" My life is full to say the least and not a day goes by when I don’t realize how lucky I have been in my life so far!  ."

I was born in Western Australia in Perth and went to school at Dalkeith Primary School followed by St Louis College (now St John XXIII) and matriculated with no real desire to continue at University.

I was born into a very sporty family with both my parents being competitive sports people. My mother in tennis and father in sailing. My only brother a cricketer and golfer at State and National level.  My Father sailed nationally and internationally and was rear commodore of Royal Perth Yacht Club at the time that club won the prestigious Americas Cup. Sailing was in his blood and not only sailed single handed boats and was a national Moth Champion but also sailed in many ocean races and organized many ocean epics and match racing series including the Plymouth to Fremantle ocean race.

At school I ran and won a state title in hurdling and high jump and also swam winning at school and state level excelling in breaststroke. My preferred sport was sailing and was competitive at state and National level in small boats including Pelicans, Moths and Cherubs and was second in the world flying fifteen dinghy championships that were held in NSW on Lake Maquarie. I also sailed with my father Bill ( David Moreton Berkeley) Fitzhardinge in Thunderbirds and won state titles several years running and also with his brother John in river and ocean races my last ocean race being the Frementle toAlbany.
I started riding horses as a school holiday excursion at a riding school south of Perth near Busselton and run by the Brockman Family. I continued at every semester break to head there and after leaving school and bought my first horse whilst I was riding there.

When I left school I was unsure where I wanted a career and worked on a property in Esperance for nearly twelve months with sheep wheat and cattle and a smattering of horse work and also continued sailing from there with Nils Blumann for whom I worked.

After I had saved sufficient funds I travelled overseas to pursue my riding and trained in Yorkshire and gained my BHS instructors certificate and topped the year. I competed in Eventing and showjumping and hunting was every week! I was offered jobs with Paul Schoekmoele and Reiner Klimke but I had been away from Perth for nearly two years and decided to head home, perhaps a move that I could have looked at differently now knowing the importance these people had in the Equestrian world!

On returning to Perth I applied for a course in Physiotherapy hoping to convert it to animal Physio. I did not get in as the animal intention was frowned upon so I did a bridging course doing first year Biology at Universtity of WA as my grades were not so high and as luck or perhaps some dedication to study may have it I was dux for the year and on reapplying for Physio I was accepted. It was a three and a half year course and at that time had several good horses but Bromont excelled in eventing and saw a spot on the short list for the Moscow Olympics. I made several trips to Sydney across the Nullabor to pursue this end but the team was never sent due to the political unrest surrounding the Olympic movement at that time.

On completing my Bachelor of Applied Science and physiotherapy I worked at Fremantle Hospital in many areas but specialized in Intensive Care for nearly seven years. The truth probably that all night shifts gave me the day to do my horses and sail!

It was at this time that I started having serious trouble with my lower back which had never been great after stressing it during my hurdling days!
Jumping was no longer an option so I produced many Champion Show Hacks and dressage horses. I traveled to America to follow the Americas Cup at Long Island but the horse bug got the better of me and I based in Michigan and actually competed and was Elementary Champion of the year on a mare called Here’s Cheers.

On returning to Australia I stopped in at Sydney and on a spur of the moment decision decided to go in to a Saddlery and Camping Supplies retail business. I also worked in a private Physio practice at the same time and continued riding and producing many Show Hacks and dressage horses. The Sadlery was a huge success and I won many Championships at Royal shows in many states and Champion Rider positions on horses I started. I also continued coaching riders and continued my judging examinations in dressage and qualified as an A National judge and also as a National Show horse and Rider judge.

After seven years in the retail business Rod Barker who was instrumental in that business was killed and 12 months later I resigned as director of the business and needing spinal surgery for my lower back that had seriously deteriorated I proceeded with the surgery having a 3 level fusion and nearly 12 months rehabilitation saw me move to Chatham Park where I later bought a share and still reside.

I pursued my coaching career and qualified as a NCAS accredited instructor.   I have had many good horses since living at Chatham Park and have travelled a lot both within Australia and also abroad with teaching and riding. 

The grey horse Berkeley Castle competed successfully at FEI and also was National Champion Hunter of The Year twice.  He was selected to go to the Athens Paralympics with a Victorian disabled rider and then I stayed on in Germany and Holland and trained for a further 3 months. On his return to Australia he continued to compete well at FEI and also carried Nicole Kidman in the opening scene of Australia. I have now the young horse Jive Time who was second at the Dressage with the Stars final as a four year old and also second at the Sydney CDI Four Year Old Class.  I now also have the FEI Weltmeyer gelding Weltsohn who was second in the Prix St George and the Inter I Kur at the 2009 National dressage championships.

Some twelve years ago I became interested in Equestrian Photography and Journalism and still work for The Horse Magazine.  With my father who was an architect I have managed to take on some of his artistic flair in my prowess as a photographer and love the art.  I have also had the opportunity to work at the Olympics and The World Equestrian games in Media as a press information Specialist and have photographed and written for the press at many international competitions.

My life is now spent riding, competing and coaching with photography and journalism making up an extremely important facet of my life. I have been the State Dressage Coach for Tasmania for the years 2008 and 2009 and have coached several Elite listed Squad members as well as Young Rider Clinics in several states who are extremely successful.

My life is full to say the least and not a day goes by when I don’t realize how luck I have been in my life so far!