Latest / Between the Flags / Persistence, Passion, Family & Opportunity – meet Will Enzinger

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Persistence, Passion, Family & Opportunity – meet Will Enzinger · Between the Flags

• fiona: G'day legends and welcome to Between the Flags, your Aussie eventing chat show. We'll bring you honest conversations, expert insights, and a bit of cheeky fun from the riders, the coaches, and even those amazing folks shaping our sport in Australia and beyond. Whether you're a young rider chasing your first star-class start, a parent, a horse owner. Who lives and breathes eventing? Between the flags is your go-to chat show. Ride along with Prue Barrett and Fiona Hughes. Stirrups up, let's go eventing. ⁓ here we are, another between the flag show. Hi Prue! prue: Hey Fee, how you going? fiona: Yeah, good. ⁓ we're chatting to Will Enziger. Welcome to our Between the Flag show, Will. Will Enzinger: It's nice. Thanks for having me. fiona: Alrighty then, kick out of the start box. Will started his horse riding journey through what only can be described as forced child minding at Sherbrooke Riding School near Warrigal in But horse riding wasn't exactly an instant success. A few more riding camps and some trail riding work Providing a handy little income for a teenager. And before long, Will had his own horse and was off to competitions. After Year 12, Will headed north to Loch and Var New South Wales Equestrian Centre, where he spent his years soaking up knowledge, riding dressage horses and learning his craft. It was a genuine melting pot of high performance experience. And we'll first paths with Emily Ankar. A story we'll no doubt hear more about shortly. Returning to Victoria in 2001, Will began his professional coaching career at the Victorian Equestrian Center. And before long he developed a loyal following, including the WOW group, Will's Older Women. They called themselves a collection of ladies. Dedicated to their lessons and a far-reaching social network. Meanwhile, Will was building his own eventing career, producing plenty of FEI eventers and earning an Australian team selection for the 2003 Trans Tasman Challenge in Taupo, New Zealand. While spending plenty of weekends traveling the country chasing events, it was during these road trips Will and ⁓ Got to know each other. tells me Will was a bit of a slow burn when it came to romance. Looking back, that's probably no surprise. Thankfully, ⁓ was patient. Today, Will ⁓ are one of Australia's eventing power couples and proud parents to 13-year-old Ethan. Over the years, Will has established himself as one of Australia's respected coaches and Moving on Will, alongside Janet Horton, established the Victorian Eventing Squad Program, which has become one of the country's most successful rider development pathways. Both Will and ⁓ remain key members of that coaching team today. And of course, ⁓ no introduction would be complete without Will's of a microphone. Whether it be the national anthem at Melbourne International Three Day or his not so secret love of the theatre, never been shy of sharing his vocal talents. I've even tried to talk him into auditioning for Australian Idol unsuccessfully so far. These days, Will's role has expanded beyond coaching and riding. As high performance director, he's helping shape the future of Australian equestrian sport, guiding the next generation of riders towards international success. From a reluctant riding school kid to an Australian representative, coach, mentor, husband, father, singer, high performance director. Will Enzinger: Open. fiona: It's a journey. Will Anziger, welcome to Between the Flags. Will Enzinger: Thanks Fee. I'll kill my wife for some of that, but ⁓ thanks for the introduction. prue: ⁓ it's great. It's always good to get a little bit of background if even if it might is a little cringy for you, we are certainly loving it. So thank you so much, Will, for subjecting yourself to this. Hopefully it will be a pleasant experience for you. Now, we tend to start off with our first question is pretty similar. So Fee touched on your early beginnings with horses, but I want to hear from you. How you got involved with horses and what did the early days in your life look like with horses? Will Enzinger: ⁓ as she said, I w I my my mum, ⁓ so single mum, and so she she was a she still is ⁓ a principal of a primar school, but she she was teaching and then she swapped out to be a consultant for a couple of years. So through that period she ⁓ didn't have school holidays anymore. So she needed some child minding. And so the so David Middleton's mum, Ann Middleton, ran Sherbrooke Equestrian Centre down the road, and I think at that point it was sixty bucks for the week. And they looked after us from eight till six. That was pretty good for them to be able to look after us for that period of time. ⁓ allowed mum to work and ⁓ yeah, and I think the first time I first ride I had, we went out on a like a property ride, not a trail ride. We had never ridden before, my brother and I, and ⁓ and there's no horses in our family at all. And ⁓ yeah, mine probably just trotted off to lit, let's be honest, and I ended up falling off and I hated, never wanted to go back and Mum Well, I've paid my 60 bucks, you're going. So I was like, right, ⁓ So off we went. And the rest is history. from there, like I just I ended up getting ⁓ my coaching certification there. Back then they had there's the Australian horse riding centres, and they had a level O, which is below a level one, and I was