The Scoop - Teena Bridge

This story is from the August 2019 Horse Deals magazine.

Age: 65 years old.

Lives: In Manilla, NSW for the last 36 years, originally from the Central Coast.

Occupation: I’ve never had a paid employment per se. I have ridden, trained and all else with horses all my life.

Family history with horses? My parents and/or any family had no horse interest or background but supported my passion by allowing me to grow up with other people who indulged me.

What age did you start riding? Running away from home at four years old mostly to Joan Nattrass at Woy Woy who let me and helped me on her daughter’s show pony Rickie. I spent a lot of time on him! ‘Learn the hard way’ was encouraged and accepted then.

Tell us about your first pony. My parents never bought me a pony and weren’t really a part of that until many years later. I always had horses given to me to fix, never a shortage of those! But officially the first horse I owned was given to me by Joan Nattrass, a chestnut filly Princess Darien (by Lord Darien x Honey Gold) when I was 12 years old for services rendered.

Which horse has taught you the most important lesson? Garcon D’or, I acquired him as a yearling colt when I was 15 years old, he was to me the most beautiful thing I could ever have. In rearing and training him he taught me patience and humility, he curbed my temper and moulded my temperament better than any person could have. He had talent and attitude to burn and so did I. We would lock horns, both willful, he was bigger, stronger and thus I learnt to negotiate.

When did you first get involved with Stock Horses and why did it stick? In 1972 I had my stallion Garcon D’or classified at Maureen Walker’s property at Wyong. He was a palomino with mixed pedigree, ideal type. All my horses to this day trace back to him. I am Aussie through and through and the ideals of the Society and what we represent is why I stick to only that breeding now. Yet, I have at one stage or another, shown everything from Shetlands to Clydesdales and all breeds in between.

You’ve had a myriad of successes over the years, what have been some of the highlights? An impossible question, I have been fortunate, but dedication and hard work will produce results. The highlight for me is only about earning the respect of my fellow competitors. I hold a few records in the show world and that gives me much personal pride.

What keeps you coming back to compete in ASHLA classes? My husband Michael believes the ASHLA class is my personal class, it is the one that he feels gives me the most credit. I don’t know about that but it is important to him. Yet for me, it is a traditional event that I am very loyal to and will continue as long as I can bring it recognition in any way I can.

You’ve played many roles as a rider, trainer, coach and judge. Which have you enjoyed the most and why? I’ve enjoyed all my roles with horses. Early in my life, riding them was everything. In later life teaching and trying to understand horses better. But always then and now helping a horse to understand and go better is at the top of the list, turning a sow’s ear into a silk glove.

Who has had the biggest influence on your riding career? I have been very fortunate to have had the opportunity to rub shoulders with many wonderful horse experts, too many to mention. One that will always stand out is Steve Laird, long since passed but he instilled in me to be observant enough to study the best and learn lessons from the worst, both in horses and people.

How many horses do you have in work? These days I only dabble in what I want to, having one or two going at a time. The big team days are, I hope, long gone. I own nine horses and breed a couple a year, just a bad habit that won’t go away. I will remember my professional days as a breaker and trainer to ride 15 to 20 a day for nearly 40 years leaves me with nothing to prove. These days I’ve learnt I only need one real good one to take home the prizes!

Do you have a favourite that you are currently competing? No, I don’t do the favourites thing anymore. There have been as many come and go and each individual has earned their own place in my heart, along with my thanks. I also keep in my mind, therefore, that I did as much for them as they did for me. Each newcomer is told they have some hard acts to follow so the long road begins again but I don’t bother starting anything that won’t make it.

Which is your most exciting young horse and why? Every horse is exciting, a blank canvas needs to be sculpted and that is what a good horseman does! Sometimes he who learns it hardest learns it the best.

Share a typical day in your life. Good question. Getting to the end of the day without breaking anything, horse or me!

What are two qualities that you look for in a horse? There is no such thing as a perfect horse but I must have as close to it as I can. If I wouldn’t put a blue ribbon on it I wouldn’t ask someone else to! So, correct conformation and quality. He must have beauty. Movement cannot be trained, it must be natural, then with the right training, I can mould his ability to perform the tasks I want better. These three attributes get me interested, time will tell.

Mares or geldings? I have no preference really. Stallions add a whole new dimension to every part of what you do and how you do it, I don’t complicate my life with that anymore. Geldings are OK but are still male and therefore get stuck in their own issues. Mares, I prefer mainly because their successes will be of value to them after their career. They will always have something more to offer.

Horses provide plenty of highs and lows, how do you manage the lows? I don’t get stuck in the lows. If he’s worth it, he’ll get there. They all have their own time clock, finding the key to make it tick, this is the part I like the best.

What is the best part of a career with horses? The people, the places you get to go and the competition. Getting stale wasn’t an option, always having something to strive for.

What would your career choice be if you weren’t working with horses? I don’t know, I never had or wanted an option.

What is the first thing you have to pack to take away to a competition? Going to a competition is easy, stuff is easy, being ready for it is primary.

They say ‘you never stop learning with horses’, what are you still learning? That’s what they say and yes there is always a horse that tells me “you think you know it all, well you haven’t met me yet! Figure me out.”

What do you like to do outside of horses? Travel.

What are your long term goals? My goals have always been to be considered by my peers to be good at what I do! My long term goal is to have done enough that I am remembered a lot longer than that.

What advice do you have for riders seeking longevity in the sport? Be smart, don’t underestimate the danger, respect it, pre-empt it and stay safe.

Three things we don’t know about Teena Bridge? An impossible question, what you see is what you get, I’m quite at home in my own skin.

If anyone would like to know more about Teena, her life and her story. Her book Bridging the Gap is available by request.

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