Louisa Hill started her riding career in Pony Club and eventing. Since 1986 she has specialised in dressage training. She has trained 7 horses to Grand Prix level and competed 5 times in Australia. Her horse Rumplestiltskin qualified for the Sydney Olympics before being diagnosed with Cushing disease resulting in having to be put down. She was New Zealand’s dressage representative at the Athens Olympics on her home bred mare Gabana.

Late 2011 took Louisa to Australia campaigning her horse Bates Antonello. He is a 10 year old Hanoverian by Anamour who was bred by her sister Anna and given to her as an ugly 4 year old as Anna was going overseas to live.

This is his first season at Grand Prix so going to Australia and being part of the team to try and qualify NZ a team spot was a big ask especially as Louisa had broken her hand in July and had had 2 months of not riding prior to coming over. She is very grateful to Andreas Mueller who comes over from Germany who was able to do 2 weeks of riding on him and Clemens Dierks who she has worked with for the last 23 years and had lessons with in Sydney.

New Zealand has managed to secure a team spot for London Olympics. Antonello was 3rd in the Grand Prix and 2nd in the Freestyle and Special at the Bates Australian Dressage Championships at The Sydney International Centre in October 2011.

2011 Equitana Louisa and Antonella won the Grand Prix on the score of 68% which is required by the NZ Olympic Committee. Louisa stayed on in Sydney and goes to Melbourne for the Dressage Festival in December for more much needed experience and the hope of gaining another 68% before returning home to New Zealand.

Louisa is trying to raise money to go and train in Germany with Andreas Mueller as a lead up for London. This may end up being after New Zealands main Dressage shows of the Bates Nationals and Horse of the Year in March 2012. 

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