Quiet achievers is the impression you get after talking to Dirk and Sicca Dijkstra, although the results of their involvement in the Australian equestrian world, are anything but quiet.
The Dutch-born couple came to Australia in December 1982 and have since steered the performance horse industry in Australia towards the next century. Dirk Dijkstra is the horse breeder, teacher and visionary, while Sicca has formidable organisational talents which are syonymous with the Dianna Ferrari Dressage Championships and the Victorian Gala Weekends of the AWHA (Australian Warmblood Horse Association). From their modest beginnings at the Australian Equestrian Academy (AEA), they have developed a riding school into one of Australia's largest and most successful stallion stations, with connections back to their native homeland, The Netherlands.
...Q What are your criteria for a good broodmare?
We are closing our broodmare band quite rapidly, over the next four to five years, to horses that are performing in sport. We will take embryos from them and put them into recipient mares. We have some exceptionally good mares with whom IÕve done et. There are so few good mares in Australia so embryo transfer is the best thing. Our costs are quite low, as I do the lead up work myself. There is a good market in Australia for good dressage and showjumping horses and we are getting closer to international competitions.
Q You are very involved with AWHA (Australian Warmblood Horse Association)?
Soon after I came to Australia I was State President of the AWHA, then National President for about five years. I then left, but came back after two years because I couldn't watch it any longer. We are making it more accessible to anyone with Warmbloods, not just people with classified horses, and are trying to get more members involved. We are a big country, but small in numbers and, perhaps, to attract so many people is one of the great things we have done. The AWHA is now a company with stud-book rules and regulations. Five years ago you had to hide yourself after classifications, because you could get killed on the job. Nowadays you can talk to people about it, and itÕs generally accepted that some horses pass and others fail. ...