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Young Rider - Mary Warren

This story is from the May 2019 Horse Deals magazine.

Mindarah Park Raphael at Dressage by the Sea 2019. <br>
Photo: Julie Wilson.

Mindarah Park Raphael at Dressage by the Sea 2019.
Photo: Julie Wilson.

Age:
20

Lives:
Bolwarra Heights, NSW

Education/occupation:
Dressage Trainer and Coach

Family history with horses?
My whole life I’ve always been around horses. Mum was that horse crazy girl who didn’t have the opportunity to have a horse until she was 18. Dad, on the other hand, grew up in a country town on a farm with many Stock Horses. Later he became a farrier and met my mum at a horse agistment property he was working at.

What age did you start riding?
I was lucky enough to receive my first pony on my 1st birthday. I haven’t looked back since.

Tell us about your first pony.
She was a little Shetland Pony named Taffy. Looking back on the ponies and horses I have ridden, none of them were easy. Taffy was a pony that was fine on the leadline, but once I got a bit older and wanted to do things myself, that’s when trouble started. She was quite naughty. Taffy had a bit of a habit of lying down and rolling whilst I was on her!

What was your first competition?
It was with my second pony, Pearl. The competition was held at a local club near us, Dungog Dressage Club. I remember riding in the warm-up area with my dad on a horse he was competing at the time.

Why dressage?
Both my parents competed in dressage events, so I guess I initially caught the bug from them. I love the training process involved with dressage. The hours and hours put into producing young horses into FEI horses. Training a horse to become a better athlete. I find it fascinating how much a horse’s body and capabilities change over the years of schooling. And I believe that we, as riders, learn so much from training individual horses. I love it and wouldn’t change it for the world.

When did you first begin training Grand Prix movements?
I first began training the movements with the family stallion, Mindarah Park Ramadan. I was 15 at the time and he also hadn’t touched the Grand Prix movements. So I was learning, and Rami was also learning.

When did you compete in your first Grand Prix test and how did it go? 
I was 16 years old and the competition was at Central Coast Dressage Club with Rami. We scored 59%.

What are some of the highlights of your success?
• 2016 Sydney CDI CDI-Y Trifecta Winner
• 2016 Brisbane CDI CDI-Y Trifecta Winner
• 2016 Australian Dressage Championships Winner of the Grand Prix CDI-W Freestyle
• 2016 NSW Young Dressage Athlete of the Year
• 2016 EA Young Athlete of the Year
• 2018 Willinga CDI U25 Grand Prix Trifecta Winner
• 2019 Willinga CDI 4* Winner of the Grand Prix Special
• 2019 Willinga CDI 4* Winner of the Grand Prix Freestyle

Recently you claimed the Dressage by the Sea CDI 4 star Grand Prix Special and Freestyle aboard your Mindarah Park Raphael. Tell us about your partnership with Raphy.
Raphy and I have been a combination since the very beginning - my dad and I broke him in. Raphy is the eldest son of my other Grand Prix horse, Mindarah Park Ramadan and out of a Jive Magic mare that my parents also bred. As a young horse, he was rather naughty. He could become quite hot and had a tendency to buck. As the work got harder though, he seemed to mature and rise to the occasion. Raphy was a horse that you had to keep his mind busy. Now he has the biggest heart and will just keep trying and trying for me. He’s getting fitter and stronger every day so I’m quite excited about him.

What was involved in your preparation for a CDI 4 star start?
It was the same as any other competition. I try and have regular lessons leading up to the CDI’s, working particularly on test riding.

At the Dressage By The Sea, you also competed Mindarah Park Ramirus in the Advanced. Tell us about this young horse and your plans with him.
This is a young horse that I’m quite excited about. I half own him with my sister. He was initially going to be her horse, but he grew too big and she decided to concentrate more on school and university next year. Bo is also by Rami and is out of a Lubeck/Rocadero mare. He is such a sooky horse and a pleasure to ride. This one is also a ‘keeper’. Dressage By the Sea was actually his first start at Advanced, so to come away with a win (over 71%) and the highest aggregate score over the two weeks was pretty exciting! My plans with him are Grand Prix, and we’ll just see what the future holds.

