Showing Queen Breaks Records in Aussie

Showing Queen Breaks Records in Aussie

Gaylene Lennard has created her own slice of history scoring the highest-ever score in the FEI Grand Prix Freestyle at the Sydney CDI3* at the weekend, breaking an 18-year-old record, and claiming a New Zealand one along the way . . . and all at just her second international outing.
The horsewoman from Te Aroha made a last minute call to head to the prestigious Australian event but has now put herself firmly in the picture to represent New Zealand at the FEI World Championships in Denmark later this year.
Aboard the 12-year-old Jax Johnson, Gaylene scored 76.875% in the freestyle bettering Australian Ricky Macmillan’s 75.275% that was set in 2004, and the late Julie Brougham’s New Zealand mark of 76.3% which she set in 2016 aboard Vom Feinsten.
Gaylene and Jax also won the FEI Grand Prix Special on 70%. “It is quite unbelievable,” said the 59-year-old who is probably better known in showing circles than she is in dressage, which she took up competitively about 10 years ago. “I am lost for words. I never imagined this would happen.”
The combination only rode their first international competition in March where they bagged their first qualifying score towards the World Championships. “These are all just stepping stones. It was only the second time we have ever ridden the Grand Prix Special and the musical.”
But she says it is too early to start talking about the World Championships. “I am a one step at a time kind of girl. I wasn’t even sure Jax and I were good enough so now I will go home and ask a few more questions about just what is involved.”
The Aussie trip wasn’t without its dramas though. Gaylene spent the first night camped out in the barn with her rather unsettled horse. The next day she bought some mirrors to put in his stable and he was immediately much calmer and happier to have ‘mates’ there with him.
Gaylene bought the horse as a four-year-old and says she knew from the get-go the horse was extraordinarily talented. “The really exciting thing is that there is just so much more to come from him – this is just the beginning.”
Aussie-based Kiwi John Thompson was also competing at the Sydney CDI, winning the Grand Prix, and placing third in the Special aboard Chemistry.
 
Here is the link to some of the freestyle – credit Peter Haynes – In the Limelight
 
https://www.dropbox.com/s/49xiiaqe1k5nutd/GayleneRaw.mp4?dl=0&fbclid=IwAR0Lr5E069ilJ1wgBGlm71Pqf8RD-nCpfw-Nbvg2LgF3hb4ZIs-4gMTEmz8