Close Menu
  • Home
  • News
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • Local History
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise With Us
  • About Us
  • Subscribe
  • Read Our Newspapers Online
    • Read the Latest Western Port News
    • Read the Latest Mornington News
    • Read the Latest Southern Peninsula News
    • Read the Latest Frankston Times
    • Read the Latest Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News
  • Competition
  • Home New
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
Sunday, July 6
Facebook X (Twitter)
MPNEWSMPNEWS
  • Home
  • News
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • Local History
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise With Us
  • About Us
  • Subscribe
  • Home New
Breaking News
MPNEWSMPNEWS
Home»News»Saddlery behind riders’ uniform look
News

Saddlery behind riders’ uniform look

By Stephen TaylorSeptember 20, 2016No Comments3 Mins Read
Dressed to compete: Peter and Caroline Wagner with “Little Pete”. Their saddlery business outfitted the Australian equestrian team at the Rio Olympics. Picture: Yanni
Share
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email
Dressed to compete: Peter and Caroline Wagner with “Little Pete”. Their saddlery business outfitted the Australian equestrian team at the Rio Olympics. Picture: Yanni
Dressed to compete: Peter and Caroline Wagner with “Little Pete”. Their saddlery business outfitted the Australian equestrian team at the Rio Olympics. Picture: Yanni

ALTHOUGH they were thousands of kilometres away in Somerville, Caroline and Peter Wagner rode the highs and lows along with members of Australia’s Olympic equestrian team at Rio.

The couple’s business Wagners Saddlery supplied the bespoke clothing for all members of the eventing, dressage, show jumping and Paralympic teams.

And, now that the fortnight’s frenetic competition is over, they can relax a little and take stock of another hectic period in their business lives.

Ms Wagner said she and Peter and their six staff were proud of the way competitors looked in their tailored jackets, riding breeches, shirts, boots and hats.

They also dressed gold medal-winning pentathlete Chloe Esposito for the show jumping segment of her event, as well as her brother Max, also a pentathlete, and former Pearcedale equestrian competitor Sam Griffiths, now based in the UK.

Ms Wagner says the heat and humidity of the host country played a huge part in their choice of fabric, which is sourced from Switzerland.

“It has to have the ability to stretch and be breathable and comply with the colour code,” she said.

“It has to look good, be comfortable and work to the best of the rider’s ability.”

The garments consisted of white shirts and breeches, navy jackets with gold collars and forest green piping and badges with the Olympic rings and the words Rio 2106 in gold.

Wagner’s, which was established in 1979, also outfitted the Australian equestrian team for the Beijing and Sydney Olympics as well as the World Equestrian Games in Kentucky, US, in 2013.

Team officials contracted the company for 22 riding outfits, but Ms Wagner would not divulge the size of the deal.

“We were approached because we had done it before and had been recommended,” she said.

“We showed our range of fabrics and colours and demonstrated how we could put it all together and we were accepted.”

A dressage competitor herself, Ms Wagner said it was a test of her skills to obtain correct jacket, breaches and helmet measurements via email from the Australian riders based in the US, England, Germany, the Netherlands and England, as well as the two pentathletes in Hungary.

“As exciting as it is, it’s a bit of a nightmare, too,” she admitted.

“Everything’s got to be made in time and we have the first eight to 10 riders settled but a decision on the others is not made until the last minute and they are all different shapes and sizes.

“We are lucky with the advances in technology that allow us to make outfits that look good and are superior in comfort.

“It’s nice when it’s all done and everything fits and looks good; it’s such a relief.”

First published in the Western Port News – 20 September 2016

Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email

Related Posts

Advocates celebrate abuse law change

July 3, 2025

Railway station scam

July 1, 2025

Flinders result unaffected by poll blunder – AEC

July 1, 2025

Grand Hotel’s tower revamp signals new chapter for icon

June 26, 2025
Add A Comment

Comments are closed.

Peninsula Essence Magazine – Click to Read
Peninsula Kids Magazine – Click to Read
Letters to the Editor
Property of the Week

14 Bass Street, McCrae

June 3, 2025
Council Watch

Shire secures $3.9m to tackle road safety

June 16, 2025

Kinder flyer flag snub prompts councillors to take over

June 10, 2025
100 Years Ago This Week

Baxter – On The ‘Wallaby’ with a walking group

July 1, 2025
Interview

Firefighter shows skills from sea to snow

February 5, 2024
Menu
  • Home
  • News
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • Local History
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise With Us
  • About Us
  • Subscribe
  • Home New
About

Established in 2006, Mornington Peninsula News Group (MPNG) is a locally owned and operated, independent media company.

MPNG publishes five weekly community newspapers: the Western Port News, Mornington News, Southern Peninsula News, Frankston Times and Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News.

MPNG also publishes two glossy magazines: Peninsula Essence and Peninsula Kids.

Facebook X (Twitter)
© 2025 Mornington Peninsula News Group.

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.