LISA MARTIN – AUSTRALIAN DRESSAGE & PARA RIDER

We’re thrilled to welcome Australian Para Dressage rider Lisa Martin to the #hipposponsoredrider team! Lisa is an incredibly accomplished horse woman who has placed consistently in the top 6 at the Olympics and WEG.

Tell us about your horses

“We have two horses competing at present “Juicy Wiggle” and the new kid in the stables “Vilaggio”.

“Hallow (Juicy Wiggle) got her name as when she was born on our property in Scone it was Halloween and at the time there was a song called Juicy Wiggle that my daughter liked and it described this mare perfectly. Hallow is by Jive Magic out of a FEI mare I competed on. She is a horse that loves her work but extremely sensitive and cannot stand to be fussed over. She is 17.1 and 10 years old. Hallow has competed with me at the 2022 World Para Dressage Championships in Denmark and was going to be the reserve for the Paralympics but unfortunately had a foot abscess. 

“The second horse is Villagio (Villy) who I purchased in Germany from the Koschel family. Villy came to Australia in October 2023, and we then quickly started to train towards the 2024 comps. The first qualifier for the Paris Paralympics was in February 2024 at Willinga Park, and Villy did not disappoint, winning all three tests. Juicy Wiggle got second place! Villy is completely opposite to Hallow in personality. He loves people so much I am sure he would walk into your home sit on the lounge and put his feet up. He does need motivation to get out of bed as many a time at the Paralympics he would be asleep in his stable flat out, and it would take three of us to get him up! Villy competed at the Paralympics in grade V placing 5th and two 6^th. He is 16.2 and 7 years old.”

What’s your favourite discipline to compete in, and why?

 “My favourite discipline is Dressage but I do enjoy Combined Driving, and I really hope I am able to get back to that one day.”

What achievement in your riding career are you most proud of?

“That’s a really hard questions I’ve had 50 years of competing, but anytime you win or place in any event - or even get to the event - is as important to me as competing at the Paralympics in Rio 2016 where I placed 4th three times, or WEG 2022 or Paris 2014 placing 5^th, and 6^th twice.

“Competing GP at Sydney CDI on my beautiful First Famous and placing was incredible, and so was winning Brisbane CDI and many other CDI events on this mare, but I truly believe just entering the arena on the day is the biggest achievement! The times I competed with Master Jim in the combined driving and actually winning and coming second at these big events was awesome and very exciting.”

Which Hippo Health remedies do you use the most?

“When travelling to the Paralympics with Vilaggio we absolutely loved to use Chilled Out Horse and Performance Plus - Equine, but for emergencies we always carry Appetite Plus, Wound Healing Tonic and the Foot Sore Equine remedy.” 

What’s next for you?

“The next 12 months I will be concentrating on competing both my horses in Medium and Advanced with Sydney CDI and the bigger comps in able bodied next year, then we will prepare for WEG 2026 in Germany with Vilaggio.” 

How old were you when you started riding?

“My riding career started when I was 3 or 4 as my parents had Polo X horses and race horses. We had hacks and then did a little eventing, but I started competing FEI in PSG events at 16 and was fortunate to represent Australia Nationally and Internationally when I was 17 or 18. 

“I live in Australia most the time, then for three to four months when the Paralympics or WEG is happening I try and head back to Germany to train with Christoph Koschel.”

Aside from horse riding, what else do you like to do?

“When I am not riding at Christmas time I really enjoy spending time on our boat at Soldiers point Marina or in my garden or doing farm work. There is always something to do including my Airbnb I run on my farm, Tatbern Park Cottage.”

What’s your favourite food? 

“Well as long as I don’t have to cook and it’s cooked for me I will love it, but my little indulgence would be seafood everyday if I could.”

What is your guilty pleasure?  

“What I could not live without would be my husband and daughter, being organised, and my dog Humphrey.” 

Follow Lisa’s journey on Facebook or Instagram.

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• Cindy Wiffin – Dressage, Judging Dressage & Raising Three Boys
• Lucy Cochrane – Head Competition Rider & Competing in Australia
• Taylor des Barres Williams – Barrel Racer Extraordinaire
• Hannah Steens – Show Jumper & Hunter
• Annie Baird – Show Hunter Champ / Up & Coming Show Jumper