Basking in their glory of the Esquire Equestrienne Turnout victory at the Melbourne Royal Show, Georgia Greenwell and Fudge take some time out at home in Tallygaroopna
A Tallygaroopna vet nurse has seen a modest horse heritage, the generosity of a dairy family and a healthy rivalry with a sibling to help her win the esteemed Esquire Equestrienne Turnout event at this year’s Melbourne Royal Show.
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Georgia Greenwell, 28, has lived in the Goulburn Valley for 18 months and now calls Tally home, where she and Fudge, her 16.1-hand 10-year-old warmblood, spent the winter perfecting their craft, often accompanied on any day by two cheerful goats.
Georgia adds what she describes as ‘effectively’ a full-time job working with Fudge to her much-loved career as a vet nurse.
“It can be exhausting, particularly when I work four 10-hour days, and so do all my horse work outside of my real work,” she said.
“Finding a routine for some people takes a lifetime — you have to put time into a partnership with your horse.”
That time is precious once a routine is set, in order to succeed.
“I like to know a horse, know their buttons — good or bad — to know all of their buttons,” Georgia said.
“On top of that, it takes time to prepare to make things to measure, or else make alterations to my costume.”
Fudge had a few earlier hurdles to overcome, which brought with it some highs and lows for the duo and which also required more time.
“We had a little bit of help with him and it hasn’t been an easy road,” Georgia said.
“But he’s a different horse now — he’s a happy horse.
“If he could tell me what was wrong, it would have helped; but at the Melbourne Show he was unbelievably sound as anything and well-behaved.”
Earlier bumps in the road with Fudge brought with it some highs and lows for the duo. “It hasn’t been an easy road. But he’s a different horse now — he’s a happy horse.” Photo: Lisa Gordon
Photo by
Lisa Gordon Equine Network Media Co
The Esquire Equestrienne Turnout plays hand-in-hand with the prestigious Garryowen Equestrienne Turnout with the latter having the freedom of all resources for the horse and rider coming from more than one owner.
Georgia was required to produce horse, tac and all costuming and accessories for the Esquire, which some would say suggests it is a more difficult event.
The competition requires dressing in a longer hunting jacket, with hunting cane and represents an older style of stock and saddlery compared to more modernised styles.
The Garryowen is now in its 90th year and is named to celebrate the life of Violet Murrell who died trying to put out a stable fire to save animals which included Garryowen, the three-time Melbourne Royal Show champion saddle horse.
Half of the 2024 field were competing for their first time, making it one of the largest first-time fields to date.
Georgia grew up closer to Melbourne in Greenvale and took inspiration from her grandfather, who was a lifelong horseman, and then her mother, before a good-natured rivalry with sister Olivia saw both siblings hone their craft.
“Olivia and I have been competing for a very, very long time — since we could walk,” Georgia said.
Georgia and Fudge always have room for Mary the goat (and camera-shy Puss-in-Boots) to accompany them anywhere.
“It’s always been a healthy rivalry, but I probably would not be where I am without her help, so there is definitely that competition there.
“But we’d like to see each other succeed in our own way.”
Georgia said she had wanted to compete in the Garryowen (which she also entered at the show) since she began competing.
“It’s all about the experience on the day,” she said.
“And then to have gone out in the Esquire too and have won it is super emotional.
“Because it comes with hard work.”
The closely knit family to which Georgia belongs spreads widely from mother Shelley DeMarco and grandparents John and Sue DeMarco, to the family of her partner Tyler Pedretti, who allowed for Fudge to spend time on his family’s dairy farm in order to desensitise Fudge to sounds and distraction.
Tyler particularly has been a large support, despite being more attuned to the Jerseys than the warmbloods.
“He can sit on a horse, that’s for sure — he would think he is a bit of a cowboy.”
