Vale Regardez Moi

Equestrian Australia and the Australian Dressage community are deeply saddened to learn that on Monday 28^th October 2024, we lost a hero of the sport, Regardez Moi.  

During his life, this magnificent black stallion brought much pleasure to enthusiasts and amassed a very successful competition career that included 40 wins at Grand Prix – a current Australian record for the most wins at the highest level.

Regardez Moi, born in 1996 and was by the leading European stallion of the time, Rubinstein 1, out of a mare by the Trakehner stallion Consul (the sire of Ricky McMillan’s Athens Olympic horse, Crisp).  Bred in Germany by Dr Margaret Evans (also the owner of Exellent, a very successful import, campaigned by Rozzie Ryan), he was a special foal from the 1996 crop and Dr Evans named him Regardez Moi, the French translation of “Look at Me”.  

Above: Regardez Moi, Australia’s most successful Grand Prix Dressage horse with Heath Ryan. (Photo Berni Saunders).

Throughout his career Regardez Moi turned heads wherever he went and was the epitome of the ‘happy horse’ - an award given by judges at the 2006 World Equestrian Games in Aachen, Germany, when a focus on harmony and relaxation became the ideal, with force and tension viewed as serious faults.  If horses could smile, Regardez Moi showed happiness and love for his human friends.  He appreciated a crowd, and rose to produce his best when the fans returned his appreciation.

As a prolific and important foundation stallion at Ryans Horses in Newcastle, Regardez Moi sired many horses that have been successful in Dressage and Eventing.  He was a true multi tasker and throughout his life was in regular training and preparation for dressage competitions, he stood at stud, with full books of mares and was a proven producer of specialist performance horses with many Regardez Moi offspring offered for sale at Heath’s “brainchild” - Auction of the Stars, a travelling equine spectacular that educated and enthused fans with an auction that supplied horses in various stages of training to up and coming competitors.  

This wonderful stallion partnered Heath in many demonstrations showing the correct training of dressage horses. The pair had a joyous relationship built on talent, trust and tenacity.  The Heath Ryan/Regardez Moi partnership has always been a hard act to follow … and will remain so for a long time to come.

Above: Heath partners with Regardez Moi to show dressage enthusiasts ideals of the sport. (Photo Berni Saunders)

We acknowledge the important contribution that Regardez Moi has made to Australian equestrian sport and pass on our heartfelt condolences to Heath, Rozzie and their staff along with the thousands of people who knew and loved Regardez Moi.