Falcon Sporthorses
of Australia

JOHN COOPER. NCAS Level 1

Originally from Hay in NSW, John started riding and eventing through Pony Club.
He was Australian National Junior ODE Champion twice and his first big win was the
Sydney *** 3DE when he was 18

Since then John has won over 100 events at Advanced level and 15 Three Day Events.

Some career highlights

Australian National Eventing Champion - 1992 1993 1995 1996(2nd) 1997(8th)
No 13 - World Landrover Global rankings - 1993
No 1 ranking in Oceania (Southern Hemisphere)- Landrover Global rankings – 1993
No 3 ranking in Oceania Landrover Global Rankings - 1996
Queensland Three Day Event Champion – 1990***-1992* @ **-1993* & **-1994 **
NSW One Day Event Champion - 1992 &1993, (2nd) 1994 & (2nd) 1995, 1996
NSW Rider of the Year - 1992 - 1993 – 1995 – 1996
NSW Event Horse of the Year
1992 - 1st A Second Thought - 3rd Hanburg Bella Regina
1993 - 1st Lionheart, 2nd - Hanburg Bella Regina
1994 - 1st Copperclysmic
1995 - 1st Copperclysmic
1996 - 1st Falcon Ivory

Member of the Australian Eventing team Gawler 3DE – 1993, Saumur 3DE - 1994
Punchestown 3DE - 1994
Member of the NSW Eventing team - Werribee (1990 -1-2-3 -5)
Lochinvar 1998. Queensland (1990-2-3-4), NSW (1992-3)

John has also been involved in coaching at International level and has coached riders for three Olympic Games. He spent several months in Korea in 2002 coaching the Korean Eventing team for the Asian Pacific Games where they won Silver, and was also involved in training the dressage team where they won Gold. More recently he coached the Thai Olympic eventing rider and went with him to the Olympic Games in Athens.

PIP COOPER. N.C.A.S. Level II Dressage Specialist Coach

Originally from Scotland, Pip and her family emigrated to Australia when she was two. She completed the Horse Husbandry and Management course at Roseworthy Agricultural College in SA, when she left school and was Stud Manager at the NSW Equestrian Centre for 3 years.

1985/87 Roseworthy Agricultural College, Gawler. SA
Completed two year course Associated Diploma Horse Management.
1988/90 Stud Manager. NSW Equestrian Centre, Lochinvar, NSW
Instructor and Trainer
1988 NCAS Level 1 (National Coaching Accreditation Scheme)
1990 Falcon Sporthorses. (Instruction, schooling and training of riders and horses, based at Il Cadore
1991/92 Instructor in Horse Enterprise Supervision at Charlestown TAFE college 1992 Instructor in Horse and Stable Management for Gosford TAFE (CES)
1993 NCAS Level 11 (National Coaching Accreditation Scheme specialising in dressage). 1990/2000 Conducted numerous teaching clinics in NSW, Qld and Vic
Articles published in Australian Horse and Rider Magazine and regular writer for The Horse Magazine and Australian Equestrian Magazine
1997-2000 FEI competitor and Member of NSW Dressage Squad. Competed and won at NSW and National Championships.

In 1995, 1996, 1998 and 2000 John and Pip published 'The NSW Eventer's Handbook' a comprehensive guide to all the One Day Events in NSW and major Events Interstate.

FALCON PARK

2000-2009 Developing and establishing Falcon Park.
Coaching, instructing and running clinics
Competing and campaigning horses in dressage, showjumping and eventing.
Breeding, breaking in and bringing on young horses

The year 2000 was a major milestone for John and Pip. They were married at the beginning of the year and then after a lot of searching they settled on a 54 acre property at Peats Ridge/Central Mangrove. The property had been used for cattle and there were no facilities for horses, and so began the daunting task of setting up an equestrian centre.

During the last 8 years they have replaced all the fencing and established 25 paddocks, 16 with lock up shelters and all with water and irrigation. There is also a 60 x 100 (double) arena, two jumping arenas and an 1800 exercise track. Other major projects have been building a guest cottage for visitors and students and a modern stable block with feedshed and tackroom. The most recent addition has been a coffee room with TV/Video and some of the best cappuccino in the district.

Now in 2009, most of the major structures have been completed, though it’s an ongoing plan and there is always some new project under way.