L
ife is full and very varied. “I’ve recently been told I should occasionally take time off so I’ve
allocated one day a month when I can do housework and frivolous things,” declares 24-year-old eventer Steph Hann, who is studying for a Bachelor of Teaching. “I spend many late nights getting everything ready, and go into Adelaide Uni twice a week. Getting a teaching degree is a contingency plan as I know how difficult it can be to make a living from horses.” Based in South Australia, Steph lives with her family on eighteen acres in Aldgate. “My grandmother was an international dressage judge and Mum trained and rode dressage but gave it up when she had my brother. He’s scared of horses.” Both her parents, Terry and Hilary, are professional photographers. “Dad specialises in racehorse photography and Mum in wildlife. I’m very lucky to have their help and support in everything I do. Mum comes to shows and is groom, videographer, counsellor and co-driver of our float.” Often in that float is True Celebre, aka ‘Wally’, Steph’s eventing partner on various national and state squads. “He’s by Peintre Celebre (USA) out of Dalzing and raced for a couple of years but not very successfully,” she says. “I got him from Mildura as a nine-yearold. He was meant to be a sell-on horse but then he stayed.” In 2019 they were selected for the
YO U N G R I D E R
National Youth Squad to compete in the Oceania Championships in
All in a day’s work
Taupo. “Some of those memories are bittersweet,” she recalls. “After a final gallop before leaving for NZ Wally was uneven, I think it was a stone bruise, and after discussions with the vet and Chef d’Equipe we decided it wasn’t worth
With horses to train, shows to attend, textbooks to read and essays to submit, sometimes there aren’t enough hours in Steph Hann’s day, writes SUZY JARRATT.
the risk of taking him away. But it was still a great experience attending the training camp in NSW where I learned an immense amount from team coach, Will Enzinger, and Sam Lyle.”