only 15 at the time. And so I got my restricted level O's, and I was coaching eight to nine kids on little ponies in a 60 by 20, and ⁓ running certificate course programs on a Saturday and taking out property rides and that kind of stuff. And so that was how I sort of got into it to be honest. And I didn't join Pony Club until I was ⁓ 16 and I was sort of very late to get in it because I thought I want to do more from this. I saw this eventing thing. I thought that looks like a lot of fun. And ⁓ so yeah, so I joined that at sixteen, which was good because the ⁓ you know, when you look at the gender difference at a pony club level at that age, it was great. So prue: Yes, my husband actually has the same view on that. He thought that was a pretty good ratio. Fee ⁓ mentioned about you going heading north. So tell us about, basing yourself there with Heath and Rosie at the New South Wales Equestrian Centre and maybe why you decided to go there. What was it about the Equestrian Centre that attracted you north? Will Enzinger: Yeah. Yeah. ⁓ there was you may remember there was this Scholarship 2000 that that they did that they went around Australia sort of, you know, ⁓ interviewing people and sort of basically, I mean, really in hindsight, was sort of just doing a bit of a promo for the course there and what what they've what they've got available. But ⁓ when I was there, ⁓ I got offered to do some work experience over school holidays, and so I went up and I just loved it. I thought it was just awesome and ⁓ and so Yeah, so I went up I went up for school ⁓ for like a couple of weeks and then went, nah, I'm in and then I got a working pupil position there. that's when I met you, obviously Prue and Craig and everyone around there and made some good friends. And to be honest, if I hadn't have gone there, ⁓ I'd there's no way I would have been where I am today. Like ⁓ that setup and what you got ⁓ and the learnings and it was bloody hard work. but loved every minute of it. And ⁓ yeah, without Heath and Rosie and their guidance and their support and the opportunities that came my way, I was very fortunate. just in the timing, there ended up being a period where there wasn't as many staff. So, you know, unfortunately for Heath I had to ride some pretty nice horses, which I'm sure he wouldn't have put me on if he had the choice. and also ⁓ you know, him being the assistant coach, he was away a bit, that kind of stuff. So I was you know, riding some pretty key horses. ⁓ Yeah, back then it was Cool Renegade and Oberlander, Fast Fred, Sterling Stilton, those ones like that was pretty amazing to sit on those horses when I was just absolutely useless. ⁓ but that really set me up of a feel that I still have today, to be honest, around ⁓ around the dressage for sure. and I think that attributes to why, you know, I I think I I mean for for on the flat for sure, I definitely think I'm super competitive. ⁓ on on most horses and ⁓ and I think that's that's most certainly from from the Loch and Var days. So yeah, no, could not thank Heath and Rosie enough for everything that they've done for not just me, but everyone. There's so many people that have come through that system ⁓ and done so many amazing things. So yeah. prue: Yeah, yeah, no, it's great. It's great to hear you talk so fondly of that time, although I'm sure you, you know, got absolutely worked to the bone, like we all know that we did, but we wouldn't have done it if we didn't love it. yeah, for sure. Definitely, oh, to be young again is all I can say. Yeah, I guess I got to know you a little bit better in 2003 when you were on the trans Tasman team that travelled to Taupo in New Zealand. Will Enzinger: That's it. prue: It was then that I found out that you're actually a part-time wedding singer. So, you know, was there ever a time that you thought singing would be your gig? Will Enzinger: Yeah. Yeah, look, I in in my when I was much younger I did do I went that sort of down that path a bit more and yeah, look, I at that period my my parents separated and and and ended up getting divorced and stuff and I'm my mum just said, Look, honestly, well I can't even it's not even that about pain to get you there, which it was a struggle anyway, but I she said, I just can't even physically get you to these things and and do it so you know, we just can't do it and ⁓ and so that sort of finished up where that was at that point. But ironically, just doing what we're doing now, like from, you know, the sliding door moment from my my mum not being able to have us through the school holidays, putting us into some sort of childcare at a at a sh at an equestrian center. You know, my brother's an equine vet and I'm doing what I do. Like that's just would never have thought that it would have been where we ended up for sure. So it's just insane. But yeah, the singing is still part of who I am and I absolutely love it. And yeah, ⁓ you know. And and Ethan are probably sick of me around the house and that kind of stuff. But ⁓ no, I just love it. It'll always be part of my life. So yeah. prue: Thank you for all of us, you chose eventing. So getting back to that New Zealand trip, tell us about the horse that you took there. Will Enzinger: ⁓ Ace Two, his name was, in the show jumping circuit in Victoria. I think his nickname was Wood Chopper. and I was the second reserve, I think, or to to get on the team. And I happened to win ⁓ at Aubrey in the then three star ⁓ blue numbers. And and as they did back in those days, they quickly trotted you up and checked you, you know. to see