Hayley Frielick and Sportsfield Lumiere. Image by Shannon Brinkman Photo.
After withdrawing from FEI World Championship contention with Sportsfield Lumiere due to injury, US-based eventer Hayley Frielick is looking ahead. With a talented team of horses and Olympic aspirations, her focus is now firmly on Los Angeles 2028 where she hopes to represent Australia.
Born in the United States to South African parents, Hayley Frielick originally lived in New Zealand as a very young child before moving to Australia with her family; it was here that she had her first riding lesson at Samurai Park Riding School in Sydney’s Terrey Hills. A later move to Scotland saw her progress through the Pony Club system and deepen her passion for horses before returning to Australia at 15, where she discovered eventing and was based with Olympian Chris Burton during her formative years in the sport.
Hayley Frielick and Dunedin Black Watch. Image by Tazzie Eggins
“Hayley sold just about
everything she owned in Australian
and decided to stay on the US…”
Representing New Zealand, Hayley enjoyed success with a number of horses and was long-listed for the Tokyo Olympics with off-the-track Thoroughbred Class Action LP.
In 2022, Hayley flew her next star, Dunedin Black Watch, to the USA and completed both Maryland CCI5*-L and Kentucky CCI4*-S. Based in Pennsylvania with Aussie eventers Dominic and Jimmie Schramm, next door to Boyd and Silva Martin, Hayley loved living and training in the States – and equipped with an American passport, she sold just about everything she owned in Australian and decided to stay on the US.
Hayley has since spent time in Ocala, Florida during the winters – largely because Dunedin Black Watch, a Queenslander, is not a fan of the cold. However, the pull of Pennsylvania and those she trains with there is strong, and so Hayley continues to return in the warmer months.
“For the summer we are based at Windurra USA,” explains Hayley, referring to the Pennsylvanian home of Boyd and Silva Martin.
“The facilities are incredible, and I really wanted to be here to continue my dressage training with Silva Martin. I jump train with Peter Wylde, he is at Windurra regularly! I am also lucky to have [business partners] Martha [Tomlinson] and Katie [Robertson] to consult with on a daily basis and it’s so valuable to have consistent eyes on the ground.”
DUNEDIN SPORT HORSES
Together, Hayley, Martha and Katie form Dunedin Sport Horses, a business dedicated to sourcing, producing and campaigning elite sport horses, underpinned by strong professional business management. As CFO, Katie oversees ownership structures, partnership agreements, client relations and day-to-day operations. Martha, based in Europe, is responsible for horse sourcing, while Hayley focuses on training and competition.
Hayley and Katie first met while living in Scotland, and Hayley was introduced to Martha at the Adelaide CCI5*-L in 2018. The partnership quickly evolved into Dunedin Sport Horses, combining their complementary expertise to create a successful international operation.
Matching riders with horses is a part of the business Hayley particularly enjoys. “It’s really rewarding to match quality horses with their perfect partners and I love following all of their journeys.”
“It’s really rewarding
to match quality horses
with their perfect partners.”
Dunedin Sport Horses, L-R: Martha Tomlinson, Hayley Frielick and Katie Robertson. Image by Heart Horse Media.
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP DREAMS
This year, Hayley achieved the FEI Minimum Eligibility Requirements (MERs) for the FEI World Championships in Aachen aboard 11-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding Sportsfield Lumiere (Orestus VDL x Phin Phin) and is now competing under the Australian flag.
“I really grew up eventing in Australia and it feels like home for me. My family live there so I still have a really strong connection there personally. I still consider Australia home,” she explains.
Sportsfield Lumiere was found by Martha. “Much like all my others!” Hayley laughs. “Martha actually put him on a plane before I was even really ready. But she knew he was the horse that I needed and she was right. We really clicked and he gave me so much confidence from the very beginning. He actually reminded me a lot of one of my previous five-star rides, Class Action LP, who recently passed away after a sweet retirement.”
Hayley competing with Sportsfield Lumiere at TerraNova, where they placed second in the CCI4*-L on 31.8. Image by Go Eventing.
Hayley describes her journey with Sportsfield Lumiere as “almost a fairytale” so far.
“He has just gone from strength to strength. We had a very competitive season together at three-star and stepped up seamlessly to four-star. He came second at both CCI4*-L starts that we did and actually has the lowest finishing score at that level out of all the Australian combinations [with FEI World Championships MERs],” she notes.
“We were really hoping and on track for a shot at the World Championships, but unfortunate timing with a small injury meant I chose to withdraw him from contention,” Hayley explains. “He’s still young and has a lot to give! I’m really confident he will be back, so I’m hoping to aim him for the next championship, LA 2028.”
Hayley and Sportsfield Lumiere following their clear jumping round at TerraNova. Image by Go Eventing.
EXCITING TEAM
Sportsfield Lumiere isn’t the only star in Hayley’s team – she has several young horses that are looking promising.
“I’m incredibly fortunate to have a string of lovely young horses. I actually have Lumiere’s half-brother, Stanley (Dunedin LB Highlight), who I am very excited about. They are both sired by Orestus. I think I have a bit of a habit of getting bay half-brothers, as Class Action LP and My Happiness [Hayley’s 2018 Adelaide CCI5*-L mount] were also half-brothers!
“So it feels serendipitous with these ones; fingers crossed! He’s five, and I’m bias, but he’s absolutely magnificent. I know he’s a horse that can go all the way.”
Hayley also has a “very competitive” six-year-old Irish Sport Horse named Dunedin LB Muze. “He is so much fun; Martha found him as a four-year-old and after my first jump on him, I insisted that he needed to stay, so we got together a syndicate. We plan to run him at a CCI2*-L at the end of the year, and then he can have a well-earned holiday.”
There is then an eight-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding Sportsfield Johnny Logan (Lagans Obos Quality x Sunny Boy), who is “absolutely bursting with personality” and aimed at CCI3*-L this year.
Hayley Frielick and Sportsfield Lumiere. Image by Shannon Brinkman Photo.
“It’s such a huge advantage to us having Martha in Europe with access to such quality horses,” explains Hayley. “She is always on the lookout for our next superstar, and we are always looking for people who want to be part of the journey. All of our horses are available for syndication; it’s a fantastic team environment that is really inclusive and we are always looking for new members or anyone who would like to be a part of the team.”
EYES ON LA
Although the FEI World Championships are off the table this year, Hayley hasn’t given up on representing Australia at a major championship – in fact, she has her sights firmly set on the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
“We are so looking forward to the rest of the year, but our sights are set firmly on the next championships in LA.” EQ
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