JUNIOR RIDER PROFILE

ISABELLA HARDY

Isabella Hardy is one of our local up-and-coming multi-discipline Junior riders who is part of the Equestrian Team at Dainfern College. We had the opportunity to catch up with her this month and learn more about her and what the year ahead holds for her!

HQP: How old are you, and how old were you when you started riding?

I am sixteen now and was six when I first started riding.

HQP: How did you get involved in horse riding?

At my fourth or maybe fifth birthday party, we had pony rides, and I pretty much decided after that, that I wanted to ride! So, at six years old, I started having lessons at Sun Valley Riding School. I do also come from a very horsey family, so maybe it’s in the genes?

HQP: Tell us about some of your pony rider experiences.

Well, I used to get put on all the naughty ones - basically, anything people were not brave enough to ride. In one of my first lessons on the first pony we baited (I won’t mention names…), I was thrown off pretty violently and ended up chipping my front tooth before she took off bucking out the arena, ready to take out anyone in her path - thankfully it was a baby tooth!

HQP: And that didn’t deter you?

Nope, I carried on for a few years at Sun Valley and then moved to Little Farnham, where I started to bait Splash, a gorgeous Piebald pony who was the laziest horse in the whole yard, but he took me around my first SANESA classes bringing home a few ribbons. After that, around my tenth birthday, my Gran found an unbacked, nicely bred farm pony, Morganhurst Allegra, a.k.a. Legge, and with the help of my Aunt (Amelia Campbell-Horne), we backed and produced her. Legge allowed me to try out all the disciplines, from Showing to Dressage and Prix Caprilli, as well as Equitation, Showjumping and even Eventing. Jumping was not her favourite, so in the end, we focused on Showing and Dressage. In our time together, we made it to SANESA Nationals several times, placing in the PR Elementary Dressage and Working Riding and even winning the In Hand Showing Final! We had also trained her up to PR Elementary-Medium in Dressage, but sadly I never got the chance to compete before I moved on to horses.

HQP: What disciplines do you compete in now?

Currently, I compete in Dressage, Showjumping, Equitation and Showing.

HQP: Is there a reason you do so many disciplines?

I strongly feel that they all improve your riding. The Showjumping brings out my competitive side while the other disciplines keep me grounded! Dressage helps train you to be prepared, controlled and disciplined. Showing, especially In-Hand, is a lovely bonding experience and teaches a lot of horsemanship, while ridden Showing classes are a nice change of scenery for the horses and help with manners - also, the judges often give very constructive criticism! Then Equitation tests the rider more than the horse, and it tests your ability to adapt to different horses - it also teaches you how to keep a rhythm!

HQP: What is your favourite discipline?

At the moment, probably, Equitation because it’s a mix of Dressage and Showjumping, and it tests your skills as a rider probably more than the other disciplines.

HQP: Maybe also because you just won your first Junior Open competition?

Correct!

HQP: Tell us about some of the horses you will be riding/competing this year.

First, there is Lady Jane, who is owned by Mindi Hunt. We compete in lower-level Showjumping, Novice Dressage and Showing. I am very thankful to Mindi for her support and the opportunity she gave me to ride Jane from the first day I moved onto horses.

Next is Ricochet du Roeut PZ, a.k.a. Pumpkin; he’s my Aunt’s big warmblood who has a lot of attitude. Last year we made it to SANESA Nationals for Performance Riding and Novice Dressage, and mid-way through the year, we tried out Equitation and found out we were pretty good at that! We ended up making the Intermediate team for SA Junior Champs as well as the Dressage team, but unfortunately, we were unable to go down to Durban for the competition.

Then there is Cor de Coeur (Cords), my Aunt’s Dressage-bred Holsteiner mare, who has competed up to 1.50m. I am very thankful to have the ride on her this year. We have started in the 1.10m and will be doing Elementary Dressage and the Junior Open Equitation this year. She has massive movement and can make herself seem bigger than she already is! She can also be quite unpredictable; my Gran said when they tried her that “if they are spooky, they will be careful”, and she is certainly both of those! I’m really excited about this amazing opportunity and the year ahead.

HQP: What are your goals for the new year?

I would like to be competing Cords in the Junior Open Showjumping classes by the end of the year, possibly try Elementary Medium Dressage, and I would like to make the SA Team for Jr Open Equitation and ultimately qualify for next year’s Phillip Smith Memorial Trophy. I am also aiming to make SANESA Nationals on all my horses.

HQP: And what would you like to achieve in the long term?

My first goal would be to compete in the Philip Smith Memorial Equitation Final, and the cherry on top would be winning it.

Obviously, I would love to tick off the Junior Showjumping titles, and then I'd love to do the Mini or Micro Derby and see how brave I feel after that for the real Derby.

Oh, and probably to win a Dressage Derby - that is always a really fun event!

HQP: Who coaches you, and what do you enjoy most about your lessons and stable yard experience?

My Aunt (Amelia) coaches me in all disciplines, and all the horses are stabled at our family home, which is nice because it is so much more flexible, and it is great to finish riding and walk straight up to the house for snacks! It’s also really nice being able to do night checks when I stay over and give them some late-night love.

HQP: What does your training schedule look like with the horses?

Well, we don’t have set lessons as such, but I ride six days a week and generally 2-3 horses each day. We do a lot of flatwork and pole work exercises and often do an equitation exercise to add some variety for the horses. Then we will have a jump around a course in the week leading up to a show, so it is flexible according to the type of competition coming up. We also try to take each of the horses hacking at least once a week for a change of scenery and pace.

HQP: Who inspires you in equestrian sport?

Charlotte Dujardin internationally and locally, Charley Crockart and also Carl Boonzaaier because he is so successful and dedicated in both Dressage and Showjumping.

HQP: If you could ride any horse in the world at a show, who would it be and why?

Well… I’m already riding her; Cor de Coeur! But if I were to choose another horse, it would be Thomas van Rijckevorsel’s Capital My Lady. She is so similar to my Aunt’s young horse, Girlie, that I ride sometimes, and I would be so interested to compare how they feel!

HQP: What is the one piece of riding equipment you can’t do without?

My OneK Helmet from Equestrian Diva (hair must obviously be in a hairnet!!) and for my horses, ScootBoots!