Having been away from Australia for 12 months I can honestly say that I believe the quality of the young horses we saw at Werribee over the weekend has shown that we have the depth of bloodlines and we have people willing to breed showjumping horses and that can only be a good thing. I guess the one discussion I got very bored with was the buyers telling me that the sellers are asking to much and the sellers telling me that the showjumpers want everything for nothing - I think there may be truth from both sides but the reality is that the days of buying/being given broken down racehorses off the track is pretty much over.There will always be the exception but to be able to be competitive on the world market Australian showjumpers need to have purpose bred horses and the reality is that the breeders shouldn't have to do this as a charity - perhaps the Australian showjumpers (and I am generalising and I realise this) are at a point now where they need to encourage owners into the sport who will pay the fair price and then hold on to the horses through to the ultimate goals of World Equestrian Games and Olympics!

Our riders have the talent but they need to stop whingeing about everything they can think of and just get on with the job of producing the horses and looking after breeders by way of recognition and owners by way of involving them in a very exciting sport and not treating them like "cash cows"! Breeding a horse from conception to a broken and riding 4 year old is an expensive exercise in any country in the world and Australia with its drought conditions has been an expensive place to feed youngsters - recognition of this is equally as important as the recognition of the costs involved in keeping a competitive showjumping horse on the road - I know there are plenty of people willing to be owners but riders need to see them as "equal partners" in the quest as generally speaking owners can't ride the horse at top level but riders often cannot afford to financially keep a horse at top level - equal partnerships is what it is all about and the proof is there amongst some of the very special riders in Australia who have had their owners, as partners, for many years.

Maybe even one day in the not too distant future the showjumping Judges will also be treated to the nice sit down lunch - but for this year anyway Gavin checks out the sandwich while on course, while Arnaud looks on.
Right: Former Showjumping champion and producer of exceptional showjumping horses, Michelle Strapp has turned her hand to dressage of recent years and has proved that 'some' showjumpers know how to work a dressage horse
Michelle is seen here with husband David who has given up cars and is now "back in horses" fulltime and this dynamic and passionate duo will no doubt be planning some very special things for the future and as I understand it one of these things will involve the Young Riders - stand by for more details on what the Strapp family have coming up in the not too distant future.
Left: Amanda Alomes and Wavedancer the 4 year old Clydie/Thoroughbred cross stallion bred by Charlie and Roz Moffat go through their paces for the Judges in the outdoor grass arena. They did a great job and this horse has a lovely brain which no doubt combined with his love to jump will make him a local stallion who will be popular among breeders.

Right: Rusty Morrison on board his father, Allan's four year old Daley K gelding - this is definitely a youngster who will come into his own as he matures and he develops his technique - he certainly doesn't appear to have a scope problem and this is a youngster I look forward to seeing in his 5th year. Raymond K was bred by Denis Crane

Left: Great to see Bronwyn Pettitt supporting this event with her chestnut thoroughbred mare MD Sprite who is by Spatacus out of a Sir Tristram mare. No doubt this is another youngster who will come into her own as she gains a better understanding of the job she is being asked to do but she is a lovely stamp of throughbred and again would be a prime candidate for perhaps breeding a future star.
Right: Russell Johnstone looks relaxed as he checks out the course and helps out fellow jumper who I think is Shane Davidson - please accept my apologies if I have this wrong and feel free to contact us to have this corrected.

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