where you're at. And then as it turned out, two people ended up not being able to go and I got the Guernsey. But ⁓ but ⁓ look I that was a huge experience for me. I think one amazing story, like one thing I take away from that is just not changing things, I suppose on reflection now. ⁓ I know ⁓ before I ended up once got ⁓ Patch had said I'll go and have some lessons with Alexa Bell, 'cause she was close to to in Victoria. And so ⁓ I went and did that and then we s yeah and there we spoke about bits and those kind things and then I rocked up at Taupo with ⁓ with this bit that you said, what the hell is this in its mouth? And I said, I don't know. I just I was suggested to try it. So here I am. I brought it to Talbot to try. And you said, ⁓ why don't you just change it back to what you had? I think that's been working just fine. And, you know, so ⁓ so that was a learning which, you know, ⁓ most certainly now current day where I'm at and what I'm doing, you know, is front of mind around, you know, making sure we keep things the same. But but I think a funny moment from there is Not I the experience and and being on that team with everyone was phenomenal. but on the way home, Chappa's ⁓ I had dropped a horse off at Berry at ⁓ Shane's place. And ⁓ anyway, on the way there, we dropped off the horse, was heading home, stopped at I don't know, whatever fuel station it was, filled up my truck and nah, no money, couldn't pay. So my groom at the time, Helen, ⁓ ended up having to pay the fuel. Because just those days I was living day to day. Like that's, you know, I wasn't I was away for ten days and I wasn't earning money. And so therefore the money ran out. And it wasn't like I was spending heaps over in New Zealand, but you know, that's just what happens. So just, you know, living day to day and thank God Helen had money in her account to pay for the fuel so he could get home. But ⁓ an amazing experience at Tao. ⁓ yeah. Yeah, yeah. prue: I know, that's reality. Yeah, huge reality. It's interesting you said that because my next question is actually did you ever think at that time that you would be leading the program in the future? Was that on even on your radar in 2003? Will Enzinger: Not at all. no, not at all. I I just, you know, I I was fortunate at that time. I had that that wenlock Ben Iver horse. and obviously the ace two horse and I just was trying my hardest to to try to just be the best I can and you know, my game my aim was always to get to the Olympic Games. yeah, but no, doing the rhyme in now, absolutely not. It had no yeah it was never in my ⁓ in my sort of plan, that's for sure. Yeah. prue: Yeah. Yeah, yeah, it's funny how these things sometimes set you up for something that you've really got no idea about into the future. But I'm sure there's a lot of things being in that team experience, as you said before, even about the bit that actually does set you up for a future role, that's for sure. So, Fee mentioned about your, you your coach, your level three coach, your Will Enzinger: Mm. prue: very experienced rider and coach and produced numerous horses and riders through to three and four star level. Do you have a secret ingredient in this process that you stand by or maybe tell us about what you think has allowed you to be successful in this space? Will Enzinger: I think the gr the foundations I had from ⁓ from Loch and Var, from Heath and Rosie certainly set me up around attention to detail, around making sure that you have you don't move forward until you have sort of cemented those key things that you have. And if if if things do fall apart you drop back a couple of levels, you know, in your training, consolidate again and move forward. So I I think having having that you know, and as I mean, y as you know and and fee knows with me, I don't need to yell and scream to get my point across. you know, some can say that potentially I'm a bit soft, but if people that say that would actually don't know me at all, just ask my wife, I suppose. But I'm more than happy to stand my ground and and and speak the truth. I just don't need to yell and scream to do it. And so with me It it's around the honesty and and most certainly for me, I think it's around with the coach for the coaching component. It's about listening. ⁓ and sometimes I ha you know, you have to amend and pause and things when you don't really if it was you about you, you'd just be doing XYZ. But when it's around someone else, you've got to take those who they are and what they're doing and that that that as a consideration and to potentially amend and, you know, divert a little bit when where you need to to keep them on track. So I suppose in that coaching component, that's that's me. and in the writing, I I again it's just that foundation. I think of of late, you know, not having as many lessons and stuff has definitely not been, you know, like I've got to make sure I keep doing that because I've still got a couple of nice horses I want to keep kicking, you know, doing some good stuff on. because that's why I did this in the first place. ⁓ it's for the love of doing the sport. So yeah, I I think honestly, when I look back. those foundation years at Lochamba and the learning I had set me up for to be who I am today. prue: And you and Emily do run a very successful business in the Yarra Valley. Tell us about your setup and how you've developed your business over the years with Emily. Will Enzinger: Yeah, look, we we ran separately for many years. ⁓ she was working out of her parents' place ⁓ at the Wandon Rider Academy in Wandon