Nine-year-old Hallie Halpin-Bishop could not wipe the smile off her face.
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And who could blame her. Hallie and her trusty steed Eric have taken out three accolades at the Sydney Royal Easter Show – including Champion Ridden Shetland Pony.
Her competitors were older – and more experienced – but that didn’t stop this proud duo from bringing home the winning ribbons.
Hallie and Eric share an unbreakable bond. They have been together since she was 18-months-old but in a few years she will outgrown him - there’s no way he is going to have another growth spurt.
When that happens Eric will retire at Hinton with a pension of lush paddocks, tasty hay, and an endless supply of cuddles from Hallie.
There will even be the odd sandwich to satisfy his love of bread and fillings.
“She’ll get a few years out of him yet and then we will retire him to our place, we’ve had offers of a lot of money for him but we’d never ever sell him – no amount of money could buy him, ever,” Hallie’s mother Lee said.
The pair will now take a break until spring. Hallie will spend the time working on her relationship with two much taller horses.
She’ll pop back on Eric later in the year to prepare for the Grand National Horse and Rider titles in March 2019 – an opportunity she qualified for with their Royal Easter Show win.
Mrs Halpin-Bishop watched from the grandstand while they performed at the show last month and was understandably very proud.
“It’s her first Royal Easter Show champion.This is the first time she has been old enough – and more experienced – to produce a good work out,” she said.
She is only 9 so it does take a while. It’s hard for a kid to gain experience and be competitive straight away, she has been there every year since she was six and every year she has gotten that little bit better.
“She won the turnout in the morning and we were more than happy with that – we didn’t think she would win the open turnout [12 years and under] but she did.
“Everyone in that class had made a mistake and when she came out in the arena there was a lot going on with the show jumping and harness horses going along. She nailed the workout, she did everything in the right spot - a few of us were riding the horse [in our minds] from the grandstand.”
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Belinda-Jane Davis
Passionate about community news
Passionate about community news
