January 30th, 2012
Well time sure does fly! I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and New Year like I did. I managed to sneak home to WA for a few days over Christmas which was lovely. It was very good to be able to see my young horse going so well with Mum who is having so much fun with her.
It felt like I had only just seen my family as they had come over to watch the Victorian Dressage Festival in early December. I had a great ride in the Inter 1 finishing in the top 10 which I was very happy with. The Inter 2 needed some more work but that can only come with competition experience. It was a great competition but back to the training ring! Luckily Mary was home for a few weeks over Christmas- perfect timing! We worked hard and got to the bottom of a few things with the aim to compete Grand Prix at Boneo Park in January 2012.
What a way to kick start the year! We made the trip over on the ferry to the magnificent set up of Boneo Park on the Mornington Peninsula. We had a day to familiarize and get ready for the Inter 2 the next day. I was feeling more confident with the work and am getting to know what to expect from Rambo in the ring. We had a great, mistake free test and were rewarded 3rd place with 65%! I was wrapped with that from the 5 International Judges and among good company of the likes of Heath Ryan and Maree Tomkinson, it was very daunting! It was a great confidence booster to go into my first ever Grand Prix the following day. I managed to keep on top of my nerves and remember the test for starters! Secondly, a mistake free one! I was very relieved and happy, of course there is lots of room for improvement but the first one is out of the way and even managed a 2nd with 62% which is also a qualifier for any CDI competition.
Now the next step, Dressage with the Stars in March! But until then, back to analyzing and improving our weaknesses!
 Young Gun Steph Spencer at Boneo Park in the Grand Prix  2nd in the Grand Prix!
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January 25th, 2012
I have finally made it back to Valkenswaard… After just a couple dramas, which I didn’t want to blog about, but now that I’m not an illegal immigrant, here I am!
I flew out of Amsterdam last year a couple of days before Christmas. I was in pretty bad shape after being groomless for a couple months and then conveniently getting a throat infection and a chest infection at the same time… I was pretty depressed to be honest, it was time to get home. At the airport I was taken in for questioning at the passport check. (I went over without a visa, you are only allowed to stay in Europe for 90 days at a time without one… I stayed 7 months. Who knew!
Truthfully I didn’t think I was doing the wrong thing as I was moving around a lot to do shows in different countries) So after about an hour of interrogation I looked at the time and saw that I was probably going to miss my flight. They had just told me that I won’t be allowed back into Europe for 3-6 months (this did NOT really sit well with me) so I tried to make light of the situation, you know, soften the mood by making a few light-hearted comments about staying on….. within 5 minutes I was being escorted to the plane to make sure I did leave the country. I tell you, some Europeans just don’t have a sense of humour.
Something I always love about coming home is the final 20 minutes of the flight when you go over Sydney Harbour.. It really is special. The rest of the journey pretty much suckedbecause I was having serious trouble breathing amongst other things. Luckily I was greeted by my wonderful parents, best friend Jamie Winning and two pretty cool kids, Georgie Harvey and Suzie Willis who even made a welcome home sign!
 Georgie Harvey and Suzie Willis walk the course with Julia when they visited Europe last year! Before I flew home I did a final show in La Coruna, Spain. This was a 5***** show and I managed to score the a wild card. It was in a beautiful setting, with an indoor that overlooked the ocean! I was still pretty sick, but the ponies looked after me extremely well. Both Paris and Elton jumped the 1.45 classes, both clear most days, just one or two rails throughout the show. Vedor started twice. Clear the first day and 2 down in the 1.55 winning round class. This may not sound very good, but I was very happy with him considering we hadn’t been going that great previously… And I was pretty nervous I must say!
Oh yeah, almost forgot, finally got a groom a few days before we headed to Spain… John Dickson was his name. English. He was great! Until he left in the middle of the night 2 days after I arrived in Sydney.. WHAT A BASTARD. I had prepaid him cash for a month. Huge thank you to Stal Tops, Jake, Paul and Charline Remy in particular for getting me out of trouble there! All those people looked after my horses at some point during the month I was away. I was very lucky. I have brought Anna Dalton back with me. Blast from the past, Anna groomed for me in the 2005-2006 time. It’s very nice having someone with me I know and can trust.
I was home for just under a month, long story short, I was incredibly lucky with the Netherlands consulate who approved my visa 2 weeks after I applied for it, no questions asked. Followed by a smooth sail back into Europe… Which is FREEZING by the way. But luckily I have some of the greatest sponsors ever keeping me warm, thanks KINGSLAND! My other sponsors CopRice also provided me with more great clothing, and NatureVet loaded me down with more supplements for the horses.
