Five Minutes With... Dressage Trainer - Lisa Martin

Lisa and Australian Stock Horse King Devorant - Australian Advanced Dressage Champion

Lisa with her State Champion Australian Stockhorse, Dubbo

Australian Stock Horse Conquistador - aged 20 - Australian Championships

Lisa at the Australian Dressage Championships 1991

Lisa and Just Elegant at Australian Championships 2010

Lisa riding Rythmic - Hickstead England, 2007

Scone based successful international Dressage competitor and coach, Lisa Martin, has had a life filled with horses, however, her passion has always been for Dressage and Australian Stock Horses. 

Lisa is currently focusing on training and competing with several wonderful Warmblood horses that she has bred, however, Australian Stock Horses were her first love.  In recent years Lisa has stepped back from showing the all Aussie horse,  but she has kept breeding them and now, daughter Jessica (aged nine), is keen to compete in Youth classes and an Australian Stock Horse is the perfect mount to help with achieving her dreams and goals - and possibly follow in mum's footsteps.

When not busy spending time with Jess and her own horses, Lisa helps others by giving a couple of riding lessons each day. Lisa not only coaches Dressage competitors wanting to improve their horses and overall performance, but also Australian Stock Horse enthusiasts who want to polish up their flatwork for showing. She's great at helping with training problems too - things not going right with your horse? Then Lisa is your girl - she loves nothing more than sharing her knowledge and helping riders solve problems with their horses.  A positive result - watching horse and rider go home happy, or at least with something practical to work on to help with improvement - is the icing on the cake.

Jo Johnson managed to interrupt Lisa during her busy schedule recently and find out more...

 

How did you first become involved with horses?

I became involved with horses from the day I was born really! Mum (Leanne) and father (Paul) bred Australian Stock Horses, played Polocrosse and ran a large agistment property out of Maitland.

 

Your main interest is Dressage - have you tried other horse sports?

Yes Dressage has always been one of my main interests, however, over the years I've been just as serious and competitive with Pony Club Eventing, Showjumping, Polocrosse and Showing.

 

What do you enjoy most about Dressage?

I enjoy training a young horse through to Grand Prix - it's very challenging and rewarding.

 

You are a keen supporter of Australian Stock Horses - what do you love most about this breed?

Australian Stock Horses have always been in my life.  I have competed internationally for Australia in New Zealand at Grand Prix level on Conquistador who was an Australian Stock Horse. I won the Australian Advanced Championship on King Devorant who was also a Stock Horse and evented and showjumped at State level on Stock Horses.  The breed is amazing.  What other breed can you compete successfully at Pony Club right through to the Olympics in so many different sports?

 

What makes a great horse for Dressage?

A great Dressage horse is made up of many different things. Breeding and soundness are important to start with, a great Dressage horse also has to have the WOW factor when you look at it.  It has to stand out and you have to imagine it being successful competing at international level.  Good early training is very important.

 

Which horse would you own if you could?

Moorlands Totilas.  He is amazing!

 

Do you have a favourite horse?

I don't really have a favourite - they have all been wonderful horses. The one horse that stands out, if I had to make a choice, would have to be Australian Stock Horse Conquistador. We were on many Australian Dressage teams nationally and internationally from when I was 14 years old.

 

What goes through your mind when you enter the arena to perform a test?

That's an interesting question! Most of the time I'm trying to stay positive and shut out distractions around me.

 

What would you consider is your greatest achievement to date?

Competing and placing in Germany and England with Rythmic was great.  He was a Warmblood that I trained myself to Grand Prix level.

 

Tips for competitors keen to excel in Dressage?

If you are looking for a trainer, try and find someone who has proven themselves and is successful in the sport and take advice from them.

 

One really useful training tip?

Don't be impatient when training and never give up! Listen to your horse and your gut feeling.

 

Goals for the future?

Last month, tragically, I had to put down my top Dressage mare, Just Elegant, she was only eight years old and was competing at FEI Level, so at the moment I am training my five year old and a three year old Warmbloods.  The aim is to go to the NSW Dressage Championships at Tamworth and then the Australian Championships in Sydney with the five year old.  He is very talented and is currently competing at Novice and Elementary.  The aim is to start to compete at Medium by the end of the year.  

 

Items in your tack box you can't live without?

I always travel with a first aid box and a container of vaseline.  Vaseline is great for putting in feet to stop mud from clogging up the foot!

 

What would you be doing if you weren't where you are now?

Not sure as it's all I've done for 39 years!

 

How do you relax?

My husband (Jason) has a 42' boat on the coast that he uses for Marlin fishing, so when I can, I love to put a line in the water and enjoy some fresh prawns - fabulous!

 

Big dogs or little dogs?

Mostly little dogs - at the moment I have a Schnauzer - his name is Shaggy.

 

Summer or Winter?

Autumn and Spring!

 

Shout out to supporters?

My family have been great - Jason is a real help and looks after our daughter Jessica when I have to go away to compete.  Thanks to Heath and Rozie Ryan, Clemens Dierks for guidance and training and my friends for all the support and help they have given me!

 

Thanks so much for your time Lisa and we wish you all the best for the future with Dressage, Warmbloods and Australian Stock Horses!

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