Following a most successful Autumn season where my prime aim of selection to the travelling squad for this year's World Equestrian Games (WEG) has been achieved, I felt it was time to update you with the second Sunburst Equestrian Newsletter for 2006.

The Reynella Horse Trials at the end of April provided an ideal preparatory run for Koyuna Sun Magic ('Fox') where he had a comfortable run over the cross country with excellent footing. He added only time faults to his dressage score to win from my youngster, Koyuna Sun Dancer in 2nd who just keeps improving to be an exceptionally well performed 6yo. 'Dancer' was actually 2 seconds faster than 'Fox' across the country to win the Frank Keach Memorial Trophy for the clear round closest to the optimum time. Koyuna Sunshine was again consistent to place a close 3rd in the CNC** class where a rider misjudgement in the showjumping contributed to uncharacteristic jumping faults which did cost her another win. "Acacia Ridge Sun Rise" ran superbly on the first half of the cross country before a mistake at a difficult apex put him out of winning contention though he did still meet qualifying criteria. With strong dressage and showjumping results he still managed to finish in 6th place. Youngster "Hoc's Maximus" had a very good start to his official eventing career at Reynella with a 6th place in the Pre novice; after leading the dressage he performed beyond his experience on cross country to incur only time faults but showed his inexperience in the showjumping for a couple of mistakes towards the end of the round.

Our trip to the south-east of SA for the Naracoorte International Horse Trials was again successful with Koyuna Sunshine bringing home her second win for the season in the CIC** class which not only provides her with her full qualification for a CC1** class at the Adelaide International Horse Trials but with valuable points towards the Nature Vet Futurity class at the Lakes & Craters International in December. Koyuna Sun Dancer again performed well to finish a close 4th in the CIC*** class and beat his older stablemate, Koyuna Sun Smoke who finished 5th. Acacia Ridge Sun Rise again excelled in the dressage and showjumping but had a mistake on the cross country to finish 6th though he did meet qualifying criteria. Koyuna Sun Storm contested her second Pre novice start for a good 4th placing, as she was taken slowly having returned from injury. She then went a few places better to comfortably win the Pre novice class at the Kirkcaldy Park Horse Trials some two weeks later. I only managed to start two horses at this event as I had to fit in Wayne & Frances Roycroft's wedding up on the Central Coast, an hour out of Sydney, on the Saturday evening.

Travelling to Werribee early to join the Victorian Squad clinic with National Coach, Wayne Roycroft on June 3/4 gave my horses plenty of time to settle in to the venue in order to perform at their best. I had been hoping to take Koyuna Sun Smoke as a preparatory runner to 'Fox' in the CCI*** but problems with his feet prevented this so I took Acacia Ridge Sun Rise ('Riley') for the CCI* instead to keep me well occupied. Fox began his event well with a good dressage test, only marred by his lack of immobility in his halts and some unwanted head movement at the end of his walk, to score a 50.6 which was just 5 points behind the leader. 'Riley' also performed well for his stage of training to score 47.1 which had him in 8th place after the dressage phase.

The CCI*** cross country course provided a challenging test of the horse's scope and bravery combined with their accuracy and rideability - often in the same combination of fences! Fox did travel and jump exceptionally well on the cross country except when I missed my line at a difficult combination of tree stumps, the 2 elements of which were blinded from each other by overhanging tree branches, and asked him to jump through the tree! Although initially very disappointed, believing that I had just thrown away my selection chances, time and speaking with Wayne and our Chef d'Equipe, Rob Hanna helped me keep my error in perspective and fight on the next day. A clear round in the Showjumping the next day, one of only four, no doubt aided my selection. Riley was also very good over the cross country to add nothing to his dressage score while a rider error in the Showjumping for one rail down left us in 5th place; still a pleasing result for such a young horse.

Please find my attached competition results for the 2006 season thus far and a Competition Itinerary for the lead up to the World Equestrian Games, Aachen, Germany in August and the upcoming Australian spring season.

Yours Sincerely,

Wendy Schaeffer OAM