Q: How old were you when you started riding?
A : Three Q: Was your family horsey or were you the odd one out?
A : Dad was very tolerant and paid the bills. He thought riding was an expensive way of hurting yourself. He’s right! Mum and I learnt together, and she was always my biggest supporter. Char Lassetter Carter is my sister and has been riding and teaching in England since we were kids. Blake my brother is the sensible one who earns money in a normal job.
Q: Where did your dressage interest come from?
A : It started as something you had to do if you wanted to event. It became serious when I met Stirling Wilton who belonged to Bob and Judy Mitchell. Wilton was a very reluctant eventer and we graduated towards dressage and ultimately WEG in Stockholm.
Q: When did you start to learn about the finer points of riding?
A : Well, I learnt to ride along the beach at West Mersea on the Essex coast at Miss Catchpoles riding school. ‘Catchy’ was the best first coach anyone could wish for. I’m still learning the finer points.
Q: Who were your mentors in the early days?
A : My mother, Jane Goldsmith who was a big influence and a wonderful coach, and Anthony Crossley who allowed me
20 QUESTIONS
to ride one of his horses and feel the
20 Questions with Rozzie Ryan
piaffe and passage for the first time. After England, Heath’s ‘just get on with it’ attitude was refreshing.
Q: How did you afford to compete when you weren't a well-known professional?
A : Initially my parents were a huge support, but when Heath and I started
This celebrated Grand Prix dressage rider has competed at the World Cup and WEG, and was an Olympic reserve. Along with husband Heath, Rozzie owns and manages Ryan’s Horses, an equestrian training and breeding centre in NSW.
in Australia his parents helped us. We competed on a shoestring and I seem to remember the truck breaking down on every trip. We soon went to work for Bob and Judy Mitchell at the NSW Equestrian Centre. They were terrific supporters and innovators on the equestrian scene.
