Albury's Jobina Kennedy will be in the international spotlight when she tests her skills on the world's best horses and riders this week.
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The Equestrian Australia dressage judge has flown to Fritzens, Austria for a renowned competition run by the famous Swarovski family.
The Manfred & Hilde Swarovski Memorial Show celebrates its 25th jubilee from June 28 to 30 and Jo will be there to experience more of the sporting moments that write dressage history.
She will be under the eagle eyes of top international judges in all the Grand Prix classes as she completes the pre-requisites to become an FEI 3-star judge.
Jo will be under intense pressure as she sits in with these judges - she will be drilled on her knowledge of each intricate movement as it happens in these highly complex tests of the harmony between horse and rider.
"I will be expected to propose the marks as the test is happening along with comments to justify my decision," said Jo, who works as the manager at Snaffles Saddlery Albury for her day job.
It would be like a basketball fan being given the chance to meet superstar Michael Jordan.
- Jobina Kennedy
By night, Jo can be found glued to her computer watching hours of international dressage tests on clipmyhorse.tv as she seeks to perfect her craft.
"The quality of horses in Europe is different to Australia; there is the opportunity to regularly give marks of 8, 9 and even 10," she said.
"I have also been very lucky to have been invited to a lot of big shows in Australia to judge the Grand Prix classes at a CDI level where there is more pressure."
At Fritzens Jo will be given the opportunity to judge the world's best rider in six-time Olympia winner Isabell Werth and another Olympic champion in Dorothee Schneider.
Her excitement will hit fever pitch ahead of the second stage of her trip when she travels to Hartpury Dressage Festival in the UK on July 5 to take part in a special seminar run by the International Dressage Officials Club.
This will include a visit to the training yard of Carl Hester and his revered protege Charlotte Dujardin.
I'm ridiculously excited to meet Carl," Jo admitted.
"He is one of the most respected trainers in the world.
"It would be like a basketball fan being given the chance to meet superstar Michael Jordan."
Hero worship aside, Jo's aim is to pass the gruelling two-year qualification that will give her the credentials to judge in the Asia-Pacific region and hopefully beyond.
