Targa chases dream

TWENTY-ONE-year-old Jervis Bay rider Alycia Targa and her horse Neversfelde Kudu have flown out of Sydney for Frankfurt, Germany to compete at the 2007 FEI Young Rider World Cup Dressage Final in December.

This will be the first time Australia has had a representative compete at the event.

It has been a tense time for Alycia and her mother Robyn, who has made the trip as her groom, and Kudu’s owner Jane Bruce since her selection was announced with the equine influenza outbreak looking set to prevent Kudu leaving Australia.

It was a huge relief when they were advised last week that Kudu was cleared to fly.

“It’s been a tense time, that’s for sure,” Alycia said.

“Initially we didn’t know if we would even be allowed to take Kudu overseas.

“Then we had to wait to be given the vaccinations.

“She’s had three courses of the vaccinations and we have been in quarantine for the past three weeks to ensure everything is right for her to make the trip.

“It’s a relief to be up and running as they say.”

It was a tough 24 hours of travelling for Alycia and Kudu.

“We made the flight over in a cargo plane, with a stop over in Hong Kong,” she said.

“It will take a few days for us to adjust our body clocks, but we are now looking forward to the competition.”

And that major competition is a scary prospect for the local team which, due to the Equine Influenza outbreak they haven’t been able to compete since June at the NSW Young Rider Championships.

“We’ve trained as much as we could at home, but like most sports you can’t beat competition to give you that edge,” Alycia said.

“It’s all about competition nerves and keeping it all together.

“You can train all you like at home, but there is a different atmosphere at competitions.

“Hopefully we can hold it all together.

“We have been selected as a guest rider for a local competition in Germany prior to the World Cup, at least we get one hit out.

“Sure it’s not the ideal preparation, but we’ll just do the best we can.”

Not only is it a big time for Kudu, but it is also the first time Alycia will ride for her country.

“It’s a huge thrill and a bit daunting at the same time,” she said.

“It is fantastic to be selected to ride for Australia - a real honour and hopefully it can give me a leg up, excuse the pun, in my riding career.

“It will get me recognised and hopefully a boost for what I want to achieve in the future to instruct and teach other people to ride and also eventually to ride at an Olympics or a World Championship.”

The FEI organises sponsorship to meet the cost of transport for international horses and riders and also covers the cost of horse, rider and groom accommodation during the competition.

Without this sponsorship Alycia almost certainly would not have been able to compete.

Even with these costs covered, Alycia will still have to find about $20,000 to meet other expenses.

EFA has provided $5000 in International Competition Development funds, which will assist in accommodation and board expenses for Alycia and Kudu prior to the competition, coaching fees and some transportation costs in Germany.

Alycia and the South Coast Equestrian Club have been active in raising additional funds, with Jennifer and Doug Symes (club president) organising a fashion show and luncheon at Bomaderry Bowling Club.

The Shoalhaven Dressage Club ran a Melbourne Cup sweep, while the Gunyah Restaurant at Huskisson also hosted a Melbourne Cup day luncheon as a fundraiser.

Nowra Saddleworld is running a raffle, which has as its prize an Anky Salinero saddle and bridle valued at more than $3000 donated by Saddleworld, with tickets available from Nowra Saddleworld (4421 3366).

In Germany Alycia and Kudu will be based in Johann Hinnemann’s stables and will train with him in the weeks leading up to the event.

Johann is coach of the Dutch national dressage team.

Alycia has already had the opportunity to train with him in July this year after winning a trip to Aachen as the prize for the Aachen Challenge at the Victorian Dressage Festival.

Alycia hopes that in the weeks she trains with Johann she will be able to achieve a bit more engagement from Kudu and more accuracy in her own riding.

“My problem is that I tend to over-ride sometimes,” she said.

“There’s a fine line between getting really good movement from Kudu and pushing her too hard.

“She does suffer from competition nerves and I know my big job is to keep her calm, but still sparkling.”

Jane Bruce says that she’s confident that Alycia and Kudu will represent Australia well in Germany.

“They are a good partnership,” she said.

“Alycia has been riding Kudu for two years now - initially I shared the ride with her, but since the 2006 Young Rider Championships she’s been Kudu’s only rider.

“As Kudu’s breeder and owner I’m really hoping she’ll be a good representative for Australia.

“She was short-listed for the 2000 Olympics and it was disappointing to us that she missed out.

“I’m thrilled that she has this chance to compete for Australia at this level.”