“ I’ve got a pony too. Her name is Moony. I had her at Coffee Camp. She used to run away from her old owners house because she didn’t get the attention she wanted. She knew how to open our gate so I’d walk out in the morning and there she was, waiting. Eventually they sold her to us. I taught her how to bow and do other tricks. She’s 16 now and I still have her.
This year the lady down the road had horses and I went down with my Pa to see them. Mum’s like, no we don’t need another horse. I was just looking but I knew I would come home with one. I didn’t tell Mum that. At the time I couldn’t ride Loui so I needed a back up horse. I wanted to get into Barrels and I wanted a jumping prospect. This is when I met Mark and Amy who are the loveliest people and would do anything for anyone. They are the people who’ve taught me to ride track work. They were helping re-home these horses. They pointed out a black stallion which I didn’t really want as stallions are known to be a bit aggressive in the paddock with others. They had broken him in when he was 5 and said he was a nice, friendly horse. He’d spent 10 years in a stable and they really wanted him to go to a good home. Mark called me one day..Do you want this horse? Yes, I do! So they took him to Casino near the race track. I went out there, started riding him and he was the loveliest horse ever. No buck, no bite and so calm. They gelded him for me. His name was Bistro but I called him Fabio. He’s a thoroughbred cross stock horse. I’ve started training Fabio to go around barrels. He’s a good size for me. Loui is very big but I can still run up with no tack and I can jump up on him from the ground. I can do anything with him.
I work at Club Colours Direct where we make saddle bags which is here in Lismore. We make all the Pony Club NSW State team saddler pads. My boss Narelle runs it. We do the embroidery and everything here.
Every afternoon I would go out to Mark and Amy’s and ride Fabio to get used to him. They said they would bring him back into work for me. After a while they asked me to come out in the mornings and ride track work. I started going out early every morning. I started strapping them, putting all their gear on, putting them on the walker, etc. They get exercised most mornings and swum in the pools. They are very loved and very well looked after.
I started riding track work. People don’t realise how hard it is. Your legs get a good workout and balance…you have your legs up high. I’m still learning balance. Because I am the right size I do have an apprenticeship to become a Jockey if I want it. You have to be really fit to be a Jockey, not just weight wise, it takes a lot of energy. I can take that path if I want to. I go to race days and help with strapping. It’s really interesting to see how well these horses are looked after. A lot of people don’t realise that a lot of these horses actually love racing. Some don’t. Mark and Amy really care for their horses. They are so well looked after and loved. When I got put on one of the race horses, he just wanted to run and I couldn’t stop him. I just had to hold on till I had the opportunity to pull him up. They get super excited.
I’ve always had a thing for saving horses at auctions. Getting them cheap, building them up, giving them an education and then selling them off to good homes. I always get attached though so that’s a problem. My horses have their forever homes with me. They help so much. If I’m sad they just know it. Loui will stalk me through the windows in my house. He goes from window to window looking for me whinnying. I can ride hime around with tarps flapping. He’s so calm.
I’m the youngest of 3. I have a brother Taylor and sister Sophie and I have a step-sister too at Lennox where my Dad lives. I play Soccer for the Rovers. I’m pretty competitive. The girls are all really nice. It’s a lovely team. I went to Canada when I was 14 and saw the Calgary Stampede and watched the barrels there. I knew I wanted to do that.
At this stage in my life I’m either going to continue track work or I will join the Mounted Police Force which means I’d have to do a couple of years of general duties and then I’d get a horse. I’ve always taken an interest in the dog squad too. We have 4 dogs, all rescues. My main dog Nala is a Kelpie. She’s my best friend and I take her everywhere with me. She’s so loyal.
I’ve always wanted a side business and I’ve always wanted to start my own brand of clothing, probably swimwear. That’s on hold for now though. For now it’s all about horses.”