The equestrian sport of eventing is one of the world’s most demanding and thrilling sports, requiring athleticism, bravery and a special partnership between horse and rider. It is also the only Olympic sport in which men and women compete directly against one another.   Australia’s eventing riders are admired around the equestrian world. Their medal winning achievements at multiple Olympic Games and other international competitions are testament to the quality of eventing riders produced in Australia.

But what is it that makes these riders so special? This book, An Eventful Life, provides a written and pictorial insight into the lives of five elite Australian eventing riders; Megan Jones, Sonja Johnson Shane Rose, Wendy Schaeffer and Stuart Tinney. They are all Olympic medallists, they are all aiming for further medals and they are all based in Australia. An additional chapter on an up and coming rider, Emma Scott, gives an insight into how younger Australian riders view the world of professional equestrian sport.

Equestrian journalist and writer Alison Duthie spent time talking to these riders about their lives, their horses, their ambitions and their businesses. She visited their homes, followed them at competitions and met their partners – both human and equine! Their backgrounds, personalities and approaches to life vary but there are recurring themes of determination, passion and ambition. The result is a fascinating book comprising of six compelling individual stories which, when combined, provide an incisive overview of the sport of eventing in Australia.

The Riders

Sonja Johnson– the silver Olympic medallist who regards herself as a sheep farmer first and professional rider second! Read about how Sonja manages her equestrian career from the remote area of Albany, Western Australia and combines winning medals with managing her family’s merino stud, coaching and public speaking. Sonja’s story reveals a feisty, amusing and enthusiastic woman who is determined that a balanced life can be achieved at the top of any career

Megan Jones- the blonde and bubbly pin up girl of Australian eventing. Few people realise the hurdles that Megan has overcome since childhood including eye and ear operations, a bad stutter and dyslexia. Megan is a team silver medallist from the Beijing Olympics who narrowly missed out on winning the individual gold medal – a mistake she intends to rectify in the future! The story of Megan’s rise to the top of her sport is inspiring, sometimes hilarious and often endearing.

Shane Rose– is a likeable Australian larrikin who is well known for his bravery, not only in his riding but also in overcoming life threatening situations. Most event riders incur some injuries through their sport but Shane has recovered from the devastating effects of being kicked in the face by a horse and has had to deal with the emotional and physical trauma of thyroid cancer. Despite this, Shane won a team silver medal at the Beijing Olympics and he is determined to go one better next time and win gold.

Wendy Schaeffer– at twenty one years of age, Wendy was the youngest gold medal winning Olympic rider. Having broken her leg only nine weeks before the Atlanta Olympic Games, many doubted she would be able to compete. But against all odds, she triumphed and the story of Wendy and Sunburst, the horse she had ridden since she was eleven years old went into the history books

Stuart Tinney– the quiet hero and family man. Having travelled all around the world with his horses to earn the right to compete for Australia, Stuart won a team gold medal a few kilometres from home at the Sydney Olympics. Despite this achievement, he is unfortunately probably best remembered overseas for jumping into the crowd at the prestigious Badminton event! Stuart’s story demonstrates how a man whose first love is his family can still be the best in the world in his sport.

Emma Scott– at just 23 years of age, Emma has two horses on the National A Squad and looks set for a bright future

 This is not just a book for fans of equestrian sport – it is a book for anyone interested in how seemingly ordinary people become Olympic champions. Their stories are inspiring, touching, funny at times and sad at others and they reveal what it takes to be the best in the world. Each of these Olympic medallists deserves a biography of their own – but as they are still at the top of their sport and aiming for future goals, these are their stories .......... so far.

An Eventful Life – Life Stories of Eventing Championswill be released at the Melbourne International Three Day Event in June by Palmer Higgs Books. The soft back book includes 96 pages of full colour photographs and is available now on-line at www.phbooks.com.au at $34.95 plus postage and handling. Further information is available on the book web site www.an-eventful-life.com.au .

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