real highlight, but H.R.H winning the Sydney CDI with an amazing 72% would have to be at the top of the list.

 

We hear that you are travelling to New Zealand next week, can you tell us more about that?

Yes I am really excited to have been asked to be the guest rider for the Young Horse Championships at the New Zealand National Championships in Fielding next week. It will be a great opportunity to meet new people and see how New Zealand is progressing with their breeding program and the growth of dressage. They have an amazing energy and confidence which is producing many exciting combinations which is fantastic for such a small country. And I hope everything I learn I can bring back and share with others.

My role as guest rider will be to ride the 3 finalists in each age group- 4, 5 and 6 year olds. I ride each horse for a few minutes and give a score for rideability and say a few words to the riders and spectators highlighting the abilities of each horse.

 

Have you done this previously here in Australia?

Yes, about 9 years ago at the Queensland Young Horse Championships. I even came home with a horse! I purchased my current Grand Prix mount Rolex from briefly riding him at the show. Harry Boldt was also a judge and we had dinner together after the final. We were discussing all the horses, and I told him I really liked the grey and he agreed. I told Harry that the horse was for sale, and he said ‘well then you must buy him!’. When I organised the vet check I rang the vet and said I have only ridden the horse for about 4 minutes can you please check his legs and feet and he thought I was nuts! Well, when you get that feeling you just know. I bought him because of his great heart and sensible brain.

 

You’ve been competing recently on Rolex – tell us more about him?

Rolex is a true gentleman and we have a fantastic relationship. I sometimes get in trouble from trainers as they say he is too much my friend. But he gives me everything because he wants to and he is enjoying himself and that is really important to me. He is competing at Grand Prix level and is just starting to put it all together in the test – me too! I still have to show the judges what I can produce at home and then I think we will really be shaking the top placings! He is getting a huge following, people who enjoy his kind and soft way of going. I have been very committed to sticking to my principals with his training, and I think that the outcome is obvious now; Rolex has remained relaxed and happy in his training and this to me is just so important and rewarding.

 

What plans for the future for Rolex and your other horses?

Rolex still has a lot left in the tank and is a young Grand Prix horse at only 13 years old. I truly believe he would make a great member of the Australian team and am going to give him every opportunity do that.

I am also lucky enough to have lots of talented youngsters, some of which are just beginning to be ridden. This has made me come to the sad decision to sell my wonderful stallion Worldwide PB. He has been the most beautiful horse I have ever owned and has so much to offer someone else, however unfortunately in this business you sometimes have to make these decisions with the head, not the heart.  Then I can spend my time producing his youngsters which are going to make a serious mark in Australian dressage. They all have his amazing work ethic, amiable nature and elastic suppleness. I am really excited about their future prospects.

 

Thank you Claire for your time! We wish you all the best with Rolex and your other horses and look forward to following your progress in the coming years.