Oatley back in the saddle for Falsterbo CDI5*

Lyndal Oatley and Sandro Boy 
Photograph:FEI/©Jon Stroud Media

Oatley is pleased that she gave her 12 year old gelding a chance to rest following a busy period which included an Olympic Games berth.

“2012 was a huge year for him, and he went above and beyond in his first ever year of Grand Prix.

“Throughout 2012 he never really had time to chill without a competition or goal in mind, and in hindsight this pause was the best thing I could have done for him.

Oatley says she’s happy with how Sandro Boy is developing and is looking forward to seeing how they perform.

“Nissa (Sandro Boy) has not been in the competition arena for a little while, and he has developed and changed in many ways so I am interested to see how we perform, but for now this is just one of many steps to prepare for WEG next year and the qualification period that leads up to the event.

“His body has developed and he is stronger in a positive way and this is showing in his training. Mentally he is also in great spirits and for where we are in our program I am very happy.

“I’ve had the best lead up training wise I have ever had, now it is time to put some of this to the test in the arena and develop some more,” she said.

This weekend’s outing at the Falsterbo horse show will be the first time that Oatley has competed on the home soil of husband Patrik Kittel.

“I am lucky that I have a lot of support throughout Europe, but especially in Sweden. So rider wise I have great support but have no idea as to the crowd. Maybe they embrace the fact that I am married to a Swede, or the girls in the crowd will sit silently and give me dark looks for stealing their golden boy," she said in jest.

Australia’s Jessica Greelish will also be at this event to compete in the CDI3* aboard Lancaster.

For event information and results, please visit http://falsterbohorseshow.se/en/