NTDT Students
"To be able to enjoy one’s work in life, is to be blessed."
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I am indeed blessed to work with many wonderful people, some of whom are competitive and ambitious, and some of whom are not ambitious for the competition arena, but still devoted to their horses and committed to being better horsewomen (and horsemen) and riders.
To each and all, thank you for instilling the trust in me to guide you on your journeys. Bring on the year!
KRISTEN MCAUSLAN
Horses: Bellissimo (Hanoverian by Benito) Dec
Siriano (Oldenburg by Sir Donnerhall) Leased
Crystalbrook Platinum (Warmblood/Arabian X by Prestige VDL)
Nicole’s longest student, Kristen, began lessons with Nicole on her Thoroughbred, Cookie, at a State Young Rider Squad clinic in 2008, and they have been working together ever since.
Together they trained Bellissimo (Benito) from a just broken youngster through to Grand Prix, with multiple selections on State Squads, and Siriano (Sir Donnerhall) from breaking-in to FEI with multiple State Championship titles and Squad selections to their credit.
Kristen now has Crystalbrook Platinum (aka Ardie), a 2013 Hanoverian whom she has trained from a 4 year old. 2024 was a successful year with Kristen winning Small Tour Championship titles at Park Ridge, Brenda Wittman, QDRSC and Toowoomba; all whilst setting up her own Equestrian training facility in Tamborine Village. We hope to push on to Medium Tour in 2025.
MARIAN HUTCHINGS
Horse: North Carlos (Australian Warmblood) Dec.
Jaybee Angelina (Australian Warmblood by Aachimedes) Sold
Bianko (German Riding Pony by Best of Gold)
A long time student, Marian is an inspirational lady, who manages a myriad of health issues to stay in the saddle and chase her dreams. Nicole has helped Marian to achieve 3 Dressage Qld Masters medals on horses, North Carlos, Jaybee Angelina and in 2022 on her German Riding Pony, Bianko.
In 2022 Marian ticked an item off her bucket list, to compete interstate at Willinga Park’s Dressage by the Sea, where they won AAOR Medium Pony Champion.
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In March 2024, Marian Hutchings purchased a new 4 year old German Riding Pony to add to her team. Kingsfield Dior (Cheval de Luxe) bred by Kingsfield Park. Nicole introduced Dior to the dressage arena with impressive wins and a few Open Preliminary Championship wins.
ZALI YOUNG
Horse: Alta Ego (Australian Warmblood) sold
Cardi B (Warmblood/Welch X by CastleBrook Brenin Jude)
Nicole started working with Zali as a 12 year old show jumper wanting to improve her flatwork. Zali made excellent progress and turned her showjumper into an all rounder, winning many State Inter-School Combined Training and Dressage championships and winning the Dressage Qld Pat Dale Memorial Award for elementary newcomers in 2021.
This led to the purchase of 4 year old dressage specific, Cardi B, and together they won 2021 Dressage Qld’s Newcomer Horse of the Year and Preliminary/Novice Young Rider of the Year, and were selected on the 2022 QLD State YR Squad. 2022 saw another triumphant year, with Zali and Cardi B winning Qld State Young Rider Novice and Elementary Championship titles, Dressage Qld Elementary Young Rider of the Year, and have been re-selected on the 2023 and 2024 QLD State Young Rider Squad.
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2024 was spent consolidating the changes, with a highlight demonstrating for Brett Parbery at Outback Spectacular’s Mastery of the Horse event, and we look forward to being back on the competition scene in 2025.
KARIN GORDON
Horses: Willow (Austalian Warmblood) retired
Fidelia (Hanoverian by Fidertanz)
Showgirl (Australian Warmblood by Kings Classic)
Leopold (Hanoverian by Livaldon)
Diamond Dancer (Danish Warmblood by Diamond Hit)
Karin is living her dream of training in dressage. 10 years down and in 2023, Karin and Showgirl competed at their first show, debuting at Medium level. Karin juggles her dressage dreams with the demands of being a mum to professional basketballer, Ella Gordon, and a working wife to Tim Gordon.
Karin hopes to compete more in 2025 on Showgirl and Diamond Dancer.
FIONA BASSINGTHWAITE
Horse: Fiadora (Warmblood by Fidertanz) Retired
Federation (Westphalian by Foundation)
Fiona Bassingthwaite started lessons in late 2023 with 7 year old Fiadora, making the commute between a busy outback life in Roma and life on the Gold Coast.
After 6 months of frustratingly little progress, investigations showed multiple and significant kissing spines, and the decision to retire Fiadora was made.
With the wonderful addition of schoolmaster, Federation, Fiona made a giant leap in confidence, and made her competition debut at the Pan Pacific Masters Games in November ‘24, winning a silver medal in her age brackett.
A busy working mum of three, Fiona looks forward to managing the juggle in 2025.
MONIQUE CHELIN
Horse: Stonefox Satori (Australian Warmblood)
Oliver (Andalusian)
Monique started her lesson journey in early 2024 on her schoolmaster, Stonefox Satori. Mainly interested in improving her control, but the more Monique learnt, she more she wanted to learn. Joining the Equestrian Gold Coast Club and having a go at dressage tests at the Club’s Winter member Series, Monique was stoked to win both the Preliminary and Novice Series, and double gold medals at the Pan Pacific Masters Games in her age brackett.
Monqiue hopes to move up to elementary on Satori, and start competing young Oliver through 2025.
JAMES KELLY
Horse: Fidelia (Hanoverian by Fidertanz)
Re-introducing James to the saddle after 25+ years out of it, has been a vicarious joy for Nicole.