and I was working out of my parents' place that I set up there in Macclesfield and then we've been in our property in Yellingbow now for eleven years. And yeah, so that that's you know, it's we've sort of slowly keep sort of developing as we go. ⁓ obviously with my role now. I'm pretty I'm not coaching at all. still riding my hor the horses that I have with the huge support of mine, Yvonne and and Ron Barrow. ⁓ they've been phenomenal and ⁓ yeah, couldn't wouldn't be here again without their support. so the the property there, you know, we've got yeah, as much as you need. The only thing we we want to sort of develop is a bit more now is the cross country aspect of the of of the of the property. However, in Victoria. There's only a certain amount of time in the year that you could use it anyway. So we're fortunate to be able to utilize Wandern Rhine Academy. That's only like seven minutes away. And then I'm sorry, Wandham Park, apologies. And then there's another ⁓ venue, Shirley Heights, which is only 25 minutes away. We're pretty spoilt down in Victoria with ⁓ access to to venues. we've got ⁓ like Weraby's an hour and a just over an hour away. ⁓ Tonnebuck's another four-star. ⁓ That's only forty five minutes away, Wandon's seven minutes away. That's another four star. So yeah, we are very fortunate in a fortunate area, I suppose, to have access to good courses to train over. So prue: So it wouldn't be a story about Will without a story about Ethan. So tell us about a day in the life with Will and Ethan. Will Enzinger: ⁓ look. ⁓ he's he's a character. has a finger in every pie. the he's off doing something after school. ⁓ but there's basketball, there's footy, there's tennis, there's horse riding, there's then the competitions on the weekends. ⁓ Ethan's grown up with many, many aunties. ⁓ Janet Horton, one of them, a main one at at all the events. no, Ethan's is he's a great kid. very easy to get along with and ⁓ we'll we'll sort of talk to anyone, kids, adults and ⁓ just sort of fits in. We're we're very spoilt that he that he is so such a good communicator, I suppose, and and and willing to sort of come along, although he had no choice 'cause we were gonna continue to c keep competing and writing. That wasn't gonna stop. So potentially that sort of set him up anyway. But look, ⁓ look, yeah. I mean ⁓ and I just yeah love him to bits and ⁓ imagine a world without him. So he's a great kid. And look, he's he's aspirationally it's basketball. And a funny story, I was on the way back from the Paralympics and I was ⁓ sitting on the plane and this guy sat next to me and I was like, ⁓ I just don't want to engage. I just do not want to talk to anyone. And I thought, all right, just say good day and just about to put your headphones on. And anyway, it was the high performance director from Basketball for Australia. And ⁓ so was the quickest twenty two hour flight I've ever had. ⁓ just talking shop. But ⁓ I did have to tell Ethan that sorry mate, your ⁓ your genes are that you're not gonna be six foot five and you don't have the arm span of X, Y, Z. And so if you want to do basketball, you better be bloody good because Yeah. prue: That's great. So he does write a bit. Is he interested in the writing? Will Enzinger: Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. ⁓ he rides because we ride. ⁓ he doesn't it's definitely not something he would want to do. I I think if we didn't ride, I don't know if he would have picked it up, but he has the best pony. It is it competed at one star back in its day, it's twenty six. He just he's been bucked off a few times. So if he doesn't do what he's supposed to do, it'll tell him, which is good. but Yeah, so he if he wanted to go and do eventing he's got the ability to with this horse or it's basketball and footy. ⁓ he's king. Ki yeah, that's what he likes to do. ⁓ Although he does love the ⁓ social events at the ⁓ social aspect the events ⁓ coming eventing, so yeah. prue: Yeah, ⁓ no, that's great though. And I mean, that's the thing about eventing. It is such a family environment. So it is really cool. And the fact that he actually, you know, does ride and does it to a certain level, it's always a skill that as you say, if they come back to it, they come back to it. If they want to do it, at you've given them the opportunity. and I, and I must say as a mother of boys, it's a bit, I did think it was a bit different with the boys than what it was for. Will Enzinger: Yeah. prue: me growing up as the girls, whereas we were really sort of the ponies and with them, but the boys operate a little differently. each their own. But ⁓ so in current role as the high performance director, we Will Enzinger: Yeah. prue: You know, we should actually mention that although we think of you as an eventer and you are an eventer, you're actually the high performance directorial puts you in charge. And we're thinking about WEG this year. It actually puts you in charge of para dressage, show jumping dressage, vaulting and carriage driving this year at WEG. That is huge. So yeah, like can you give an overview and you know, like, I know like, you know, can we couple of minutes? I'm not sure how long you probably you're good at doing this. Will Enzinger: Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. prue: overview of what your role as high performance director involves and what a day with that hat on looks like. I imagine there are a lot of meetings. Will Enzinger: Mm. Yeah. There are a lot of meetings. So yeah, a hundred percent. yeah, look, I think that so to try and sum it