While I was in Sydney the Elite Squad and Shadow Team for London was announced, and yes, I’m on it! Yay! There are several shows to get to before the final selection trials in May, so it’s back to work with a vengeance. Fortunately the horses look fit and well, and Vedor has benefited hugely from the services of his new farrier. Not a lot to complain about really! We have a small national show in a couple weeks, followed by a 3*** show in Germany. I will keep you posted (: bye for now…
 Hacking out at the beautiful Stal Tops!
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January 18th, 2012
National Elite Squads
Congratulations to our Sponsored Riders Stuart Tinney (Eventing) and Julia Hargreaves (Jumping) for making the elite squads.
 Julia Hargreaves - Vedor
 Stuart Tinney and Panamera
National A Squads
Congratulations: Tim Boland (Eventing) and Stuart Tinney x 2 horses (Eventing)
 Stuart Tinney - Pluto Mio  Tim Boland - GV Billy Elliot  Stuart Tinney - Orchard Hill Futures Squads
Sue Coman (Jumping)
Joseph Waldron – Trans Tasman (NZ)
Jo recently received a call from Andrew Scott (Chairman of selectors for NZ Eventing) to tell him that he has made the 2012 NZ Senior Trans Tasman Squad on Springvale All Black to compete against an Australian Team at Kihikihi World Cup in April next year. To top it off he has also been named as a part of the NZ Young Rider Trans Tasman Squad on both of his horses, Eminence and Springvale All Black, to compete against an Australian Team at the South Island Three
Day Event also in April next year. Jo wanted to say a huge thanks to Ceva Nature Vet for supporting him and his horses. And believes Naturevet products are a huge part of the success he has had in his career and hopes it can continue long into the future.
Congratulations Joseph!
 Joseph Waldron - Springvale All Black  Joseph Waldron - Eminence We will keep you up to date when the Aussie Young Rider Squads are announced at the end of January!
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January 17th, 2012
The competition year has come to an end for Alexis and Elliot. After a successful NSW State dressage championships for Elliot in the small tour ranks, It was on to the Australian Championships at the Sydney international equestrian center. Both Alexis and Elliot were picked from a list of many riders, to compete for their respective states in the prestigious “Young, Prix St George” horse competition held at the championships. Elliot was thrilled with a 3rd place in such an impressive field of horses and riders. Alexis went fantastically in the Inter 1 championship with an overall reserve champion. That was the last competition for the year for our two boys, “Leandro” and “Waca W”, but it wasn’t all holidays yet for them. The goal is a Grand Prix start for both the horses in the beginning of 2012 so the work is still happening. We have began riding for New World Park, a Hanoverian warm blood stud near Vacey, NSW, managed by Kathy and Trevor Coombe. NW PARK have bred some very nice horses so we are excited to see what competition results we can achieve in 2012. We have welcomed a new member to the team in the form of a lovely colt foal by a German stallion, Licosto. Lachie,(the foal) is very impressive and will be very tall. We are extremely excited to see if we might have a stallion prospect in him.
We both hope all the Ceva team has had a successful end to the year, and wish them all the best for the new year to come. We thank Ceva for the ongoing support and generosity. We look forward to another successful beginning to the year in 2012 riding under the Ceva flag.
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January 11th, 2012
Hey Everyone
Happy New Year !! Hope you have all had a good one.
Well last year was a very busy but successful year and I couldn’t have done it without the generous support of Ceva.
This year will also be just as busy as I am now a young rider ! 
Coming up in the first half of this year are a few local shows to get the horses back in shape after their long break, before Sydney Royal where I hope to get in for both Junior and Young rider. After Sydney is Copabella, weekend of World Cups and then a show or two in Gunnedah.
I would like to thank Ceva for all their great support and I couldn’t keep my horses performing as well as they do without you.
Thanks Jake
  
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January 9th, 2012
Hello Everyone,
Dom and I have been training hard these past couple of months and have been out and about a few times before the end of the year.
I had a few lessons with Uwe Spenlen while he was visiting from over east in the beginning of November. He really helped me with my lateral work and keeping calm in the indoor arena. The following weekend I competed at the State Equestrian Centre dressage comp with Dominoff in the medium class, I also competed on a little chestnut pony, Louie, that I was looking after for a while in the prelim class. Louie is very different to ride compared to Domi, it felt like riding a mini compared to big Dominoff. Domi won both his classes with some good scores of 63% and 66%. Little Louie surprised us all and did extremely well considering he hadn’t competed in dressage for a while, coming second in both his tests. He scored 66% in his first test and 68% in the second. We were all very happy with both horses at the end of the day.
