Each year, more than 2,000 of Australia’s best young riders compete at the Australian Interschool Championships. The event is a showcase for the country’s most promising equestrians, with perhaps a future Olympian or two in the making taking to the arena. 

Three students from the Melbourne campuses and Haileybury Pangea took part in the 2024 competition in Tamworth, alongside three students from Haileybury Rendall School representing the Northern Territory. 

“The Haileybury equestrian team has had strong representation at this prestigious level for around 15 years, says Wendy Jeffree, Head of Equestrian. 

“The qualification process is rigorous and preparing two athletes – the horse and rider – to be fit and capable takes time and effort, and it is also very difficult to put on your best performance when you are coping with nerves and a new environment. The support of the riders’ families also can’t be under-estimated – it’s a vital part of the sport.”

Avril (Year 11) began riding when she was four-years-old and joined her local pony club. With her horse, Bella, Avril won the National Champion 2* Eventing title. 

“My parents were both involved with horses and my siblings rode, too, so I was bound to start riding at an early age. I aim to train most days after school and always compete or train on the weekends. The hardest part of competing was ensuring that Bella felt good after the 15-hour journey to Tamworth from home. Luckily, she travelled well and the highlight of the event for me was galloping around the cross-country course.”

Pearl (Year 9) got her first pony when she was five-years-old and hasn’t looked back. She was awarded the National Champion 1* Combined Training title. 

“My Mum was a high-level eventing rider and I began competing myself when I was nine. I train every day for three to four hours with my coaches or on my own and I spend most weekends away from home at competitions. I’ve qualified for the Nationals for the past three years but this was the first year I was actually able to compete – last year, a week out from the event I had a bad fall while training and broke my collarbone. I was very happy to finally make it this year with my horse, Red Rue. At the beginning of the year, he had to undergo chemotherapy and had multiple hospital stays so I had less than two months to get him to peak fitness. What I enjoy most about equestrian is how special the bond is between a rider and their horse.”

While she received her first pony when she was eight, Annabelle (Year 8), who attends Haileybury Pangea, began truly learning to ride when she was 11-years-old and began competing a few years later. 

“I’ve always loved horses and now train for around 15 to 20 hours a week. Competing in my first Australian Interschool Championships this year with my horse, Willow, was very exciting and I was so proud to represent Victoria and to be able to compete at a national level. My training throughout the year helped prepare me for the Novice Intermediate Dressage event – that included consistent training and turning up to ride no matter what challenges or weather conditions I faced! There were a lot of highlights such as representing my state, making new friends and meeting Pearl and Avril for the first time.”

Each year, Haileybury’s hard-working equestrian team goes from strength to strength and the number of horse enthusiasts across Haileybury continues to grow. The team is always happy to accept budding new equestrians who would like to develop their skills in the arena and continue the school’s success in the saddle.