SENIOR SCHOOL
everything
equestrian
The equestrian program at Guildford Grammar School was introduced in 2017 and since then has gone from strength to
strength. Offered to students in the Preparatory and Senior Schools, we have enjoyed watching the program develop and our
riders increase their confidence and skills.
Our riders have had a very successful year
of Equestrian in 2019. The program at Zia
Park has continued to grow, with riders in
both the Preparatory and Senior Schools
participating in weekly lessons throughout
the year. In addition to our more experienced
riders, we have seen many new riders join
our ranks and the progress they have made
in a very short time has been impressive. aspects including; knowledge of breeds,
safe management of horses, feeding and
technical aspects of a range of disciplines.
Then they move onto the ridden aspects
where, depending on their experience, they
are involved with learning how to; safely
mount and dismount, ride at a walk, trot and
canter, a range of mounted games, dressage
tests, pole work and show jumping.
At Zia Park, each student works with an
allocated horse or pony as they learn
the skills of tacking, grooming, horse
management and riding. Riders spend half
their session unmounted, working with
Zia Park’s accredited coaches, towards
completing their competencies in theoretical It has been an absolute pleasure to see
how each rider has progressed throughout
the year. Their confidence and ability in
the saddle and around the horses has
increased steadily as we see them become
more independent and competent young
horsemen and women.
We also had some great success at the
2019 Interschool Championships. James
Pritchard (7Sc), Olivia Crossen (8Be),
Georgina Abbott (9SG), Alexa Bell (10St)
and Audrey Bell (12St) all represented
the School in the official competition and
Georgia Crossen (Year 5) entered in several
participant events. James was awarded
7th place overall in the Senior Show Horse
competition on his pony, Yartarla Park
Wildcard. Georgina and Alexa came away in
7th and 9th place respectively in the Eventing
Championship 80cm class and Audrey
placed 4th in the Eventing Championship
95cm class on her horse Chelton Park Jack
Sparrow. Olivia competed in a range of
events in Dressage and Showjumping on
her pony, Tiimli Enzo, finishing in 31st place
over the whole competition and it was
fabulous to have Georgia out competing in
her first inter-school event. All riders gained
valuable experience and we are so proud to
have them representing Guildford Grammar
School at this prestigious event on the
equestrian calendar.
We look forward to working more closely
with our talented riders to see what we can
achieve in the future.
Ms Jackie Wilson
Teacher-in-charge, Equestrian
22