Mihi sets her heart on vet career
One of Northland’s most successful dressage riders faces a tough decision if she is to achieve her dream of becoming an equine veterinarian - what to do with her beloved horses.
Eighteen-year-old Mihi Shepherd who lives at Maungatapere, near Whangarei, heads to Massey University at Palmerston North in February where she will begin her six month pre-vet science selection course.
Massey University is the only place in New Zealand for veterinarian study and only 100 domestic students make the selection in the professional phase of the degree each year.
Mihi is determined to be among those 100 successfuls, but knows to give it her best, she may have to give up riding to focus on her studies.
‘‘The cost of having a horse in Palmerston is too high, let alone the time spent away from studies. I am still undecided, but I suppose deep down I know the answer.’’
Born near Buckinghamshire in England, Mihi moved to New Zealand with her English mum and Kiwi dad when she was two years old.
Under the guidance of mum, Mandy Orchard, who had represented Britain in eventing, Mihi began her showing career at the tender age of five, competing at pony club ribbon days and A&P shows.
She has represented Northland in the National Pony Club Dressage Championships since aged 10 winning the dressage five out of seven times including a win as a senior. She credits her mum and gran (Phil Orchard also a former rider) for their support over the years.
Currently Mihi is riding ‘Milo’ a dark brown mare Hanoverian owned by Jean Jeffs from Dargaville and has lessons with dressage coaches Andrea Raves and Lindsay Attwood.
Having excelled in her final year at Whangarei Girls High she is now juggling a part time job with riding five to six clients’ horses a day to help cover the almost $22,000 for fees and accommodation this year.
A Whangarei A&P Show scholarship has helped but Mihi will need to keep up the somewhat hectic pace until she heads south.
Once graduated she would like to head to England to get some experience under the belt and catch up with family and friends. Long term however she will return to the north.
‘‘The biggest challenge for now is getting accepted,’’ she says.