Bulletin’s Junior Sport column with former Olympian Glynis Nunn
THE treatment of horses has been in the news for all the wrong reasons in recent weeks but there’s a “wonderful side” to ownership, as Glynis Nunn discusses in this week’s Junior Sport column.
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THERE has been a lot of coverage in the media over the past few weeks about horses, particularly, the treatment of horses from the racing industry.
While the negative side has been highlighted, I would like to share the most wonderful side of owning a horse.
For many young children horses are a fascination, a dream come true. Their beauty and grace and most of all, the friendship you can create and build with this amazing animal is something very special.
Many horses bought from trainers and studs get a chance of a second life, but sadly they are only a small percentage.
Racing isn’t the problem, people are! What was seen on the footage at the Meramist abattoirs was extreme and those responsible should be held accountable.
At the moment, in a time of extreme drought people are doing it tough but are still doing an extraordinary job looking after their animals.
There are many young children, particularly girls, who dream of owning and riding a horse or pony.
I know. I had one of these, and to this day she is still involved with horses.
Pony club has been around for 80 years and is a voluntary youth organisation for those interested in the welfare of horses, riding and performance.
Pony Club Australia has a membership of just under 55,000, with more than 850 clubs spread throughout Australia. You don’t necessarily need a horse or pony to be involved but it does make it easier for lessons and rallies.
These horses/ponies need to be at least four years of age, while the rider needs to be under the age of 26.
For older riders, and even for young riders there are other opportunities in Equestrian Queensland or through school representation.
If asked what riding horses has taught young riders, the response is generally, “it has taught them how to overcome fear, deal with disappointment and that it takes hard work to care and be responsible for such a large animal”.
Many parents say that they would rather see their children out training and working in partnership with a 500kg horse than stuck inside, eyes glued to a smart device.
I am a parent who has seen this first-hand.
I was lucky to have had both of my children involved in pony club and we travelled as a family to many different places in Queensland and interstate for competitions.
It is a very special experience.
Some children are lucky to have parents who have a background in horses.
There are also parents who wish they had a background in horses, while others freely admit they didn’t know one end of a horse from the other until they bought their children a pony because it seemed like a nice thing to do.
Many pony clubs are keen to encourage their members to take pony club proficiency tests, believing it is important for even the youngest members to learn about looking after their pony.
Pony club is an amazing way to start young children in the sport.
Regular rallies are held during the season where volunteers teach riders, regardless of age, the A to Z of horse care and competition.
Without the input of parents, pony clubs simply wouldn’t exist.
Most pony club parents are a great bunch who get utterly and completely caught up, or possibly dragged into the whole pony club world and all that it involves.
From cooking, to building showjumping courses, to judging the many types of competitions held. It becomes an education for the whole family.
Recently, on the Gold Coast, the Tamborine Pony Club hosted the South East Queensland Zone 2 Showjumping Championships.
There was a good representation from clubs including Tamborine, Greenbank, Jimboomba, Oxenford, Nerang, Tallebudgera, Mudgeeraba and Southport.
There were also riders from other areas, with the farthest being from Toowoomba and Moura in Central Queensland.
The day ran exceptionally well with riders presenting themselves to the showjumping judges promptly.
The courses were varied and presented a challenge to all of the divisions. It was great to see some younger, inexperienced unofficial riders (just learning) competing and gaining experience and confidence.
The official riders completed three different competitions, an AM5, an AM7 and a super two phase, with the accumulated results deciding the overall winners (see below).
OVERALL WINNERS
■ 10 Yrs and Under 60cm: 1 Tom Sturgeon, Gumdale; 2 Hayden Taylor, Runcorn; 3 Arianna Sing, Jimboomba
■ 12 Yrs and Under 70cm: 1 Asha Port, Runcorn; 2 River Johnson, Jimboomba; Shani Massignani, Tallebudgera
■ 12 Yrs and Under 80cm: 1 Lucy Colless, Tallebudgera; 2 Olivia Soergaard, Mudgeeraba; 3 Sophie Shaffer, Mudgeeraba
■ 13–U26 Yrs 70cm: 1 Kate Scott, Greenbank; 2 Fuschia Criss, Tamborine; 3 Anastasia Topalov, West Toowoomba
■ 13–U26 Yrs 80cm: 1 Sarah Weiss, Wynnum; 2 Evelyn Williamson, Moura; 3 Kristin Allum, Greenbank
■ 13–U26 Yrs 90cm: 1 Zali Young, Southport; 2 Fuschia Criss, Tamborine; 3 Madelins Sawyer-Clayton, Nerang
■ 13–U26 Yrs 1m/1.10m: 1 Zali Young, Southport; Ellie Harvey, Waterford; 3 Morgan Brown, Tamborine
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