From agricultural shows to the dressage arena, James has been thoroughly enjoying the challenges and learning journey on leased horse, Davrol Mowgli and now on Fidelia, owned by Karin Gordon.
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James and Fidelia made their dressage debut in 2024, and after 3 attempts, achieved their first error free test winning a Silver Medal at the Pan Pacific Masters Games in his age brackett.
2024 was also the year, James purchased a filly foal by Chemistry, out of a Riverside mare. A huge achievement and a dream come true.
NIKKI ROBSON
Horse: Violet (Australian Warmblood X)​
Returning to the saddle as an adult was a dream come true for Nikki, and her progress through 2024 has been steady and fun.
Seeing them together, forging a bond and relearning everything Nikki loved about horses as a teenager is simply the best. Nikki hopes to start putting their training to the test in competition in 2025.
RYDER WILKIE
Horse: Absolut Allure (Arabian Warmblood by Dicavalli Decadence)
13 year old Ryder started dressage lessons through 2022 on her pony Prince. Soon outgrowing him, the hunt for that special 2nd horse took longer than they wanted.
But all good things come to those who wait… and Ryder and Ally became a team in mid 2023.
And the slow and steep learning curve on a warmblood began, and it has been a lot of fun along the way. Ryder set and achieved her 2024 training and competitions goals, and won Best Presented at the Equestrian Gold Coast Club’s Member Winter Series.
ALLI REINKE
Horse: Da Vito (Welsh/Riding Pony X)
Tiny Alli and the mighty DaVito are a delight to coach. Alli is a National Show Horse Champion rider with a dream to pursue dressage. Starting with Nicole in late 2023, and making their dressage debut at the Equestrian Gold Coast Interschool event, winning the Secondary School Preliminary Championship and the Highest Scoring Pony of the Day was a great start. Not long after this, Alli and Da Vito won Grand National 12-15 year Reserve Champion Rider, along with many Show Horse and Rider titles along the way. Alli hopes to do more dressage in 2025, and we have set some big goals.
CHLOE MANTON
Horse: Alta Ego (Warmblood)
Chloe is a busy year 12 student at All Saints Anglican College and enjoys competing on her all-rounder, Alta Ego, on her spare weekends. They have set some big Interschool Equestrian goals in 2025 and we look forward to training towards them.
KAITLYN DIDLICK
Horse: Cheltra Shakespeare (Welsh X by Cheltra Talyessen)
Katelyn started lessons in early 2024 to help improve her dressage scores on her sassy pony, ‘Romeo’. A year 7 student, Kaitlyn regularly represents Nerang Pony Club, competing around South East Qld, in various equestrian disciplines, combined training, eventing, dressage and showing!
Performance highlights through 2024 include PCAQ Runner up 12 years and under State Combined Training Champion and Supreme Ridden Dilute Canungra Show.
It is Katelyn’s goal to train over summer, consolidating the novice work for the step up to 13-15 years in 2025.
PETA FIELDING
Horse: whoever Nicole can dig out of the NTD stables
Devoted mum of Daisy, Peta decided to see what all the fuss was about. With a huge thankyou to Carol Chapman and Karin Gordon, who kindly lend her either Mr Gee or Showgirl to learn on, Peta’s progress is slow but steady. And who knows… maybe one day, she’ll find the time to explore her equestrian pursuits.
SHANA BUCHANAN
Horse: Caruso APH (Australian Warmblood by Levison)
Lavalle (Australian Warmblood by Lauries As)
Shana manages to juggle her two horse eventing team, with being a mum to 3 children, and investment analyst with an online retail shop called iDecorate.
Achieving her 2024 goals with multiple top 10 finishes, and moving up to one star was a dream come true. Nicole wishes Shana the best chasing her dreams.
DAISY FIELDING
Horses: Fairbanks DaVinci (Australian Warmblood by Don Fredrico) sold
Remi Lanikai (Warmblood by Lauries As) retired
Gartina (Dutch Warmblood by Bordeaux)
Remi Victoria Secret (Hanoverian by Remi Vigneron)
Daisy started her dressage learning journey as a young teenager on an arabian cross, before catching the bug and moving onto the elementary trained Fairbanks DaVinci. Together they won State Championship titles, multiple Young Rider awards and enjoyed annual State Young Rider Squad selections.
Next project included Daisy’s purchase of a weanling, Remi Lanikai, and starting him from breaker in 2020. Together they soared the circuit, competing along the Australian East Coast, from Boneo Park, SIEC and Willinga Park, winning the 2022 QLD Novice Horse of the Year, enjoying selections on the 2023 QLD State Talent Squad and the Open Performance Squad in 2024.
Adding 11 year old Gartina to the team at the end of 2021, and back competing Small Tour was a treat for Daisy, winning many Championship titles and earning selection on 2023 QLD State Performance Squad.
In 2024, Daisy moved to the Southern Highlands to pursue her career in becoming a coach and trainer in her own right, and recently purchased 4 year old Remi Victoria Secret to start a new journey. So many wonderful memories.
LIZ CABLE
Horse: Nabou (German Riding Pony by Numero Uno)
After 20 years away from the saddle, Liz found her dream equine partner in 4 year old German Riding Pony, Nabou.
Through 2021 - 2023 Nicole helped Liz train her youngster and in 2022 they started competing in club preliminary classes at Samford and Caboolture club events. In 2023 they started competing in competitive level preliminary events whilst continuing lessons and juggling family commitments.
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Liz has goals to continue improving and keep enjoying the journey with her handsome golden boy.
