Vince Roche captured ‘the look’ after Ruby landed in the mud
Fourteen year old Ruby Haylock, began riding when she was six and got really hooked when she attended a camp at the Fitzroy Equestrian Centre in the Southern Highlands area of NSW.
“Riding is certainly in my family,” said Ruby. “My grandparents had horses and my mum, auntie and cousins all ride so it was just a natural thing that I rode too. My brother used to ride but he has now swopped onto motor bikes.”
The horse Ruby rides is called Topi, who came from dressage rider and judge Mark Dowling.
“Mark got Topi when he was a really young horse – in fact I think Topi was his first dressage horse. He told me that he and his sister saved him from the knackers yard – apparently he was pretty naughty in his younger days and several of his riders ended up on the floor.”
From the photo it would seem that Ruby ended up on the floor as well …
“It wasn’t a dramatic fall – even though it looks that way. I was at Berrima Horse Trials and Topi just propped at the water and I went straight over his head!”
Despite getting covered in mud Ruby still loves her eventing. “I really like the three different phases of eventing and also the different challenges that different cross country fences present. It’s a fun sport and yet it’s serious too.”
Despite the occasional setback Ruby is determined to get Topi and herself to 1* level. “I want to get to that level and be able to finish on my dressage score. I’m pretty lucky that I get to ride lots of different horses, which I think is so good for your riding. I still go out to Angus and Neatie’s at Fitzroy and help with some of their young horses and I get lessons from Marks, which is really good because we always do lots of fun things.”
And just to finish the story here's a photo of a happier Ruby with Topi at the recent Wallaby Hill one day event
