Australian Jumping Horses of 2018 – Vahlinvader
This has been a great year for the combination of Aaron Hadlow and Vahlinvader. Making their World Cup debut at the end of 2016, we started seeing this combination’s name on the leaderboards more and more frequently. We watched the Gatton World Cup Qualifier with delight as this popular combination took the win.
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We hope you enjoy reading about this lovely mare from the perspective of her very proud owner Aaron Hadlow:
Horse Name: Vahlinvader
Stable Name: Lucy
Sex: Mare
Age: 11
Height: 16.2
Colour: Bay
Sire: Valhalla
Dam: Glenregal
Breeder: Sue Smith
Owner: Aaron Hadlow
Owned since: Rising 4yr old
What characteristics in particular attracted you to Vahlinvader?
I had a call from Sue Smith asking me if I was interested in taking two young horses on, I took the two mares and I had to pick out of the two which one I wanted to keep, the other mare at the time was braver and had a better technique but I was not a fan of her front legs, Lucy was so fragile and was scared of poles on the ground, when she did decide to jump she would always over jump them. For me Lucy’s willingness to try for me even though she was so scared herself won me over. She was such a sweet mare but also had the attitude of you can’t tell me what to do. The sassiness was also a character I really loved about her and I believe has created the horse she is today.
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Tell us a bit about her personality. What is she like at home and out at competitions?
At home I can put my nephew/nieces on her back with just the rugs on and lead her down to the stables, also standing in the stable eating her food with the kids on her back . She is the kindest most gentle horse at home and nothing is ever a problem. On the other hand another horse comes out when we go to competitions, it is like she goes into competition mode where she gets pushy, strong to lead, impatient standing at the ring, if she places she doesn’t like standing still in the line-up.
Supplied by Aaron Hadlow
Does she have any quirky traits?
When warming up in the practice ring if she is fresh and she decides she is horse shy, she will hop skip and buck.
What do you consider the highlights of her career so far?
Highlight of our career thus far is winning Gatton 2018 World Cup Qualifier, running 2nd in the world cup at Melbourne Royal, also placing in all 4 Part 2 classes at Sydney Royal this year 2018 with a 1st, 2 x 3rd and a 4th.
Photo Credit: Calico Pony
What are your short and long term goals for Vahlinvader?
My short term goal would be to try win the Australian World Cup League and The Australian Title and the long term goal would be to represent Australia at a W/C final, Olympics or World Equestrian Games.
Anything else you would like to tell us about her?
She is food oriented, loves her apples, carrots, bread and liquorice.
FEI results for Vahlinvader are as follows:
| Date | Show | Event | Height | Position |
| 06/10/2018 | Tamworth NSW | CSI1*-W | 140-160 | 8 |
| 25/09/2018 | Melbourne, Royal VIC | CSI1*-W | 160 | 2 |
| 16/09/2018 | Hawkesbury NSW | CSI1* | 140 | 9 |
| 05/08/2018 | Gatton QLD | CSI1*-W | 140-160 | 1 |
| 28/07/2018 | Caboolture QLD | CSI1*-W | 140-160 | 4 |
| 09/12/2017 | Sydney NSW | CSI1*-W | 140-160 | 8 |
| 14/10/2017 | Hawkesbury NSW | CSI1*-W | 140-160 | 13 |
| 11/12/2016 | Sydney NSW | CSI1*-W | 140-160 | 7 |
Source: horsetelex.com
