Jenny Gehrke
FEI Dressage Competitor, EFA/NCAS Level II Dressage Coach, Coach Educator and Coach Examiner, B. AG. SCI. (University of Adelaide).
Horses | Background | Achievements | Student Profiles | Scrap Book | Articles
Current competition horses
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Background
Jenny is one of Queensland’s leading Dressage Riders. She is also an EFA NCAS level 2 Dressage specialist coach, a coach educator and a coach examiner. Jenny is married to Shane who is an excellent horseman and plays A- grade Polocrosse. Shane and Jenny have a son Jason who looks set to follow in his dad’s footsteps.
Jenny started riding as a seven year old in Cairns in Far North Qld. Her first horse was a part Arab pony that was bred at Gunawarra Station. Her first few years of riding consisted mainly of pony club and long trail rides through the cane fields and surrounding rainforest with her mother Liz and older brother Brian.
The family moved to South Australia where Jenny became very involved in Pony Club. Novelties and Eventing were her first love. Later she bought a thoroughbred and had a successful “dabble†in hacking. A decision to stop eventing for a while to “get the dressage score up†resulted in an on going obsession with everything to do with Dressage.
Her parents moved back to Brisbane and Jenny stayed in Adelaide to complete her degree in Agricultural Science at the University of Adelaide. After completing her degree and working in Sales and Marketing for a Horticultural Export Company, Jenny decided to move back to QLD and take a “year off†and ride and compete.
With encouragement from her friend, Irene Bakels-Noreen, Jenny completed her NCAS level 1 coach’s accreditation and has since stamped herself as one of QLD's most successful Dressage riders and coaches with many wins to both her and her students names.
Jenny has spent time riding and training in Germany with Leonie Bramall. She plans to travel back there regularly to improve her riding and coaching skills.
Now an EFA NCAS Level 11 Dressage Coach, Jenny, along with her mum, Liz, run the Riverside Equestrian Centre.
Jenny co-ordinates the coach training at Riverside and takes private lessons for those students with their own horses.
In Her Words
I started riding when I was seven years old. My first pony was a part arab pony who was bred on Gunawarra Station in Far North QLD.
A typical winter’s day for me is to get up around 6.30am and feed horses. I then pack my son off to school then ride my three horses. I then coach until school ends. I usually have a short time with my son then give coach training sessions in the evening. In summer, I get up at 4.30am and ride all the horses before it gets too hot, then coach in the late afternoon and evening.
I have a dog and two cats who think they are dogs.
I can’t pick my best horse. They are all different and all special.
My favourite horse of all time is Rembrandt. He is the reason that I ride dressage.
My favourite food is fruit of any kind. My favourite drink is water (Oh did you mean alcoholic drink?)
The horse event that I enjoy competing at the most is the National Championships, mostly because of the venue but also because it is always a well run show.My favourite horse event to watch would be the World Cup Final.
Other hobbies include homemaking, gardening, being a Mum and being a fanatical Polocrosse supporter.
The sportsperson that I most admire does change from time to time but currently is Roger Fedderer.
In the next five years I would like to continue to train my horses through the grades in Dressage and remain competitive at a National level.
I have fed all of my Dressage horses Release and Flexion for the last four years. I ride Mares and the high levels of Vitamin E and Selenium in the Release have meant that I have never had any problems with horses “tying upâ€. The horses always look fantastic and they love their feed.
The best thing about having a horse is having the chance to ride these beautiful creatures and develop a relationship of trust and respect with them.
My ideal retreat is anywhere where I don’t have to do the house work so long as my Husband and Son are there with me.
Words of wisdom: Remember that there is more to being a successful rider than just the riding. Make sure that you have a great support team behind you and that you feed your horses a great product like Hygain Release.
Achievements
2002 and 2003
- Qld ‘A squad’ member
- Qld Advanced Horse of the Year
- Qld runner up Prix St George Horse of the year
- National Advanced Championship 4th overall
- National Prix St George Challenge 5th
- Member Qld A team National Championships. 2nd place getters in state team event
- Placings at State and National Championships
- Placings and winnings at many local competitions
- Sponsored on a trip to Germany to purchase two dressage horses to import to Australia to train and compete in Dressage
- Coach and trainer of 3 members of the Qld Young Rider Squad
2004
- Qld ‘A squad’ member APH Magma
- Qld Prix St George/Inter 1 Horse of the year
- Qld Newcomer of the year Femme Sateen
- Placings and winnings at local and interstate competitions
- Coach and trainer of two members of National young rider’s squad
2005
- Qld ‘A squad’ member APH Magma
- Reserve Champion Small Tour at Qld State Championships with APH Magma
- Qld ‘B’ squad member Femme Sateen
- Member winning Qld State Team at National Championships with Femme Sateen
- Placings and winnings at local and interstate competitions
- Australian Novice Champion- Gitane
- Coach and trainer of the winner of the Horse Magazine’s Dressage Leader Board
- Coach and mentor to three graduating AHRC level one coaches
2006
- Qld Development squad member
- Competed in first Grand Prix test on APH Magma
- Qualified for competed and placed at the National Championships
- Member of the winning Qld State team at National Championships
- Travelled to Germany to train with Leonie Bramall and watch the World Equestrian Games
2007
- Selected on to the Qld Elite Squad on APH Magma
- Selected on to the QLD Development squad with both Femme Sateen and Gitane
- Competed in first CDIW event on Magma gaining 8th place
- Competed in first Prix St George test on Femme Sateen for 4th place
- Nominated for QLD EFA coach of the year
- Winner of the EFAQ Coach of the Year Award
2008
- Selected on to  the  Qld Elite Squad on APH Magma
- Selected on to the QLD Development squad with Gitane
- Qld Medium Champion – Gitane
- Qld Advanced Champion – Gitane
- National Reserve Medium Champion – Gitane
- Third Place National Advanced Championships – Gitane
- Nominated for QLD EFA coach of the year
- Nominated for QLD Sports Coach of the Year
- Coach two QLD Elite Dressage Squad members
- Coach winner of the Young Rider World Cup B Final
- Coach of Qld Young Rider squad members
- Many wins and placings at Regional, State and National Championships
Student Profiles
Over the years, Jenny’s students have won at QISEA State championships, State and National Young Rider Championships and Open State Dressage Championships.
In 2005 Jayden Brown won the National Dressage leader Board.
Jenny has also coached several riders to selection on Young Rider and Open State squads. She was a previous winner of the QLD Coach of the Year award and is a winner again in 2007.