Lone Jorgensen was also visiting in November for another clinic. Domi and I always get so much out of Lone’s lessons, she just helps so much with the overall picture. We love having lessons with Lone, but the only thing that worries him is that scary indoor arena. However each time it gets a little easier.
Father Christmas bought Dominoff a huge ball for Christmas as he loves to run around with his feed bucket on his head. But instead of playing with his new ball, he still prefers his big old feed bucket and barely even looks at his new shiny yellow ball.
That’s all the comps and clinics for this year as the show season is finished until February. There is a twilight dressage competition series, so we will be busy getting ready for that one.
Happy Riding and holidays, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!
Chelsea B
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January 4th, 2012
- Tim Games ‘Panamera’ wins The Australian 3DE CCI****
- John and Jane Pittard’s ‘Pluto Mio’ wins Lakes and Craters CCI***
- Jaymee moves into CCI**, 8th Young Rider ‘ Australian 3DE’
- Orchard Hill goes CCI*** and gets 4th at Melbourne International 3DE and moves onto the Eventing A Squad.
- Stuart Ranks 7th in the World on the HSBC FEI rankings.
- Vettori and Watermark Grayson move to Italy to their new homes and owners.
As well as these main achievements there were lots of successful competitions during the 2011 season for all including our working student Hannah Walls competing successfully at CCI**. We introduced Aude Reubrecht to all our team as our new Head Girl. Aude has certainly had to learn the ropes very quickly and had big shoes to fill after the departure of Amy Mc Gregor. Amy now working at EA National and doing a fine job!
Thank you to all that help and support us maintain our top position in Australia.. You are part of our team and we can’t thank you enough. We hope to carry your logos with pride all the way into 2012 and towards The London Olympics.
- Nature Vet CEVA introducing their Pentosan Gold… complementing their Pentosan. Both Pentosan and Pentosan Gold are used at TE and100% endorsed.
- CopRice certainly wins hands down as being the best and most reliable complete feed on the market. From our Elite to the girl’s horses, to the yearlings and not forgetting the most important horse JEEPSTER! Who at 26 still looks like a Gold medal winning horse!
- HorseLand always trustworthy with an amazing range of saddlery and apparel which suits all ages, great rewards and a fabulous Australian company!
- Bates saddles are part of our success with saddles for all types and all disciplines: Why not try a Bates, you will be very impressed as we always are with their range.
- Ecomist is a very valuable part of our team here, and the horses would thank you if they were Mr. ED! NO flies in summer what more could you want.. Too good to believe!
- Kingsland for their top of the line Competition clothing.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, we hope to do Australia proud in 2012. Special thanks to all our owners the EA, NSWIS and our supporters! Best wishes TE
 - Team Tinney 2011!
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December 24th, 2011
It is amazing that Ceva Naturevet have kept me as part of their team this year with my appalling blogging skills, as this is my first blog since rejoining the team in June this year. Hopefully I can be forgiven a little as the size of the business at Limitless Lodge is all consuming with up to 200 horses spread over 4 farms. Of course it would be sensible to have a secretary, but being the control freak I am, I’m afraid she would be idle as I would like to do it all myself, in my own silly neurotic way. It is now Christmas Eve and hopefully we will have a few quiet days before the yearling sale season starts with the Gold Coast Magic Millions in early January. The eventers are all back in work now as we head towards an early start to the competition season with show jumping in late January and low level events in early February.
 Syd 3DE 2011 3 Star The end of the year is always a good time for reflecting, and planning for the coming season. My big plan is to be part of the team that leaves for the Olympic Games in early July with my top horse GV Billy Elliot. He has had a good year with several wins at CIC*** level and a very close 2nd at Sydney CCI***. I have conveniently already eradicated Adelaide from my memory. I plan to have Billy out early in the season to the SIEC double header in late February, then to Albury CIC***, with the medium term target and final selection trial at Sydney on the 27th – 29th of April. All Australian based horse/rider combinations are using this as their last chance to get a ticket to London.
 Goulburn 2011 3 star I would be remiss in not telling you a few of my secrets for keeping Billy in tip top shape all year round. I reckon there are 4 products that really help Billy to be the best he can be. Firstly, Billy, like all of my horses is injected weekly with Pentosan Gold and Joint Guard is added to his feed to protect his joints. The evidence is irrefutable and while it is hard to measure, there would not be many top horses in Australia who are not using Pentosan at the very least to protect their joints. Billy is a very fussy eater and 6mls of Omoguard AM and PM keeps him eating, especially when he travels. He is also very feisty and is double dosed with tranquil prior to his dressage. Of course there are plenty of other products I use on Billy and my others but these are the main 4.
