YO U N G R I D E R
Begin at the beginning Lauren Rowe’s tried and true approach to training her horses is proving to be very successful, writes SUZY JARRATT.
C
harlotte Dujardin once
get their trust.” These words resonate
said: “some of the best
with Lauren Rowe who likes to train her
combinations in dressage are
horses from the very beginning. And she
people who’ve worked with their horses
has had many successes along the way.
from the bottom and got to the top. They
The seventeen-year-old West Australian
get a partnership and a connection. I
was given her own pony when she was
want to know my horses inside out and
six. “My mum, Lisa, rode and competed,
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and these days is my ‘eyes on the ground’. I’m very lucky to have Mum and Dad. They take time off work driving me everywhere so I can do what I love, and ensure I always have the best gear.” Lauren is also very thankful for her much-loved Nana, who has a wonderful meal waiting for the whole family after a big day of showing. Since she was a little girl Lauren has competed on her family’s Welshies, and sometimes on small breeds owned by people who have considered her the ideal jockey to showcase their ponies. She has done a lot of hacking, ranging from Pony Club gymkhanas to Grand Nationals. She also did well at eventing: “These days I occasionally ride over jumps just for a change in routine. I’ve always had green ponies and love all aspects of training but now dressage is my passion. I used to watch the top riders at horse events and wanted to do what they were doing. The whole idea of dressage is creating harmony between horse and rider and making movements together.”
