Siblings jump at a chance for thrills

MIA Smith loves horsepower just as much as her Supercardriving brother Jack.

But rather than the 650 under Jack’s right foot, Mia prefers just one horsepower as she prepares to take the showjumping scene by storm.

The Bond University students are certainly learning at an accelerated rate.

Jack, 20, studies property management when not tackling hairpins, while Mia studies business management when not clearing hurdles.

“Dad put us both into gokarting when we were kids,” Mia said.

“Jack obviously took to that and went into race cars, where I changed and went into showjumping.

“Jack always says my sport is more dangerous. At least with race cars you have a big cage around you but the horses are so unpredictable and you have nothing to break your fall.

“I see both sides – it’s hard to compare.

“He’s had his big accidents and has pretty much walked out of it 100 per cent fine.

“I just have a helmet on my head and that’s about it. But so far I haven’t had any serious injuries, touch wood.”

While showjumping events are on hiatus because of the COVID-19 crisis, it hasn’t stopped the 19-yearold from training every day on the family property in the Tallebudgera Valley.

Every day from 5am Mia and her horses Moose and George are building a special relationship she hopes will take her far in the sport.

“Trust is a massive part of showjumping. You are putting so much faith in your horse,” she said.

“It is very important for them to have the talent to be able to jump big fences but they need to be brave and have a big heart and they need to want it just as badly as you want it.

“The bond with the horse is vital. You are not just focusing on yourself and your fitness as an athlete, there is a lot of upkeep with the horses.

“You are a nutritionist for them, a vet for them –there is so much involved and so much to learn.”

Mia is currently finishing her assignments online but hopes to return to competition soon.

“My goal is to be competitive in the young rider class,” she said.

“I was just stepping up to that class but I wanted by the end of the year to be competitive and not just going in to do my best.

“The hardest thing is the motivation because normally you have the shows coming up each week.

“Now it is hard to see the big picture. All the shows have been cancelled for the first half of the season.”

I JUST HAVE A HELMET ON MY HEAD AND THAT’S ABOUT IT. MIA SMITH