The rest of my team is virtually all 2 star horses with Umunga and Untouchable really ready to push on. I also have 2 new exciting horses that I have imported from Europe to event this season. The first one to be seen out and about will be Lord Limmerick and later in the season, Gorsehill Star.
 Goulburn 2011 3 star My next blog will be from the Magic Millions Carnival where I will share with you all the latest racing news and gossip. It is uncanny how many eventers that we see up there every year enjoying the carnival atmosphere.
Happy Christmas and a great Olympic 2012 to everyone….!
Tim Boland.
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December 21st, 2011
Times a passing, hasn’t this year gone fast.!
We have had our big Three Day on this side of Australia and what a success that was. I had Ellesmere Cailin in the CCI 2* and came 3rd Also Sir Dex was there in true fashion in CIC 2* coming 3rd. I also was given the fine opportunity to compete Glenys Davies one and only Awzam and also new to the team Crime Time these two lovely guys were in the CCN Pre Novice with it being Awzam’s first ever Three day he handled it all like a pro coming 9th in a huge field and Bear (Crime Time) came 6th. After the three day I decided the sky was the limit Dryandra a new fantastic course here in WA I thought why not give it a go? So this event saw me compete in my first ever CNC 3* on my amazing mount Ellesmere Cailin. Mentor Sonja Johnson gave me a very good course walk and opened my eyes to this grade where Cailin did me very proud only having a rider run out on XC put me into 2nd place to my Boyfriend Ben Leahy.
 Ellesmere Cailin CNC 3* (Photo Maddy Bright) The Up and coming, Sir Dex also did particulary well this weekend considering the conditions that we had to deal with he managed to pull out the big gun and had a ripper placing of 2nd in a very strong competition! Crime Time after a fairly average Dtressage test went super on XC with no issues and only a couple of rails SJ put him in good 8th position! I also took up the young one MiKenny’s Caruso competing in his second last Intro1 he put in a fine effort that put him in 3rd position. With a couple weeks in between we had major planning to do as Dex was soon to leave for the PCA Nationals in Victoria and I had one last event before we left the following Wednesday. Alcoa Fairbridge is a event very close to me for once!! 15 mins down the road I chose to ride 5 horses…. SILLY ME. Ellesmere Cailin placed 4th in the CNC3*, Crime Time placed 17th in the CNC1*, Glenys Davies Awzam completed his first 1* placing 12th.
 Awzam CNC1* (photo Glenys Davies) I also took out a young one – Dreamweaver, who was purchased off of Eliva Park Thoroughbreds here in WA he showed me that he will one day make a great eventer! MiKenny’s Caruso also went to this event and took out the Snr Intro 1.
 Mikennys Caruso (photo Eileen Moore) After this event saw me travel a short trip to Melbourne with Sir Dex here he competed in the PCA Nationals for Eventing. We had a picture perfect run all weekend and ended up placing.
 Sir Dex (Photo Ridhardson Family) After nationals saw a short break in the events with a week off for Dex and weekend of nothing! But after this we had one of the best events in WA which is held at the devine Brookleigh estate! With hot weather expected it was bound to be a fun weekend. Sir Dex and Crime Time in the CIC 2* and MiKenny’s Caruso in the Prelim. The weekend was a success on Crime Time’s behalf his first 2 * and he felt fantastic!! With only a small hiccup on XC we managed to attain 6th position.
 Crime Time (Photo Maddy Bright) Sir Dex unfortunately didn’t want to play ball this weekend with a few too many stops out on the Cross Country saw me walking home. MiKenny’s Caruso who had stepped up a level into Prelim put in a fantastic result with some green moments on the course I have the impression this man may be climbing the grades very shortly.
Well that was the year that has been!
My fantastic horses decided that this year was to be ended a couple week short of Adelaide with some discussions with the team I decided they were right and put them on spell just 2 weeks short of what was my aim for the year Adelaide “that’s horses”. I have had a fantastic year with my crew getting to know them better than ever with Dex, Cailin and Caruso only just having their first year anniversary with me and Bear just fresh off the press I think we did a mighty effort! Anyway was just a short message from everyone here at Leedale Lodge MERRY XMAS and a very VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR!!
 Cailin
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December 19th, 2011
2011 has been a huge year, with many competitions both state and Interstate. My team of horses have had a fantastic year with many great performances.
One of the most exciting trips was Equitana. Brentanus was selected to be part of the master class with Edward Gal and Hans Peter Minderhoud. This was an amazing experience, not only did we have a great time, but took home some fantastic knowledge.
A huge thank you to the Nature Vet team, your products and support has been amazing.
Congratulations to everyone on this year’s successes and I wish you all the very best for the coming year.
Have a Merry Christmas, and a happy new year.
Victoria.
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