Young equestrian takes honours in Sydney
“We’re hoping that other people saw us and we’ve inspired other people to want to go because a lot of people always just say, Oh, what’s the point?”
JO LINES-MACKENZIE
Seven-year-old equestrian Charlotte Copeman and her best friend VP Little Secret have shown the Australians how the Kiwis do it, and on their turf to boot.
The Southwell School student took her much loved pony VP Little Secret, aka Daisy, to Sydney to compete and came home with show ring titles and some large sashes.
Charlotte fundraised $14,800 of the $20,000 required for the trans-Tasman trip, her mum Mary Copeman said.
“We did a raffle. She bought some daisy necklaces and some horse necklaces wholesale and then sold them at Horse of the Year to raise money. And we did a Facebook auction.”
Along with that, some Cambridge businesses sponsored Charlotte.
Horses are in the blood, with Charlotte’s grandmother and mother having both been involved for years, and joining them was Charlotte’s dad Alan and younger brother Henry.
Charlotte started riding at three years old: “She started off doing some ribbon days, obviously lead rein we just started off doing and then Covid made it a bit difficult ... and then she’s done two seasons in the lead rein,” Copeman said.
Daisy is home bred after Copeman imported the mother from Australia.
“I bred her when I knew I was pregnant with Charlotte, so she’s the same age.”
Copeman credits Charlotte for doing a lot of the work herself. And it means the pair have become best friends.
Charlotte smiles when she describes her 12-hand pony: “She’s so nice and smooth, and she’s really calm and kind.”
After collecting wins in New Zealand, Copeman thought why not test themselves against the best in Australia.
Contesting the Grand Nationals − Australasian Showing Championships − where they won champion owner rider and were runner up lead rein show pony. “It’s like the Olympics really, you can’t go any higher than that.”
They also competed at the Sydney Royal Easter Show and won lead rein pony. “There were 30 kids in the class, and they rode in a football stadium. I think Sydney Royal gets like 100,000 people through the gates every day.”
Copeman said they went for the experience not thinking they would win.
“We’re hoping that other people saw us and we’ve inspired other people to want to go because a lot of people always just say, Oh, what’s the point? But you go for the experience like it is incredible to be riding against the top people in Australasia.”
Riding is an expensive sport. For example it’s $150 a month for a farrier, and feed for Copeman’s horses is about $1000 a month.
In the lead rein competition Charlotte and Copeman have near matching outfits.
“We always go quite traditional navy and black.”
Other costs include purchasing or breeding the pony, equipment like saddles, bridles, covers and then the rider’s various outfits, travel and entry fees.
“At the end of the day, we’re only breeding and selling probably one a year, so it’s not like it’s a big business. We do it as a hobby, and most people in New Zealand do it as a hobby. There’s not many professional show riders here.”
Daisy has been left in Australia for Charlotte to compete on before returning her to New Zealand for the next show season in October.