PG . 12
AQHA FEATURE
HELEN ’ S TOP 3 SELECT AMATEUR SHOW TIPS
A . Don ’ t try to beat a particular person or horse . Each time you show , just do your best and stay focused .
B . Be kind to your horse . They are your partner , and without them , there ’ s no showing .
C . Congratulate everyone , every time you show .
“
‘ But I must also add the best piece of riding advice I ’ ve ever been given ,’ Helen says . ‘ Nothing can humble a horse rider , quicker than a horse .’ -I really love this saying ,’ and it keeps me grounded . I was also told once - ‘ Don ’ t ask for more in the showpen than you would at home ’ -and I ’ ve never forgotten that .’
Around 2000 , Helen moved east to NSW , bringing Mickey with her . These days , she is showing her beautiful bay gelding , Triandibo Infullplay Q-66196 , and has been since he was a 4yo . Foaled in October , 2008 , Boomer , as he ’ s best known , is by Inevitably Q-33094 out of Cagie Playgirl Q-45773 .
‘ Boomer ’ s such a quirky horse , to say the least ,’ Helen says . ‘ He pretends he doesn ’ t like the attention , but then would absolutely hate it if he was left out of anything . Then , he ’ s the kind of horse that likes to get the job done and then be left alone . But he is lovely , and I ’ ve been very fortunate in having his breeder , Trish Wettenhall , taking care of Boomer ’ s training . She ’ ll also follow up to help me along the way , which has been really great . But with Trish based in Victoria , and me in NSW , it certainly has taken some time for Boomer and I to get some consistency in competition . But we ’ ve muddled through and I ’ ve also learned a lot along the way . As Boomer got older , we simply added more events to his showing schedule , and he handled it all very well .’
Boomer is a well-traveled individual , with Helen saying that , for many years , she has hauled him countless kilometres up and down the Hume Highway , and even travelled north to Queensland last year , to show at Tropicana .
Foaled in 2016 , Triandibo Investment , or Virgil , is Helen ’ s second horse , and is also trained by Trish Wettenhall . Foaled in November , 2016 he ’ s by Absolute Investment Q6840 , out of Triandibo Indiva Q-61119 .
‘ This year , Virgil hit Senior Horse level ,’ Helen says . ‘ Where did those Junior Horse years go ? They ’ ve flown by way too quickly ! Virgil is very different to Boomer . He just loves all the attention , and has a sleep after breakfast , before his work , pretty much every day . You often find him at a show lying down no matter what time of day it is . Our partnership is developing slowly , as again he is in Victoria , but I try to come down to ride him at least a week before each big show , and I ’ m amazed at how his training is paying off , as he gets better and better every time I show him , all thanks to Trish ! Virgil gives 100 % each time we ride and the future is bright for this bay boy .’
When it comes to competing in Select Amateur classes , Helen shows Boomer in Ranch Riding , Western Riding , Trail and Horsemanship . With Virgil , she shows in Ranch Riding , Trail , Hunter Under Saddle and Showmanship at Halter . Her favourites to show in would most probably be Trail and Horsemanship , as she says that both these events require extra training and skill sets . Training , riding and showing as an Amateur competitor has
“
AUSTRALIAN QUARTER HORSE ASSOCIATION - WWW . AQHA . COM . AU