up, you know, do a quick overview. yeah, so I'm responsible for the high performance component of a in Australia across the Olympic and non-Olympic ⁓ disciplines. ⁓ through funding through the prue: Ugh. Will Enzinger: which we are great so grateful for. we have eventing and paradressage are the two funded disciplines. obviously with dressage ⁓ ⁓ jumping, vaulting, ⁓ driving as well, sitting around there, we're responsible to sort of manage and work ⁓ with them. They they those disciplines have previously run ⁓ sort of in on their own a little bit with their own committees, et cetera. And we work in with them. my my view moving forward is we want to try and do more of a whole of sport, to at any you know, lessen the support for ⁓ the two funded disciplines, but actually look for ways to to ⁓ gather funding and support and ⁓ initiate more a support from the program to these other disciplines. So A day to day me would be ⁓ look, yeah, when you say meetings, ⁓ yeah, ⁓ they're and I didn't realise how important they are, but ⁓ but sometimes they they ⁓ they at this there's a lot, there's too much because in the role as well, when you have all the structure through the week of what you need to do and that's managing the whole budget, that's managing ⁓ the and the ops ⁓ for all of it. Obviously we have staff and and I've gotta say, ⁓ I've got The staff in the program are so committed and so on board. And ⁓ there's, you know, I haven't seen anyone with an agenda of their own. They are genuinely there to do the best for the athletes. And ⁓ so I'm very blessed to work with some great people. know, ⁓ with the stuff that comes up on a day-to-day basis, it's really tricky to be able Halve out some time to be really proactive And I do make sure I do that as much as I can. But, you know, as we come now towards the World Championships, as you said, ⁓ you know, we've got selection happening at the, you know, for so this paradressage is the first one to sort of get selection underway. ⁓ And then we have nominated entries for all the disciplines on the 6th of July. ⁓ ⁓ and so that's where you'll have the long lists being named. one point of difference there. I I know previously, and this is just different leadership, I suppose, but we're certainly going to publicly put those nominated lists ⁓ I think it's really important for ⁓ any athlete that's been named those lists to actually be, heroed for that, I think to get on a list like that is ⁓ is no feat, right? Like it's not it's through blood, sweat and tears and not being able to pay for fuel on the way home and getting your green to pay for it, that kind of stuff ⁓ along the And ⁓ so if if if if they can utilize that to sort of support them and their career and and potentially get an additional sponsor ⁓ or some and stuff, I think we need to do that. ⁓ the next date is on the 13th of July. This is just eventing. ⁓ we're going to be naming the squad. ⁓ so five athletes or combinations for for the world championships in eventing. ⁓ so that'll be four in a team and one individual. ⁓ but the individual and the team members won't be named till later. But the f the group of five will be put in and then ⁓ we've got three traveling reserves as well. ⁓ so we've got some key dates coming and so you know We've been working on this since the start of the cycle. ⁓ so post Paris, obviously our first benchmark is the World Championships. Now it's a benchmark for us. ⁓ and what our KPI is is we want to obtain our quota the Los Angeles ⁓ Olympics. I'm not if everyone is aware, but just because obviously Chris Burton had a phenomenal performance in Paris. ⁓ And obtained a silver medal individually, ⁓ just did a stellar, stellar, stellar performance. And I mean, that's just another whole story. How he w went through what he did and and and provided that that performance. So ⁓ yes, we meddled, but ⁓ that doesn't mean that you just automatically get a quota ⁓ because you meddled at the next Olympics. So we need to ⁓ place in the top six at the world championships and eventing as a team. If America, because America's the host country, if they ⁓ ⁓ obtain if they get in the top six, then it's the top seven placing. And the reason for that is the home country they get automatic entry to the Olympic Games for for those disciplines. So America doesn't have to obtain their quota there automatically in. ⁓ That'll be the same us for Brisbane. And that's for all disciplines. They'll all get an automatic ⁓ entry into the Olympics. So we need it we need a top seven. We would assume America would be in the top seven, I would have thought. But Never say never. So top six is what we need in the team to obtain a quota for us. So to say that we, you know, have been planning or haven't been planning, I don't know what people think we do out there, but ⁓ I'm gonna tell you the the amount of planning ⁓ that's gone into this and ⁓ around logistics, around performance plans, around, you know, supporting the the those the combinations around our zones that we want them get into for us to be able to deliver on that KPI. ⁓ ⁓ that's that that is the whole emphasis of what we do. yeah, and I suppose I haven't been very brief, I apologize, but one thing we do try to do is ⁓ work with the athletes to make it allow them to be able to perform to the best of their ability within the most normal environment that they can possibly have. So that's I know previously we've had national coaches and one person that led ⁓ you know, the whole thing and we have Stuart Tinney now the technical lead, but he's not the