Wānaka equestrienne Bella Edwards (15) has tallied hundreds of hours training and preparing her mounts for events and competition and that hard graft is paying dividends as she earns prizes on the A&P Show circuit this season.

Last month Bella won the Omakau A&P Show reserve champion hunter (hack) sash on her 15.1HH standardbred pinto, Kingi. In January she and Kingi were placed third overall in the 95cm hack classes at the Equestrian Sports NZ South Island show jumping championships in Mosgiel, and her team (representing Otago/Southland in showjumping) came third in the South Island and fourth overall in New Zealand at the National Pony Club championships.

This weekend, the Year 11 Mount Aspiring College student has entered Kingi in multiple classes over three days of this year’s Wānaka A&P Show, including working hunter, saddle hunter and show jumping. 

This will be the eighth year Bella has competed at the Wānaka Show, after starting out when she was just eight-years-old riding her pony led around the ring by her mum.

“It's my favourite show,” Bella said. 

“I used to watch the riders and look at the horses every year before I got my own pony and think it was the best show ever.”

Winning the reserve champion working hunter (hack) at the Omakau A&P Show last month was a highlight of the season. PHOTO: Kelly Mclaren

She remembers being pretty nervous at this first outing and says, even after all these years of riding experience, the nerves and excitement are still there “but you just have to be in the moment in the ring”.

Like all sporting success, there are years of learning, training, preparing, travelling behind the success.

Bella started her riding career aged seven on a borrowed pony and credits her dedication to the sport to the eight years she’s been a member of the Hāwea-Wānaka Pony Club.

She said Pony Club established a foundation of riding skills and equine care which has helped her achieve success in the show ring. 

“Most of my learning came from Pony Club and also lots of hacking around Hāwea.”

Bella trains over jumps at Grace Farms, Wānaka. PHOTO: Kelly Mclaren

She rides most days, competes every second weekend, and is responsible for all the year round chores (mucking out, feeding, grooming, covering).

“Care of your pony always comes first: making sure they warmed up and cooled down when competing, legs are hosed, gear fits well, shoes are fitted, they have fresh water and plenty of hay, not to sit on their back all day, and I always clean his bit after each ride. If he is happy then we can do a good job.

“It is a lot of work and time and in winter it’s cold and dark before and after school.

“I like training my horse for the show and getting everything packed and organised but cleaning a mainly white horse takes a lot of time and purple shampoo,” she said.

Competitions mean early starts and long days, and while school classes, school friends and other sports (skiing, athletics, netball) are still important, much of her social life revolves around “horsey people”. 

She’s made some good friends through Pony Club, participating in the team's events and learning from the senior riders who willingly shared their experiences.

Kingi stretches his legs at Oreti Beach the day before a one-day event in Invercargill. PHOTO: Kelly Mclaren

Bella recently moved from Hāwea Flat to Wānaka and grazes eight-year old Kingi nearby. She’s only been riding Kingi for nine months and is enjoying his big personality: he’s cheeky, nosy, loves treats (peppermints and carrots) and attention.

And for a small hack (“he’s usually the littlest in the class”) he “has an amazing jump”.

Which is just as well as she’s now competing at a senior level against experienced combinations.

“After I get over the nerves and do my round I watch the other horse combinations and learn from them. I don't get regular formal riding lessons or instruction other than pony club so I learn by watching them compete and offer to warm up or exercise any other horses…They have good style and timing which is important on the trickier tracks and [jump] combinations. 

“They are also pretty friendly and supportive, but still very competitive.”

The Wānaka Show this weekend will be her last A&P Show for this season, but Hāwea-Wānaka Pony Club coach Fe Howie said Bella’s“future looks bright.

“I can't imagine being without horses but for now [I’m] just enjoying every show and excited to see what Kingi and I can achieve together,” Bella said.