A Peek Into the Busy Schedule of an Olympian

A peek into the busy schedule of Olympian and Advanced Feeds Sponsored Rider; Sonja Johnson and of course her trusty steed "Ringwood Jaguar"

I leave WA (with Jag and the new kid on the block Ms Nikki Brooks' "Parkiarrup Illicit Liaison) on the 19th August. Both horses are looking awesome. It is a tribute not only to Jag but to the great team around him that at the age of 19 he is possibly going to WEG (World Equestrian Games). Let me assure you having the correct additives for his competitive career certainly have a big part in this. How would his joints be without Advanced Glucosamine Supplement?

My mum, Phoebe, and I will drive the truck to Sydney over 4 days so we will arrive in Sydney on the Sunday.

On a day yet to be told to us we move into SIEC (Sydney International Equestrian Centre) for training camp pre Sydney 3 day. I believe it will be the Tuesday. So that will be the 24th of August.

Over the weekend we will do the WEG 4* test which is the B test. We will do a cross country run of some description but not the full 3 day XC course. Then on Sunday we will Show Jump. On the Monday and Tuesday we have vet checks with Australian team vet, Dr Dennis Goulding.

The team of six will be announced on the 2nd September.

Come the 3rd of September there is the Cantering towards Kentucky fund raising dinner for Megan Jones, Stuart Tinney, Chris Burton and I.

I think we then go back into camp on the 9th of September again at SIEC. From there the current plan is the Australian based horses for Eventing, Dressage, and Para Dressage will all fly out on the 13th from Sydney. The riders, grooms, etc fly on the 14th. The horses go to LA for 3 days quarantine while we go straight to Kentucky. The English based riders will arrive on the 19th September.

Opening will be on the 25th of September with trot up for the Eventers being on the 29th. I hope that is a good omen as it's my mum's birthday. Then there is dressage for the next 2 days. XC on the 2nd then what my diary says is 3rd October "collect medals”. Hey one has to be positive and believe!

Signing off,
Sonja and Jag