River Downs- Sullivan Family
The Sullivan Family, Don & Karen with childern Megan, Katie and Fiona are well known around the shows, competing regularly on the Queensland and New South Wales showjumping circuit.
Karen is an accomplished horse woman and a passionate show jump rider. Karen's background includes training racehorses and training and driving harness racers achieving wins on metropolitan tracks.
Don has been involved with Show Jumping for over 40 years, riding and training horses to World Cup level. Other pursitus have been rodeo, endurance riding, showing ponies and training racehorses, a truely versatile horseman. Today Don's services are in great demand as a EFA Level Two Coach and showjumping judge and course designer.
Megan, Katie and Fiona are following in their parents footsteps. Megan has been selected on Queensland young riders team, Fiona is an acomplished rider of show hacks and Katie has started competing in junior jumping events.
The Sullivan Family are heavily involved in the West Moreton Show Jumping Association which is now based at River Downs, Don is the President and Karen is the treasurer.
Karen's top horse at present is Satin, this warmblood mare is by Belcam Graphic and carried Karen to 1st place at the Sydney Showjumping Amateur Championships in 2006. It was also 2006 when Satin started competing at Grand Prix level with a win at Kingaroy and numerous placings at Wandoan, Goomeri, Monto, Casino and Lismore. This mare is a World Cup prospect in the making.
Some highlights from 2008 include
The Sullivan family are happy to have held their first competition and training days at River Downs. They also have a new crop of home breed 4 year olds out competting sucessfully and Karen is looking forward to continued good performances from Satin at Grand Prix Level.
Their aim for 2008
To establish their equestrian center 'River Downs' by expanding the team of riders whom they coach and manage competition schedules for. They are also working on breeding outstanding performance horses and competing at an elite level.