According to Heath Ryan, the Australian dressage team have told international judges “we’re here and we are not going away.”
Despite receiving only 62.50 per cent for his ride on Wednesday night, Ryan told the Maitland Mercury that his team has taken an all-important step onto the international arena.
“This is the first time that Australia has qualified a dressage team for the Olympics, that is a very serious step,” the Lochinvar equestrian said.
“We are currently sitting fourth on the second day, that is way ahead of any expectations.
“It was considered a miracle for us to make the top eight.
“I guess the next thing is jolly well coming to grips with the competition in a competitive way.
“You’ve got to walk before you can fly.
“ I was really pleased with that test and as long as everything is forward from here I think Australia is about to become a very serious dressage nation.”
Ryan also said the nature of the sport meant the Australian team was at a disadvantage without expectations or a reputation to fall back on.
“In dressage, which is such a very subjective sport, you don’t get amazing scores unless there is some expectation,” he said.
“The judges had never seen an Australian team before so there was no expectation.
“But there is no use whingeing, we just need to get on with it.
“The fact is that we are in fourth spot and we have them thinking about us.
“By the time we get to the next Olympics they will be thinking ‘ok, these guys are not going away’.”
Ryan said his ride was not a disappointing one, praising his horse first and foremost, and was confident team-mates Hayley Beresford and former Muswellbrook rider Kristy Oatley, would do better.
“I was just talking to Rozzie my wife and she said it had to be higher and more electric,” he said.
“I think that’s right. I was pretty pleased with the horse, he didn’t miss a beat.”
The team is aiming to finish in the top six at the 2008 Games. Ryan was also keen to qualify for the World Cup in Las Vegas next year.
“They are going to have to deal with me at the next competition, I can promise you it will be better,” he said.
“And at the next one I’ll be better again, and by London (2012 Olympics) we reckon we’ll be in the top three teams in the world.”
Beresford, who battled breast cancer to be at the Games, recorded a score of 65.583.
Her effort put the Australian team into provisional fourth place on 64.062 going into Thursday’s session, but several of the top nations, including Germany, still had two riders left to compete.
Beresford was in 10th place in the provisional individual standings at the completion of Wednesday night’s competition, while Ryan was 14th.
The remaining dressage riders, including Oatley, were scheduled to compete on Thursday night.
The grand prix dressage is the competition for the teams. To decide the individual medal, the top 25 riders progress to the Grand Prix Special, which will be held on Saturday. The highest 15 riders after that test move through to the Grand Prix Freestyle next Tuesday.
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