coach. You know, he's there to support and lead and obviously there to help. And if they want some guidance on the horse, that's fine. But he's not there to coach. We are to work with the teams around the athletes, and work with their grooms, their vets, ⁓ their ⁓ coaches, ⁓ their that of thing, and really try and ⁓ get everyone to sort of be on the same page. And when I say that, I'm not saying we they have to come around to what we think. We just work with them and we, you know, try and chew the fat and get an alignment and make sure we're all sort of going for the same thing and we've got good communication. And then when it comes to a championship, we try and normalize that and and keep as many of those key people there on the ground ⁓ as possible to try and keep it as a just another event. At a World Championship Sinarkin, ⁓ There's, you know, a lot more accreditation, which is great. and that's a lot more ⁓ for us to do that. When we come to an Olympic Games, ⁓ the accreditation is nearly halved. So it's it's a different story there. But as in for the world championships, to the best of our ability, all five athletes ⁓ ⁓ at Arkham that are selected, should be able to have their normal team around them, which is just, yeah, which is awesome. So ⁓ yeah, and look, you know, that whatever yeah. prue: Yeah, and that's a reflection worldwide, guess, as well. Sorry to interrupt there, but that's a reflection worldwide. it's a, you know, most of the leading nations in eventing would be operating in a similar framework in that they don't have one coach that coaches the whole team. we live in an age where... ⁓ Will Enzinger: You're right. prue: it's recognised that these riders have got to where they are because they've got good teams around them. And so ⁓ it's certainly something that will support them to have then the high performance team being an add on rather than a substitute. it's, and I, yeah, I think what you've talked about there is I think Australia probably in a way is, I think it's fair to say have led the way a little bit in that. And, but I think a lot of Will Enzinger: Mm. prue: A lot of the top nations are certainly ⁓ doing a similar thing. And I think the writers certainly appreciate that style. That is for sure. You mentioned earlier about the Australian Institute of Sports. just help ⁓ listeners understand how that relationship works and how as a program that you're ⁓ to them. Will Enzinger: So to be a funded sport and or discipline within Equestrian, you have to have had either medal at a previous championship or the previous Olympic Games ⁓ are on the trajectory to medal at the next Olympic Games. ⁓ have ⁓ much data ⁓ around ⁓ of the framing of this for the disciplines, and I can talk to that a little bit in a second, but ⁓ ⁓ We are responsible. We can't just say, yeah, yeah, we're we're looking good guys and then we get funding. ⁓ it's it's most certainly around we have you know meetings, each quarter how we're tracking, ⁓ you know, the athletes, how they're categorized, etc., on squads ⁓ off what their looks like, those kind of things. ⁓ we were fortunate to obtain our ⁓ funding for LA cycle before Paris, which was great. So ⁓ that was huge sort of well, not relief, but we were very fortunate to go, well, that's great. That's sort of we've got the funding and ⁓ we're good to go. I mean, for Birdo to obtain that performance, ⁓ the silver medal was just phenomenal and just adds to that, which is great. But we are responsible to equip every single dollar and we have to, so we provide ⁓ so I have to do a budget for the cycle. And then we we have to acquit against that. there's many layers to that, which you might want to talk to or not, Prue, I'll leave that to you, but ⁓ around governance that I have to adhere to within a question Australia, ⁓ but also then up to the AIS as well. so the money ⁓ that we receive is only spent on the program to deliver performance outcomes. ⁓ and yeah, we we are heavily ⁓ governed on that and actually from the Paris cycle to the LA cycle, ⁓ the scrutiny around the et cetera, was ⁓ I think increased by nearly 300%. And ⁓ to be I welcomed it because ⁓ you know, the more detail you have and the more it just it just there was more rigor that was just it meant just meant you were more planned. And I was not at all concerned around, you know, a more of a rigor rigorous process and reporting ⁓ Back to the RES because it just only helped us be more accountable and and and deliver on what we said we would. ⁓ I've got to say, currently now within EA, ⁓ we've got the interim CEO in Ben Houston, ⁓ and the board, and I've got my high performance committee as well. And I've got to say that that since this particular group had been in place, ⁓ my God, has it made a difference? ⁓ to us as a program to be able to get on with what we need to do. ⁓ and I'm yeah, I'm I'm very grateful to the group or the crew that are there at the moment because it's ⁓ allowing us to do the job we are here to do. prue: Yeah, that's great. That's such a great overview. I think it's, you know, it unless you're in it and, you know, I've been fortunate to be involved with it. So to me, it's assumed knowledge because I understand it. But I think it's great the way you've articulated that for people to understand, because I think sometimes like the AIS, for example, used to be pretty much the Sports Commission and then they swap names and there's history there. So what was ⁓ about 10 years ago, 15 years ago, 20 years ago, it's just different now. And so I think ⁓ I actually wrote a couple