3 minute read
Young Rider: Hayden Parker
YOUNG RIDER
Serious fun
It wasn’t long after Hayden Parker caught the show jumping bug that he became one of the sport’s most successful Young Riders, writes SUZY JARRATT.
It all began as a bit of fun when he was nine, riding around the farm and at the Emu Creek Pony Club. Then he began to show jump, and Hayden Parker instantly became a seriously committed equestrian. Now, at 16, he has represented his state four times at Interschool championships, was on the winning junior team at the 2021 Australian Jumping Championships, has won a bunch of awards, and has his heart set on World Cup events.
The future is looking bright for this young man from Mortlake in Victoria. “I tried eventing and straight dressage, neither of which I liked very much, but I was really attracted to show jumping and have been doing it ever since I was twelve.” It wasn’t long before he was on the Victorian Jumping Development Squad with his first competitive horse, Fat Boy Slim. One of their impressive performances was at a very wet 2019 Aquis Championship in Canungra. The combination travelled fearlessly in the mud and slush to win the Children’s Tour. “Unfortunately, just a year later he had colic surgery and broke his neck at the vets. He had to be euthanised. It was very sad,” Hayden recalls.
When Hayden won the Junior Victorian State Titles in May it was with Warmblood mare Yirrkala Pippi Longstockings. “She was competitive at 1.25m and is now retired on our 1,250 acres with a couple of old geldings and brood mares. My main horse now is Tulara Spangenberg, a six-year-old Warmblood gelding currently jumping 1.45. He’s sometimes a pain because you can’t always catch him! And I’m training a young one we bred at home, Bingarra Park Flash. He’s competing in the 1.05m classes with the hope he’ll
jump Grand Prix and World Cups which are 1.45 to 1.60m.”
Hayden was recently considered to represent Australia at the World Youth Equestrian Games in Aachen: “I rode in Sydney with four other Juniors. Maleah Lang-McMahon was eventually chosen and she did really well in Germany. It was an honour to have participated in the selection process.”
Of course, Hayden can’t take his horses away without someone driving him. Usually at the wheel is his father Steve, who runs the family’s sheep farm. Although born on the land he never had an interest in horses, while Hayden’s mum Lisa rode for pleasure. It was she who encouraged Hayden and twin brother Mitchell to ride, and she’s one of Hayden’s biggest supporters. “Without Mum and Dad I wouldn't be where I am now,” he says. “Dad’s become very involved in the sport. He helps run shows, works with the Caramut Riding Club, assists in squad days and drives me to events and my lessons, which I have with Kristy McSween, who’s local, Jamie Winning-Kermond in Sydney, and Brook Dobbin at Yarra Glen.”
Brook speaks highly of Hayden: “He has an enormous amount of natural talent, is dedicated and wants to learn, and his family has put so much back into the sport. He’s a pleasure to teach.”
Hayden’s formal education happens at home with Virtual School Victoria: “I can work on the subjects in my own time and also ride the horses. We have an 80m x 50m arena and a roundyard and much of my training is on the flat, keeping them fit, and then jumping once a week.”
When he’s older he’d like to ride overseas, following in the footsteps of other successful Australians such as Jamie Winning Kermond, Edwina Tops-Alexander and Matt Williams. “First I’ll need to earn some money or get a sponsor or two. If horses don’t work out my brother and I would like to start a contracting business on the farm. I’ll just have to wait and see.”
