Where did your passion for horses come from and how long have you been riding?
My passion for horses, 100% came from my parents. Both my parents have been extremely interested in horses since a very young age. It was horses that brought them together and its been something they have pursued together ever since.
Riding was something that I was simply going to love! Ever since I could talk, I wanted to ride, however it wasn’t until I was 18 months old until I was allowed. I had my 23rd birthday this year in April, so it’s been 21 and a half years of riding for me!
How did you choose your discipline?
Showjumping was always going to be the dominating discipline, as it was my Dad’s favorite. We did however try our hand throughout our pony club years at everything, from games, to camp drafting, to hunting, to show ring, we have tried it all. But for me, it was always Showjumping. Whether it was Dad’s passion that rubbed off on me, or I independently chose it, I just love to jump and always have!
As a young rider, do you have any role models in this industry that you look up to?
Growing up we spent a lot of time on the Showjumping circuit, both local and interstate. There are a lot of amazing riders out there, but I can’t look further than home to find my inspiration.
My Dad is my role model in every way. He’s been spending the last 53 years building up the Stud that we now call Lals Haven Warmbloods. Beginning with one foal one Christmas day over a decade ago, he and my Mum now welcome at least six new babies a year. Not only have my parents established a breeding progeny but they are completely self-sufficient. Dad is the farrier, the dentist, the vet, the rider and my coach. And my mum, our most attentive and devoted strapper, groom, and now rider as well.
Dad breaks in all the yearlings, handles them, drives them and then rides the buck out of them so Sarah and I can hop on.
Not only does he know how to see a stride and ride, but he can pick a riders style and match a horse to that. My sister and I have always had handy jumpers, as well as dressage horses, show ring ponies and games guns. No matter what we’ve done, Dad’s made sure there’s a horse that will excel in it.
But its not just the riding, my Dad has been in the Showjumping world for many more years than I’ve been alive, and I’m constantly reminded of this as there’s always a show where Dad’s talking to someone who I have no idea who they are, and he later tells me they’ve been friends for years.
I think being a good rider is important, but being able to produce your own horses from the beginning is a pretty admirable quality as well.
What factors do you think have contributed to your success?
Again I have to say my parents. Since the beginning they have installed in me that practice makes perfect and that horse management is crucial to maintaining your horse.
I try to ride every single day, I get up before the sun and go to bed after sunset to fit in work and University. I listen to what I’m told in my lessons with dad and don’t question or talk back. But most importantly, I just keep on practicing.
But horse management, that’s critical to success. I was at a Barastoc dinner the other night, and I was talking to one of the most prestigious dressage riders our country has seen; Maree Tomkinson. She too stressed the importance of the need to always put your horse’s needs first, and if I’m going to take advice from anyone, it’s going to be her.
The best horse I’ve ridden has been LH Brittany. She started with me in my first ever EFA D Grade, saw me through my first 1.30m course, Young Rider win, and 1.55m fence in a 6 bar at Geelong Royal. Every single day I bandaged her legs, she was stabled 24/7, her feed was continuously monitored, her feet were regularly looked after, but most importantly, we had a plan and set her for particular classes and didn’t over start her. She lasted ten years as a competitive show-jumper.
What have been your key achievements to date?
I had a lot of success on LH Brittany, but it’s not the winning that I would necessarily count as my key achievements, although they will never be forgotten.
I still remember how nervous I was for my first ever Pony Club D Grade competition on her, and one of my most memorable moments was coming third in the Young Rider Final at the Sale Showjumping World Cup Show. We were one of only three clean rounds in that class. Brittany and I got second at the Equitanna Young Rider Class in 2009, and we won the Junior State Title in the same year. However, my greatest achievement was making the Young Rider Final at the Australian Showjumping Championships on LH Folly in 2013, finishing 18th overall.
What other accomplishments and goals do you hope to achieve in your career?
I think my main goal is to be able to keep on riding throughout my life. I’m not a full time rider, and I doubt I ever will be. I’m studying Law, International Relations and Japanese at University. I hope to get a job that’s going to be able to support my hobby of showjumping throughout my life, because I don’t think it’s something I can live without. However, I would love to one day jump in a World Cup Class, as I said, I just love to jump!
You have mentioned that you are away at University, you must miss your horses during the Uni year. How often do you get home to your horses?
I was quite lucky and attend university at La Trobe in Bundoora. It’s a 4 hour round trip to University and home, so I stay with my Mum’s parents in Pakenham during the week. I work back in Korumburra at Oakleys Law, so I go home quite a bit. I do miss riding when life has me busy studying or working, but I do my best to fit it in before and after work and Uni.
How much time and training you do you put in prior to an event?
It really depends what event I’m aiming for, and how much time I have to allocate to putting into my horse. If I know I’m going to be busy with work or Uni commitments it doesn’t matter what the show, I simply can’t go in the bigger classes. It’s not fair on the horse to have a half-hearted lead up to a show if it’s going to be a big class.
LH Johnny is my current ride. He’s a home bred champ and has a big future. I set him for the Mini Prix at Boneo just before the Aus Titles this year. It was his first, and he was ridden every day for 5 months prior to this. Dad would get up at the crack of dawn in the dark with me to make sure I could have a lesson every day, and we always did something different. Whether it was grids, dressage or a ride down the road, Johnny had an array of activities to keep his mind learning in all sorts of different ways.
I always try and put in 110% before an event, because when you get there you are always happy with how you go because you know it was your best and there was nothing else you could have done.
You must have had some great experiences riding together as a family, can you share one with us that sticks out to you?
Without a doubt riding is my favorite thing, but I think it is everything about a show that makes it what it is. There was nothing more exciting at an agricultural show when I was younger than waiting for the end of the day so we could all get a hot jam donut and go for a walk about the sideshows to have a look.
The best thing about going and spending Easter at the Mt Gambier Show was the 6 hour drive over listening and singing to the Dixie Chicks flat out (sorry Dad!). Still today the best thing about coming out of the ring after jumping is de-briefing with the family about what just happened, good or bad, as a family we share in every emotion. I also love watching other people, cheering and screaming from the sidelines to rev up whoever is out there to make them go harder and faster. I think the best thing about the showjumping sport is its uniqueness in that as a family we not only compete against one another, but spend so much time together, especially over the years Sarah and I have grown up.
What products do you use to ensure the best performance from your horses and to enhance their coat?At the moment I am giving LH Johnny a few different things and he looks and feels fabulous so that is a perfect gauge as to whether any alterations are required. Many comment on how shiny he looks. You may think that is no different to many horses but where I live it can be so inconsistent weather wise, Winter is very wet and cold and Summer is dry, hot and windy. Johnny is stabled full time which helps, but if not fed correctly can easily become to toe-y. Finding the balance is the key. Therefore Johnny eats Calm Performer, Completo, Groom and Barastoc Horse Block ad lib when in full daily work. I cut back on the Calm Performer if I am unable to ride consistently. This is the ultimate mixture for him keeping that top line and muscle.
What would be your advice for other young riders starting out?
Definitely look after your horse, for as much enjoyment they can bring you, they can bring you the same amount of heartbreak. Do your upmost best to ensure nothing happens to them. But most importantly have fun. A lot of the best shows I’ve had I never got a ribbon, and have even fell off but I just love the sport. I love watching the jumping rounds, cheering people on, bantering along the sidelines, no matter how you go ‘there’s always going to be another show’.
What is it like being part of a family so involved in horses?
It’s just normal life for me, I don’t know what its like not to be involved horses… very boring I’d imagine!