of notes down and it makes me smile a little bit because I certainly haven't done the job that you're doing, but I have an understanding of what's involved. And I just, I actually wrote a note saying, you know, now we're getting to the pointy end of the campaign towards WEG in August. Will Enzinger: Mm. prue: This is when everyone starts to have an opinion. Everyone is suddenly interested in all things high performance. Meanwhile, you've been slugging it out for the past 18 months, putting plans in place, meeting with major stakeholders like AIS, managing athletes programs, managing up, managing down, managing the budget, putting out fires, starting other fires and generally keeping the ship afloat. So I ⁓ sort of, but then on the other hand, this is kind of the fun bit. So it's a bit like, well, everything you've done. Will Enzinger: Mm-hmm. prue: in the last 18 months is, and now it actually is fun. Well, I mean, you know, maybe I'm just a junkie for high performance, but it is actually, you're starting to actually see, yep, this is, why we've put all these plans in place. So ⁓ we appreciate your in describing ⁓ to everybody, you what goes on and yeah, rest assured there's a whole lot going on in the background. And although we... ⁓ you know, everyone's going to have an opinion. And I think July 13 was when you said the Squad of Five Athletes and Travelling Reserves will be announced. yep, and that's good. And we want people to have an opinion because, know, we're invested in it. So, you know, if we didn't have an opinion, one would care. And that's just not good at all. feel us in. ⁓ It was to get those dates with the, and obviously we're just talking about eventing. ⁓ Will Enzinger: Mm. prue: Have you got a flight date for Australian based horses? if they do happen to be in that five or the three travelling reserves and, ⁓ and we actually might need to get the team veterinarian on at some stage and talk about that. So you don't need to go into detail about flying horses, but ⁓ have you a flight date, that ⁓ is looking pretty ⁓ likely Australian based horses? Will Enzinger: Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, we do. so another consideration, just you know, again forward planning is great, but no one could have ever anticipated what's happening in the Middle East now as well. So have to now be quite clear on which route we're going to be traveling, etcetera. That also has knock on effects ⁓ around airlines and kind of stuff. So ⁓ we we are booked on a ⁓ Singapore Airlines cargo plane on the twenty ninth to depart Melbourne. ⁓ and that's ⁓ will land in Amsterdam. ⁓ and then down the respective disciplines, whoever is coming from Australia will go off to respective training camps from there. and then ⁓ obviously into Aachen after that. So yeah, so so twenty ninth the time and around the flights from Australia, it's a little bit different. We have to you know, other nations can wait a little bit longer, but you know, that's when you're in Europe, it's like ⁓ travelling from Adelaide to Sydney or you know or WA, I mean WA even to to Sydney's a long trip, but it's definitely not what we have to do. So we have to actually close off timelines a little bit earlier, ⁓ in order to allow people, if they are fortunate enough to be selected, if the and they are domiciled in Australia. that they've got the opportunity to still plan and prepare and get organized to actually do that trip because it's it's no mean fed and prove you're you know you're no stranger to this and ⁓ of course you know everything can go right and so many times it can go wrong. So ⁓ we just want to make sure everyone has the ability to do what they need to do and ⁓ as early as we can get over within reason ⁓ gives everyone more opportunity, more buffer. ⁓ to be able to ensure that they're in the best condition to provide the performance we know that they can do. And I think just one thing on that, I think ⁓ we've all to just really remember that the everyone that's put laying their performances and in any discipline, ⁓ you know, ⁓ they've worked hard to what they do and and ⁓ I think it would be I I don't know why I wanna say this, but I'm gonna say this. But to think that people ⁓ you know, can go and a P B at a World Championships ⁓ I don't think is reasonable. I think to to allow the athletes can what all we can ask is that they can go and do the performance we know that they have done many times before and and deliver that. Now I know previously and historically we have seen athletes do a P B ⁓ at a championship. So not writing it off and hey, that'd be great, but ⁓ to to to make sure our job is to ensure that these athletes have the the ability ⁓ to deliver what we know that they can do and what they have done previously ⁓ at At the world championships. So prue: Yeah, that's great. this is such an interesting conversation and I'm sure we can carry it on. I think one thing I hadn't mentioned earlier was that, and ⁓ I think I've known of the previous high performance directors, you're actually equestrian based and we really, really appreciate ⁓ what you bring to role with the, ⁓ you you've been on team before, you've traveled horses overseas. ⁓ You really do get it. it's just a really, we're really, really fortunate to have someone of your calibre leading the program. we really appreciate everything that you do. And obviously we hope you don't get too many gray hairs in the next couple of months. ⁓ And we certainly wish you all the very best and hopefully not too many bushfires need to be. put out in the