ADRIENNE MACDONALD-HUTCHESON

How old are you?

13

How many ponies and horses do you have?

Flash, Chocolate, Bees, Althea, Penny and one baby, a Namibian warmblood.

Waterford Flash

Waterford Chocolate

Lang Carl Wildebees

And how old are they all?

Flash is the same age as me, and I turn 14 in April. Chocolate is one year younger than me, so he just turned 13. Bees is 19. Penny, well Penelope, is 6. Althea is 19.

Can you give us some fun facts about your herd?

Chocolate loves food. He also LOVES being dirty. In their paddock, it’s my ponies and my brother’s two ponies, and there’s a lunging ring. Chocolate waits for the sprinklers and stands in them, and then when he’s really wet, he goes and rolls in the lunge ring. We have to wash him a lot for shows!

Then, Flash is very protective of Chocolate, and he loves cross country and going fast. Flash always knows where the cross country is, even at an away show. I have to show him the cross country before we can do anything else. He stares at it from his paddock. Flash and Chocolate are my favourites for cross-country. Me, Flash and Chocolate all trust each other a lot. We’re like the Goof Troop!

Oh, and Flash, Chocolate and Bees all call when the food comes. They sound like a choir. I get so happy when I hear it!

What do you do with them all?

Flash and Chocolate do eventing, and Chocolate does Elementary Dressage as well – he is the top-ranked Elementary Pony. Bees does Elementary-Medium Dressage, and he used to event, but he doesn’t anymore because he doesn’t like showjumping. He loves the crosscountry but HATES the showjumping. Penny and Althea also do eventing.

And which is your favourite discipline?

Eventing is my favourite, and cross-country is my favourite part of that. I like it – it’s just you and your horse in a partnership. Big trust is needed, and I love that.

I don’t like showjumping so much. Showjumping doesn’t click for me.

When did you start riding?

When I was little, I had a balance problem, so the doctor suggested I start riding. I was only one year old. My mom already rode, so I walked around with her on her horses. I screamed for two months, every day, and then one day I just stopped. I’ve loved it since then.

Who teaches you to ride?

I have lessons with my mom.

Which show do you love most?

I love the KZN shows. Oaksprings is my best. The eventing course is very nice, and the hack to the dressage and showjumping arena is also very nice.

What are your goals for next year?

My goal is to have the best eventing season ever!

Chocolate is going to my brother. My brother and I will both ride Flash. I’ll stay in 1 star.

I’ll also event a client’s horse for the next year called Bella. I took her to one show at Fourways, and she’s very fun, so I’ll event her next year! Bella, Penny and Althea will all be my eventing horses next year – I’ve always had geldings, but I have mares this year.

Oh, and Golden Jubilee is my Namibian warmblood baby that they are busy backing now. When he is backed, I’ll ride him as well.

What are you most proud of with your riding so far?

I did my first one star in Zimbabwe on Flash. I was 11 years old – so I was the youngest ever one star rider in Southern Africa. I loved going to Zim! I want to go again.

What do you want to do when you finish school?

I want to have my own yard and ride and have a rescue centre too. I’d also like to teach people to ride.

What made you want to run a rescue centre?

There was this dog that we found in the arena but she was skinny and her paws were full of blood. She now lives with us, and now she’s not skinny anymore. She’s really happy.

Who is your favourite event horse or pony of all time?

I can’t choose one of my horses and ponies because I’d need to pick them all or they’d be mad at me. They are all my favourite. They all have different personalities.

Who is your eventing role model?

Patrick [Brown] and John [Twomey] are my role models.

Notes on Adrienne’s ponies:

Flash - Waterford Flash, Palomino (quarter horse cross), 14 years old. Open Eventing and Novice Victor Ludorum 2021 at SA Champs. Junior 1 Star winner Gauteng Eventing Champs 2021.

Chocolate - Waterford Chocolate, Paint Pony (breed unknown), turned 13 on the 15th of January. Top-ranked medium pony in Gauteng and SA and Open Eventing. Open Pony Rider winner Gauteng Eventing Champs 2021.

Bees - Lang Carl Wildebees, Bay (Boerperd) 19 years old. Elementary Medium 2021 Victor Ludorum at SA Dressage Champs