The State Championships were hosted by the northern New South Wales town from Friday, January 25 to Sunday, January 27.

The event attracted 140 competitors from NSW and 18 competitors from Queensland with all riders competing aged between seven and 24 years of age.

Olivia said that competing at the State Championships was an awesome experience as there were many great competitors in a strong field.

Olivia rides a Thoroughbred Cross Quarter horse named Waddy in most of her events which includes dressage and show riding events.

The three-day event started with two days of show riding and finished up with the dressage championships.

During the first day of competition, in the show riding events, Olivia competed in rider classes, hack classes, pleasure hack, best educated hack and bare back classes. 

Olivia said she had a strong start, placing fifth in the Waddy’s hack class, fourth in the rider class and finished out the day with a second placing in the bare back class.

“This was a great achievement as the standard was very high in all classes.”

Unfortunately, Olivia did not get a placing overall in the State Show riding presentation which occurred after the second day of competition.

During the third and final day of competition, Olivia competed in the State Dressage Championships.  

Olivia said she was happy with how her horse was moving in the State Dressage Championships, but Queensland dominated the competition and came out on top.

“In the end, I am really happy with how Waddy worked and placed. I am sure we can do much better next year with a little more training,” she said.

Olivia said she is training hard for next year’s event as well as several other events coming up later this year.

These events include a local dressage competition hosted at Young, as well as a gymkhana event hosted by the Eugowra Pony Club on March 24.

For more information, visit the Pony Club NSW website at www.pcansw.org.au