Congratulations on being named as a Dressage NSW High Performance Squad Member. What value and support does this squad bring to your training and competition career?
I am quite excited to be a part of this squad. The current squad system has changed, and I certainly feel that it is benefiting us as riders. We’re now focusing a lot more on test riding with judges, and also rider fitness and health with a yoga instructor and an osteopath.

What has been the most challenging aspect of riding at a high level from a young age?
The beauty of being a young rider at a high level is there are no expectations! The most challenging aspect has been that I am my hardest critic and sometimes put a lot of pressure on myself.

What is the secret to your success?
Consistency with training – going out every day and doing it. I am lucky to have the support from my parents and the opportunities that I have had. I have also had some really good coaches through the years.

How many horses do you have in work at the moment?
I currently work 4-6 horses a day. The numbers change up and down as horses sell or come in for training.

Was coaching and schooling horses something you always envisioned yourself doing after you left school?
Yes definitely – no question about it. This has been a passion of mine since I was a little girl.

Mindarah Park Ramirus at Dressage by the Sea 2019.<br>
Photo: Stephen Mowbray.

Mindarah Park Ramirus at Dressage by the Sea 2019.
Photo: Stephen Mowbray.

Do you have any young up and coming horses? Tell us a bit about them. 
Yes, I am lucky enough to have young horses coming through. Ramirus is my 7yo Advanced horse and hopefully my next Grand Prix horse. After him, I have a 4yo Fiji/Prestige gelding that is quite exciting. Then, of course, a couple more babies in the paddock growing out at the moment. A couple will be sold in the coming years and then I will be looking for my next superstar.

Share a typical day in your life.
Up at 6.30am, ride the horses in the morning into early afternoon. Teach a couple of students in the afternoon and then clean stables. Eat, sleep, repeat. My dad runs an earthmoving business, so some days I will do some truck work for him if he needs a driver.

Who’s your idol?
My idols would have to be Charlotte Dujardin, Carl Hester, Isabell Werth, Cathrine Dufour and Laura Graves.

Who is your coach and what are their best words of advice for you?
I was lucky enough to find a super coach late last year – Robert Harrisson Schmerglatt. He has changed the way I ride, train and compete my horses. I have become a more conscious rider and the horses have responded amazingly well. I can’t thank him enough. Words of advice – probably to never give up. Keep training day in and day out. With training, horses can surprise you.

How do you manage the highs and lows of the sport?
Dressage is a tough sport as it involves an animal with a mind of its own. But that’s the beauty of it, I think. You do need a thick skin to get through the lows, but you also need to have confidence in yourself and in your training that it will get better. Today may just have not been your day. With the highs, I am thankful for them that day, whether it was winning a CDI or a young horse nailing a flying change. Then I move on to better myself and my horses.

What are your future plans?
The ultimate goal is to compete successfully for Australia internationally, but my plans involve establishing my business as a dressage trainer and coach, and to continue to train and compete horses through to Grand Prix.

What do you like to do outside of horses?
On the rare occasion I go out into the normal world, I do enjoy hanging out with my close friends, going to the beach or the movies, and also shopping.

Can’t live without?
Coffee and chocolate.

What is your tip for young riders with dressage dreams?
Take opportunities, take risks, go out of your comfort zone. Find a coach, not just a trainer, someone who has your interests at heart and wants to help you achieve your goals.

3 things we don’t know about Mary Warren?
1. Chocoholic.
2. I have a Heavy Combination truck licence.
3. I can’t let anyone else tack up my horses. I can’t help myself – I always have to re-adjust something otherwise.

Sponsors: Thank you so much to my sponsors for their ongoing support and generosity - Ashbree Saddlery, Back on Track, Kelato Animal Health, Flexible Fit Equestrian, Dr Show, Heavenly Horse Designs, Justin Butler Equine Chiropractor and JR Easy Traveller.

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