atmosphere. I didn't think much about the big crowd. It was kind of like, oh, I’m here, we are running in and this is just so much fun. I was doing my job, and the German horse – he was so beautiful – was doing his. My Dutch lunger Maurits De Vries was great, and the owners were lovely too. So after the disappointment of the Netherlands it was a really fun, enjoyable experience.
JH: Let’s go back a bit. When did you start vaulting?
SD: I was originally a gymnast when I was younger. When I was about 13, my mum heard an ad on the radio saying if you like horses and you like gymnastics, this is the perfect sport for you. Come along and break some bones.
JH: Whoa, what radio station was that? SD: It was a random, local Melbourne station. I found out later they’d asked small business owners to call up and they’d make them a funny ad. A riding
F E AT U R E
Doing what it takes
business applied and that’s what they made for them. My mum heard it and signed me up. I went along and there I was, standing on the horse that first day, thinking this is amazing, this is for me.
JH: So you have pursued the passion even when it’s been difficult?
SD: I think I'm physically strong enough.
Pursuing your passion isn’t always easy. JAMIE HOCKING spoke to fellow vaulter Stephanie Dore about her sometimes bumpy road to the world stage.
But it's whether my mind shows up to play the game. It’s hard when you want to do well, but you don’t believe you are in the same league as some of the top Europeans. At the last WEG I was so nervous, but this time around, I’m more
I
confident, I know what to expect and
’m here in Denmark talking to
to plan with my first competition in the
I'm just really excited. My goal is simple,
Aussie Vaulter Stephanie Dore,
Netherlands, so I stayed in Europe longer
to be able to breathe through all my
26, who has been shortlisted to
and added in the recent Aachen 4*.
routines and show a performance that's
JH: To me, Aachen is the biggest and
clean and something I'm proud of.
most elite of all the international
JH: What tools are you using to
events. It was your first time there –
improve mental control in your
how did you go?
performances?
SD: I started saving money and training
SD: It went better than expected. I
SD: I do a lot of visualising and grounding
for WEG two years ago. I was planning
groomed there in 2014 for the USA team
exercises. And before I run in, I focus
three major European competitions as
and was just happy to be competing
on five things I can sense, which is what
a lead up, but things didn’t go entirely
myself. I loved running in to such a huge
keeps me focussed even under pressure.
compete for Australia at the World Equestrian Games (WEG) this month. Congratulations, Steph, and can you tell us about your preparations so far?
56 | E Q U E S T R I A N H U B I S S U E 8 • 2 0 2 2
