GIVING BACK
our duties, and we help committees to run a successful competition.”
An Eventful Life
The most consistent issue facing stewards is people not understanding the rules. “People just don’t read the rules carefully,” she says. “Most of the time things go wrong because riders don’t know the rules.” When Christine first began stewarding it wasn’t, she says: “A big professional official appointment - it’s only been in the last 10 years that it’s grown to become an important part of FEI and Equestrian Australia events.”
For Christine Wallis, being an eventing steward has meant travelling all over the world, writes JO MCKINNON
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hristine Wallis has spent countless hours over many years volunteering her time to ensure that equestrian events around the nation, and beyond, run smoothly.
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“My husband says I’m never home, he has to introduce the dog to me when I get home,” she laughs.
It was a lifetime involvement with horses as a keen rider and having a daughter who now competes that led Christine towards becoming one of Australia’s most respected and experienced Eventing stewards. “I was interested in getting involved in some sort of official capacity after the kids grew up and the Pony Club years were over,” she says. In 2004, Christine, who hails from Leongatha in the South Gippsland region of Victoria, attended an official’s course in Adelaide, and was inspired to pursue a career as steward. For those that may not know what the role of a steward is, stewards ensure that rules (under the FEI and EA) are adhered
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Since then the journey has taken the 69-year-old all over the world to officiate at events including the 2012 London Olympics and last year’s FEI World Equestrian Games in Tryon, USA.
to by all riders who are competing at events. “As an FEI steward we go to events and oversee a fair play for all riders,”
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says Christine. “We make sure they are abiding by rules and regulations. Also the welfare of the horse is a big part of
She says one of the most enjoyable aspects of stewarding is working with other people to get the job done. “The teamwork is very satisfying – in eventing we have a really strong team. We respect each other and we have to communicate a lot.”
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Her dedication has been awarded. In 2010 Christine was named Equestrian Australia’s Official of the Year and she has also been a recipient of the prestigious Julius Patching Award, which recognises the outstanding contribution that officials make to the fabric of the Olympic sporting community in Victoria.
In 2008 Christine went on a self-funded trip to some of the globe’s biggest eventing competitions including Kentucky, Badminton and Samur in order to gather insights into what other nations were doing. Soon after her return, she plunged straight in and took over the role as Steward General from Di Schrapel.
Christine also gets enormous satisfaction out of working at the junior
People just don’t read the rules carefully. Most of the time things go wrong because riders don’t know the rules.
HORSEVIBES MAGAZINE - AUGUST 2019
