Leigh Dunstan has owned, trained, bred, and successfully competed with horses and ponies for over 40 years. He has been coaching successful competition riders of various levels for over 30 years.

2008 marks forty two years of competing at the Royal Melbourne Show. During this time, Leigh has shown, trained and prepared over 35 individual Royal Show Champions. These horses and ponies have won over 70 Royal Show Led or Ridden Championships or Reserve Championships in more than 35 different Open and Breed sections. This impressive list doesn't include numerous Australian, State and Barastoc Champions and winners.

Of the countless horses and ponies that Leigh has been involved with over the years, many of them being multi-champions and renowned examples of their particular breed, perhaps these three horses deserve special mention:

SHOSTAKOVICH was the first Warmblood in Australia to win a Royal Show Led Championship. Prior to his untimely death, he defeated all imports of any note and all Thoroughbred Royal Champions of that era during his brief career. He was Champion Warmblood Exhibit of Victoria, NSW and SA; 3 times Led Champion and Winner Open Ridden Stallion Melbourne Royal (from 4 appearances); Supreme All Breeds Exhibit, Adelaide Equestrian Expo 1980.

This magnificent horse was considered by many experienced Royal Show judges as the greatest Led Stallion of any breed they had ever seen. From limited stud opportunities, Shostakovich sired 4 individual Royal Show Champions.

The Warmblood stallion CHRISTOFLE was originally purchased by Leigh Dunstan as a yearling and was shown by Leigh at Melbourne Royal on four occasions for 5 wins, 2 Championships and 1 Reserve Championship in Saddle and Led classes. He also won countless other Breed Championships plus wins in Dressage and Showjumping.

With very few opportunities at stud, Christofle produced the legendary DARIEN POWERS, arguably Australia's greatest 3 Day Event horse; dual Olympic Gold Medal winner; fastest medal winning Cross Country round at the Atlanta Olympics and the lowest ever Dressage score in Olympic 3DE competition (Sydney 2000). Between 1996 -2000 Christofle was the highest ranked Warmblood 3DE sire in the world and the only Australian-owned Warmblood sire to ever have a World Top 10 Ranking (7th) in Australian equestrian history, in any discipline.

The superb Anglo Arabian stallion WARRAWEE DUNDEE was an Australian and Victorian Champion (both led and ridden). He was a Royal Show Champion four times (both led and ridden in both Open and Breed classes). He had Official EFA Dressage wins and places to Advanced Medium. He sired Royal and Australian Champions. Two of the horses that Leigh Dunstan is currently working with are closely related to this magnificent horse.

Leigh has shown and bred stud ponies for over 35 years. Ponies owned and bred by him appear in Vol 1. of the Australian Welsh Stud Book. He has judged various pony breeds at Royals and Stud Shows in most states of Australia. He has worked as Stud Groom at the world famous Nattai Pony Stud and Peter Barry's Mirinda Pony Stud during the legendary Keston Royal Occasion's first stud season in Australia.

Leigh's riding career highlights include Champion Gent Rider Royal Melbourne Show (1997); Gold Medallist Gent Rider Australian Masters Games (1995); Gold Medallist Elementary Dressage Masters games (1999); wins and placings EFA Dressage comps to Advanced Medium.

Leigh has judged Royals and Breed Shows in most states of Australia and has been an EFA Panel Judge for over 20 years. He was also instrumental in the formation of the VASA Saddle Horse Championships, being its Chief Steward for its initial 5 years.

However, Leigh's most pleasing achievements have been as an Equestrian Coach. Many of today's top FEI young riders commenced their junior competitive careers, both in showing and dressage under Leigh Dunstan's guidance and formative training.

Leigh has trained six Royal Show Champion Riders and many more individual winners; "Good Hands" trophy winners; Royal Show turnout winners (including a Garryowen winner); winning Barastoc combinations; State and National Junior Dressage Champions; PCAV State Grade One Dressage Champions; HRCAV Level 1 & 2 Royal and Barastoc Champions and every season the list continues to grow.