Please give us a short introduction of yourself and your riding history:

I didn’t come from a horsey family but when my brother started riding I took one look at these animals and it was LOVE.  I asked to sit on a pony and then refused to get off. That was that, I was hooked and my parents have been long-suffering supporters ever since! I would catch the bus from school every day to the Durban Pony Club to spend the afternoon brushing the ponies, always living in hope that some-one would offer me a ride.  When my folks (finally) sat me down to discuss the prospect of getting me a pony, the deal was that I would share it with another girl.  After years of waiting for this moment, my answer was a resolute NO! I could not share love.  My poor parents eventually relented and so I got to spend some of the happiest years of my life sharing banana sandwiches with Baby Cham.  Everybody remembers their first love, and he was undeniably mine, at 8 years old!

Please can you list your achievements/ wins/ titles.

My greatest achievement was surviving my first riding lesson, I fell of 6 times after horrendously exaggerating my riding prowess.  A lesson I learnt from that day, is that what you’ve done in the past has little bearing on the present.  Cruise has given me wonderful moments to cherish including winning the Adult Mini Derby, Third in the 1.40 Champs at the easter festival and winner of the 1.40 Reonet WCQ champs at Shongweni Club.  

Who will you be competing on for Derby this year? 

 Summer Bridge Cruise will be carrying me around my first BIG Derby and will hopefully be forgiving of my mistakes as we navigate our way around this track for the first time. 

What kind of preparation/ training have you been doing to face the formidable Derby this year, and get your horse ready?

I believe that being fit and balanced in my body is one of the biggest contributions I can make to our success, what happens on the day is outside of my control.  Yoga, for my mind, running for my aerobic fitness and gym for my strength are an essential part of my program. I will be listening to Jumping podcasts and watching videos of previous derby rounds to try and mentally prepare myself.  Cruise’s fitness program will include lots of hill and canter work aside from familiarising ourselves with the Derby funnies. 

You live in KZN – does the difference in altitude between JHB and Cape Town effect how you prep your horses? 

Yes – I will arrive in Jhb a minimum of a week before the show so that both Cruise and I can get acclimatized. 

Why do you think Derby is such a magical event for SA Riders? 

Walking into the Derby arena is a magical experience in itself.  Cruise puffs out his chest and  I feel like I’m on a fire-breathing dragon.  He absolutely wants to kill the course.  I love the open spaces and the fast pace, you get a great rhythm and it’s so exciting to clear a big fence and mentally cross it off your ‘to do’ list – one jump at a time you feel like you conquer the world.  

I have spent my life idolising the top riders in the country – I have been in awe of how brave they are to tackle those huge jumps, I’m still pinching myself that I’m actually now in the hot bed and will have to do it too – so I’m slightly terrified but very, very proud to be able to compete.  Watch out world – we’re coming.   

You’ve competed in arguably the two most terrifying and bitchy arenas in the world – show-jumping and beauty pageants! Which was harder or fiercer?  

Smile and wave! There is no denying that both worlds are hard and fierce, with their fair share of excitable people!  The modelling world taught me some invaluable lessons that have translated well in life and that is to keep my cup half full.  You can’t be everything to everyone and you can’t let people’s opinions of you get you down.  Keep your head down and stay in your own lane.  Rise above the armchair critics and you will find lifelong friendships, inspiration and wonder.  It’s been a journey but learning to accept myself, and to not judge my mistakes too harshly has been the biggest hurdle – almost bigger than the wall!

If this is the answer, what’s the question?: 

So for example I say 5am in the morning, and you say My least favourite time of day! 

Show Jumping: Red jacket!
The Stone Wall: Over, under or through.
Something I would never try/ do! Nothing. I’m always IN.
The Oxer:  A good, forward distance
That is my dream!  Back to the red jacket….