Off the Track WA Horses at Camden Equestriad
After a tricky week leading up to the event, with Charlee’s mum sustaining an injury that left her seated on the sidelines, our Off the Track WA team of horses made their way to Equestriad. Thanks to the comradery amongst these riders, Riley assisted Charlee with preparing her two horses in the lead up to the event with beach gallops and work to keep them all fit.
Saturday kicked off with dressage for everyone. There were record numbers competing at Camden this year, with the CCN1* divided into divisions to fit all the riders in.
Pride of Merisi competed in his first CCN1* a long way from home and rode a lovely test for 30 penalties. This landed Charlee and ‘Vegemite’ in fifteenth place in the Division A.
In the other CCN1* division, Riley and Order is Restored completed an equally as lovely test for 30.6 penalties. This also landed Riley and ‘Bandit’ in fifteenth place in the Division B.
Charlee was back out with Ocean’s Fifteen in the CCI2*, ending their test with 37.5 penalties for 26th place.
Eva Shore and her unnamed Thoroughbred stallion, competed as Sachella Clifford Rose, rode their test in the 2* alongside Charlee for 36.2 penalties. This landed them in the twentieth spot on the leader in preparation for the remaining phases.
In the CCI3*, Riley and his eventing ‘machine’, Out of Line (GI War Machine) completed their test with 35.6 penalties, sliding them into thirteenth place.
With all riders completing their dressage tests for the day, it was onto the jumping phases!
Show Jumping was a mixed bag of results, with the CCN1* class horses experiencing different results.
‘Vegemite’ and Charlee had an unfortunate twelve faults throughout their round, which further pushed the pair down the leaderboard.
‘Bandit’ and Riley were lucky enough to go clear, pushing themselves up into the top ten rankings.
The 2* course was tricky, with Eva and ‘Clifford’ unfortunately eliminated and ending their Equestriad competition early.
Charlee and ‘Buster’ had an unfortunate eight faults, which held their position on the leaderboard.
Riley and ‘Out of Line’ jumped the 3* confidently, with an unfortunate rail adding faults.
Cross country was an opportunity for improvement up the leaderboard. All four of the horses competing have proven throughout their careers to be confident cross-country mounts.
In the CCN1*, ‘Vegemite’ struggled with his first one star after stepping up from 95cm. Despite this, Charlee and Pride of Merisi made it home safely with their first 1* under their belt; a success in itself to produce a horse from 65 to one star eventing and competing interstate.
Riley and Order is Restored followed up their clear show jumping round with a clear cross-country round, securing themselves sixth place in Division B.
The CCI2* saw only Charlee and Ocean’s Fifteen start, with ‘Buster’ focused and ready to finish clear and safe. This ended the pair in 23rd place and ready to take on Melbourne International 3DE.
Out of Line tackled the 3* as confidently as expected, with a clear round and some time faults ending their Equestriad competition in eight place. Riley had a great weekend in Camden, with both his Thoroughbreds placing in the top ten in their classes and his warmblood gelding, GI Caramba, finishing the 3* just above Out of Line in seventh place.
Congratulations to these riders for their resilience and hard work throughout not only this event, but every one they attend. These WA based Thoroughbreds are beautiful examples of the caliber that can be found in retired racehorses. They each have such heart and determination which is an asset in eventing.