meantime, but I'm sure there'll be a couple that you'll be hosing down. is a really, exciting time. So we'll let you off the hook now and have a little bit of fun because Fiona ⁓ will have a few little cool questions for you. ⁓ And hopefully ⁓ that might bring ⁓ bit of smile to your face maybe a little bit less seriousness for a couple of minutes. Will Enzinger: One thing I if I can No, thanks. If I could just add one more thing, I just gotta th say that ⁓ you know, behind anyone that does any any role, there's always other people that are so important and and and really ⁓ compliment and you know, s help them stay where they are. And I've gotta say like for me to take this role was such a turnabout for what I did in my my day. You know, and I was coaching and riding, you know, ⁓ fifteen horses, you know, like It was every day and doing that kind of stuff and eventing all the time and and stuff. And so ⁓ has had to we've had to really rejig what we do at home and ⁓ runs the whole place. Like I don't have any involvement at all. Like she does does the whole thing and you know, that's that's been huge. Just and I think people need to just have an awareness that, you know, like when things change like this, they're great opportunities, but there also is there's a cost. And ⁓ Prue, I'm sure you're no stranger to that as well. when you've been in these positions, ⁓ as as previously as well. It's ⁓ you know, the support that you have. And so Emma's just been phenomenal ⁓ to work with me for this 'cause honestly without her being able to work with me, like I wouldn't be able to do it. So yeah, I'm very grateful. prue: Yeah, well said. Over to you, Fee. fiona: Absolutely. Absolutely well said there, Will. She's ⁓ she's a force to be reckoned with. Our ⁓ So this part of the show, Will, I'm not sure whether you're familiar with the between the flags that we do. At point of our program, do what we call the cool down questions. Now the cool down questions are ⁓ we get to know you a little bit better. So ⁓ I'm going to play our first cool down question and what your job is to tell ⁓ who you think ⁓ is designated cool down question, friend. be that as it may, and then give us your reflection on what they're ⁓ what they're bringing to the table for you. Will Enzinger: Sounds good, sure if it's a cooldown, but yeah, go for it. fiona: Ready? right. ⁓ chucking buckets of water at ya. ⁓ here's your first one. Will Enzinger: No pressure. Go for it. fiona: Hi Will. I'm not sure when you thought Emma was a keeper, but I certainly thought she was gonna be a keeper when she helped you with a lot of your personal hygiene when you had two broken wrists. Will Enzinger: Clarky. fiona: Nina. Will Enzinger: ⁓ good. Nina Clark. Yes, well all I'm gonna say is that, you know a romantic shower was pretty lost after I had two broken arms, so that's all we have to say. fiona: That's a little awkward. Anyway Will Enzinger: Yeah. fiona: All right, get ready for this one. It doesn't get any easier, Will. Ready? Will Enzinger: Mm. Okay. fiona: So dad, do you want to explain what DHS is in your words? I'm sure they would love to hear it. Will Enzinger: Well, the dad gave it away. ⁓ so obviously that's Ethan. we have a running joke, I suppose, in our family. So as I said, my mum's, ⁓ she's still ⁓ still a teacher, worked in the s the government schools her whole life and ⁓ a common thing would be jokingly, obviously, so you know, ⁓ we'll have a w whatever with Ethan and stuff and mum will say Don't do that, I'll call DHS. So I actually rename renamed DHS ⁓ to the Department of Hilarious Situations. fiona: That's it. That's it. Yep, you got it. It's a apartment of hilarious situations. Will Enzinger: Yeah. Yeah. Not to be joked about, obviously, but anyway, yeah, pretty funny. Yeah. fiona: No, no, that was that was where Ethan was hoping you'd go. Okay, Will. Here's a final cringeworthy moment. Strap yourself in. Will Enzinger: Ha ha. ⁓ god. Right. fiona: Hi Will. My question is around your truck driving and four separate episodes. The first one was Wendy, the old truck in Canberra 10 years ago, and I think the going was deep. The second incident was your choice to leave the Balti Bridge for the first time in your semi-trailer. The third one was navigating, I think Emma was helping, through Dixon's Creek and involved a 28-point turn. And the final one was exchanging candy going up the Hume Freeway with a fellow traveller at speed. Which one was your favourite? Will Enzinger: So that's the classic Janet Horton, ⁓ for sure. yeah, I think the exchanging of things, so we were driving home from Adelaide, it's a fair drive, as you know, ⁓ and Emma was in a gooseneck and I was in the old truck Wendy, Wenlock Wendy, and ⁓ had a container of ⁓ that were throwing between trucks with ⁓ stuff in it and ⁓ yeah on the way back ⁓ from Adelaide that was ⁓ that was pretty funny, but yeah being stopped after the Balti Bridge 'cause I could didn't fit under it, ⁓ and having a police escort was a close second, so fiona: ⁓ dear. Will Enzinger: Yeah. fiona: Well that may off our ⁓ Episode for this afternoon, Prue, what do you think? prue: Yeah, I think that was great. Great insight from Will. just really interesting what's going on. And I think he's going to be a very man for the next couple of months. So we certainly wish him all the best and Aussie, Aussie, Aussie. Will Enzinger: Mm-hmm. fiona: Oi, oi, oi, bring on Arkin. Will Enzinger: Oi, oi, oi. fiona: Thanks for riding along with us. We hope you enjoyed the show. Catch you next time between the flags.