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Ben Terry in Europe!
Ben with Sjef & Anky Von Grunsman
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17 year old Benjamin Terrey from Dhurringile near Shepparton in Victoria is living the dream. This talented youngster is a working pupil currently training in Essen Belgium with Internationals Johan and Penny Rockxs.
While there were always horses around, Ben didn't start competing until he was 13 and with a talented horse showing him the way there was no looking back! A member of the Hamag EFA Young Rider Dressage Squad aboard David Quick's Arcanell Isle at Elementary, this successful combination won the 2008 National YR Jackpot Elementary Championship and were successful at the NSW YR Championships. With the support of his Sponsors Weightlifter Horse Feed, Isle of Wight Farm, Blockbuster Australia, O'Deas Saddlery Shepparton, Bean Addicts Shepparton, and JC Farm Palomino Warmbloods Ben has realised a dream many young riders can only imagine.
Whilst developing a good dressage team at home Ben has embraced the opportunity to work and learn overseas, the Rockxs' train regularly with Anky van Grunsven and Ben joined them on their latest trip, Ben had the opportunity to catch up with their No 1 rider and business associate Geoffrey Butler.
Geoff who is also from Shepparton and a former David Quick pupil and gave Ben the grand tour and introduced him to Bonfire, Salinero, Painted Black, and to Anky and Sjef.
Ben will return to Australia in February with a plan to return to Europe twice yearly to continue training to return with some of the lovely Australian bred dressage prospects.
"Hello everyone
Just an update on what I've been doing in the 2nd month in Belgium.
The trip to Anky's was amazing but you soon settle back into the routine at “La Fazenda” . The horses headed by Verdi de la Fazenda (complete with Hamag number holders), competed at a local competitions for solid wins.This gave me my first look at competition warm ups which along with starting the younger horses is something I really wanted to concentrate on.
Between Christmas and New Years I went to Jumping – Mechelen it was 5 days of Equestrian sport with prize money over 460,000 euro.The PSG was won by the Dutch Rider Hans Peter MINDERHOUD on an amazing Jazz Stallion IPS Tango with Julie DE DEKEN and Fazzino second and Anky Van GRUNSVEN third on Nelson and I haven’t seen anything like it in my life. The GP was won by another super Jazz horse the gelding of Adelinde CORNELISSEN, Parzival. Second was Anky VAN GRUNSVEN and Painted Black and third was the PSG winning rider Hans Peter MINDERHOUD on EXQUIS NADINE which made it a clean sweep for the Dutch. The winners both being by Jazz caught my attention as there is a very nice Jazz gelding waiting for me at home"
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