Introducing some of the young guns who will be competing in the Oceania Young Rider competition at Melbourne International Horse Trials – find out more about Australia's Emily Gray and New Zealand's Sarah Young
Emily Gray
Age: 20 years old (29/03/1994)
Lives: Orange Grove, Perth, Western Australia
Emily and her horses are currently based just outside Perth in Orange Grove, Western Australia, close to university but several hours from her family farm in Kukerin in the state’s Great Southern region.
Occupation: 3rd Year Physiotherapy Student at Curtin University, Western Australia.
Recent Results
2013:
- Equestrian Western Australia’s Young Athlete of the Year.
- Individual 4th in the Dublin Young Rider Championship at the Australian International 3DE.
- Team Winner in the Dublin Young Rider Championship at the Australian International 3DE.
- Winner, CCI** Wooroloo International Three Day Event
- Winner, CIC** Swan River Horse Trials
- Winner, CNC** Brigadoon Combined Training
- 2nd, CNC** Dryandra Horse Trials
- Member of the EWA Eventing Young Rider Squad
2014:
- Champion Young Rider, CIC** WAYER
- 4th, CNC** Wooroloo Horse Trials
- Member of the EWA Eventing Young Rider Squad
- Member of the EA Development Squad (18-25yrs combination based à MER at CCI2*)
Horse: Deltry Invader (Nobby)
Sex: Gelding
Breed: Thoroughbred
Age: 19
Colour: Bay
Deltry Invader (Nobby) has been my primary eventing horse since 2010 and he is my little "Pocket Rocket", being only 15.3hh. We have had a lot of success together having won various events including Wooroloo, WAYER, Brigadoon, Dryandra and Harvey at one and two star. The highlight last year was coming 4th individually and first with the WA team in the Dublin Young Rider Championships at the Australian International Three Day event.
Sponsors:
- Yarramundi Farm
- Southern Stars Saddlery
Sarah Young Photo courtesy TaketheMoment.com
Sarah Young
Sarah has been riding competitively since the age of 5. She originally started off at jelly bean gymkhanas before graduating into Show Hunter where she had great success over quite some time on both ponies and hacks before settling into eventing.
As a member of Timberlands Pony Club, Sarah competed at Pony Club Showjumping Championships, Show Hunter Championships and at the Timberlands Teams Event numerous times.
Sarah currently lives in the halls of residence at the University of Waikato where she is studying towards a business degree but home for her is Tokoroa where her horses are based with her parents.
Sarah says her best results to date are:
- Winning the National Junior Rider One Day Event Championships in 2012 aboard Oakley Vision.
- Winning Best Junior at the Puhinui International 2 years running (2012 & 2013) aboard High 'n' Dry and SS Galaxy.
- Placing 2nd at the Kihikihi International Horse Trials CIC2* 2014 aboard SS Galaxy.
- Winning the CCI1* National South Island 3DE Championships 2014 aboard Regal Romar.
- Being named on the NZ Talent Development Squad 2014.
The only trip for Sarah to Australia so far has been to a family wedding in the Gold Coast and it has been a long term goal for Sarah to one day represent New Zealand.
Sarah credits a lot of her success to her coach and mentor, Vaughn Jefferis and also has dressage coaching with Vanessa Way. Sarah is quick to point out though that she couldn’t do with without her parent’s supporting, saying that “Mum has a huge influence as to what happens with the horses, she is the backbone to the whole operation.”
SS Galaxy, known as Shanks at home, is a 10 year old who Sarah purchased as a 5 year old from friends when he had done the basics.
Regal Romar, known as Ronnie at home, is a 15 year old who Sarah has been riding since he returned from England in January this year. When ridden by part owner Natasha Otto, Ronnie won Show Hack of the Year 4 years running and Supreme Show Hack twice. He then started his eventing career with Richard Otto before Clarke Johnstone took Ronnie to England with his team in 2011 where he progressed to 3*. Jean Johnstone is the other co-owner of the horse.
