So I’m feeling rather lucky!!
I had an amazing opportunity and got a ride on the super star that is Stedinger!
Revelwood Stud had a competition going to “win” a ride on him. My dear “Big Chad” owning friend suggested I should enter. Which of course I did! Thinking with a degree of trepidation I am not exactly a textbook Dressage rider for this imported Stallion that has amazing paces. Which of course if you google his name you will see a few videos from the European Stallion shows the display his incredible canter.
Worth a try anyway so I penned my words into a nice short little rhyming piece. Got the news I had won on Mother’s Day I think it was actually, as my dear Mum was quite thrilled!
Thankfully it’s a quieter period at work so I can take off mid week to ride a super fancy horse! I was pretty excited!
Left home a little earlier (though not so early that everyone froze) so we could have a look and a sit in the Equipe Saddles at Trailrace. I have ridden in a couple of models and was keen to see what the brown looked like. I am now 100% sold in a Equipe Emporio in Brown! I like the feel of this model and you could easily get away with it in the Show Ring.
Onto Amberwood Park and Stedinger! It was simply awe-inspiring to watch Gina riding him. I would very much look forward to seeing them both in a freestyle test as the work they produce is so expressive and Stedinger’s canter is totally world-class and an absolute highlight.
Not to mention he has a devine head and really is so leggy and elegant. There are quite a few Show Hunter horse mares I know off that would be such lovely crosses to him. The progeny would not only have the rideability but the good looks and the added height as he of course stands at 17.2 HH
Then it was my turn to jump aboard! He is certainly a bit taller than E’s great height of 14.3HH. He was really super, didn’t mind the change of rider and was happy to listen to what I was asking. No fuss and really enjoyable and I think I sat his big trots okay and we played around in the lateral work being coached by Gina. Lost that left stirrup a bit which is frustrating but it is improving so I can’t complain. His canter is soo gorgeous to ride, flying changes and half pass no problems 🙂 Gina had me ride some tempi’s which Stedinger was happy to do! Finished off with some piaffe and passage and phoar he can passage!
He was such a gentlemen and quite the dude on the ground. Better manners than my two boys anyday! A massive thankyou to Stedinger for being such a gorgeous horse, Revelwood Stud and David & Amanda Shoobridge to let someone ride one of their uber fancy stallions, Amberwood Park for allowing another person onboard and so close to a competition…and for getting him so pretty! Lastly but importantly to Chad’s Mum for getting me to enter. A fabulous opportunity that won’t be forgotten.
Video will be on the Revelwood Stud facebook page shortly
Gallops & Garlands 
So cool! 🙂
Just watched the video on facebook – what an amazing experience! You rode him beautifully and he looks like an absolute delight to ride, so willing!
I have so much to say! First, congratulations and I’d love to read your winning poem. Next, your photos look awesome. I have to find the video of you. Third, I can’t believe a contest like this exists/existed. I can’t imagine anything like that EVER being offered up here in the U.S., which makes me kind of sad. i’m sure that experience is something you’ll remember fondly for your entire life, not to mention, inspire you as a rider/horseperson. Finally, I clicked on the link to the stud homepage, and I was dismayed to see the rider jumping without a helmet. Yikes! He seems like a great horse and obviously the guy is a very experienced rider, but flukey things happen with horses and. . . well, you know the rest. Safety first. Protect the brain. 🙂
Thanks for sharing your very cool opportunity. How fun!
Very lucky indeed! I do agree about the helmet and all I can say is it looks to be a video of the stallion in Europe – so it was quite a suprise to read that until I saw 🙂 The Owners of Revelwood Stud have been some of the first to wear Helmets in Grand Prix tests her in Aus and certainly at the forefront of helmet wearing their stylish Charles Owens.