Amy Still on European Circuit

The YPCT has been following Arthurton equestrienne Amy Graham’s progress as she travels through Europe and competes in three and four star showjumping competitions during the Euro­pean season, in preparation for the 2012 Olympics in London.

Amy with her dog, Jamie, relaxing at Auvers, France. Jamie is a rescue dog and has become a devoted companion for Amy.Amy’s mother, Car­oline, has just returned from spending five weeks with Amy and provides us with the following update:

Amy has settled into her new life and she is now in Belgium living at the Berkenbroek Stud which is a breeding barn. The training facilities are excellent and Amy is enjoying the trail rides through acorn and silver birch woods. It makes a change from riding through mallee scrub.

Amy is training the stud’s young horses in exchange for feed for her horses and agistment. She is able to live in her truck at Berkenbroek and this has helped reduce her living costs which is fantastic.

The stables are a real melting pot with riders, grooms, and owners from all over the world and the conversations are interesting with English not always the main language.

Amy has made some good friends and has a support system that is helping her to adjust to her new life.

Since the last update, Amy has been competing in two and three star competitions in Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands and France. She is now feeling very comfortable at this level and is keen to gain starts in higher levels.

During September and October, Amy has an exciting line up of competitions with her horse, Baloubet, entered in the World Young Horse Championships in Lanaken, and she has also received an invitation to the World Cup Qualifier in Tripoli in Libya. 

Amy’s main aim before the end of March 2010 is to gain her Certificate of Capability (COC) to enable her to enter the selection series for selection into the Australian team for the World Equestrian Games in Kentucky. 

Amy has been keeping in close contact with her coach Michelle Strapp via video.  Footage of competitions and training are sent to Michelle on a regular basis and through Skype Michelle sends Amy a critique of her training and performance.

This is not the perfect situation but it is working and it is certainly the best solution until Michelle can return to Europe.

Amy will be home for a flying visit in November before returning to Europe for the winter indoor competitions in December and January. At this stage, her program has her settling her horses in at Mechelen on Christmas Day ready to start competition on December 26. She can have that one to herself as I was told the outside temperature will be around -15 degrees C. 

The front of the stables at competitions identifies the rider and country.We plan to return to Europe in February 2010 to watch her compete at the start of the outdoor season in Portugal and Spain.