YO U N G R I D E R
From little things
class, she won Reserve Champion Rider at 1.10m, and was recently awarded the title of Rising Stars Most Outstanding Rider, which included a Rising Stars Squad scholarship. Besides showjumping, Ellie also has a keen interest in eventing. “Sadly I haven’t evented much over the past few
When Ellie Gough started riding, she started small. But from little things, much bigger things do tend to grow – and Ellie’s equestrian career is no exception. She spoke to AMANDA MAC about her remarkable journey thus far.
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years due to my showjumping. However, I’m aiming to attend more events with Bellhaven Cardentice and Starting Over, which I’m really excited about.” Success like Ellie’s doesn’t come overnight, and it certainly doesn’t come without dedication and hard work. “I ride one or two horses every day, and at the weekends I usually ride
uring a family camping trip,
them all. I also have weekly jumping
seven-year-old Ellie Gough
lessons and fortnightly dressage and
had her first horse ride. The
cross country lessons. Because of my
horse’s owner mentioned that due to
age, I still go to school so I have to
poor health, the ill-fated mare was to be put down. Horrified by the thought,
work around that to fit everything in.”
the family went home, arranged a
And her goals for the future? “I want
float and rescued the horse. It was
to compete successfully at 1.30m to
soon apparent that she needed a
1.40m all over Australia. I’d also love
friend, who arrived in the shape of a
to compete in the junior section of
Shetland pony called Pebbles. Sadly,
the Boneo Cup in Melbourne. But my
she eventually succumbed, but Pebbles thrived as Ellie’s first pony. Seven years later and the now 14-year-old from Perth, Western Australia, is big news in the show jumping ring. “I fell in love with horses as soon as I started to ride, and began jumping on a pony called William,” Ellie says. The only equestrian in the family, she not only fell in love with horses, but also with the excitement of showjumping, and William was eventually replaced by Western Diva, aka Sassy. “She was the jumping queen,” Ellie recalls, “she taught me everything I needed to know and kept up with the bigger horses in the 100cm classes. She was a speedy 14.1hh Stock Horse who won almost everything she entered and even took me to my first Nationals in Victoria.” When Ellie eventually outgrew 108 | H O R S E V I B E S S E P T / O C T 2 0 2 0
main goal is to make it to the 2024 Ellie and GKO Arpeggio after scooping 1st place in the 1.15m at the WA Showjumping Association event in March this year (Image courtesy Eric Lloyd Photography). Sassy, along came GKO Arpeggio, a 17hh Warmblood gelding, followed by Bellhaven Cardentice, another Warmblood gelding, then Starting Over, an OTT Thoroughbred, and finally the most recent arrival, Bellhaven Cascade, a seven-year-old Warmblood and the only mare on the team.
Olympics and compete for my country.” So, there’ll be a few busy years ahead for Ellie, who has some people she’d like to thank for their contribution to her success so far. “A huge thank you to my parents who constantly help me with the horses and drive me everywhere, also to Nellandra Henry, my showjumping coach, and Phillipa Collier, my cross-country coach, and to my amazing sponsors: Lanoir Equestrian Saddleworld, 4Cyte EpitalisInterpath, and Perth Equine Hospital. And finally to Kelato Animal Health,
For the past four years, Ellie has
sponsors of the Next Gen Team of
competed successfully throughout
which I’m very proud to be a member.”
Western Australia. She currently holds the George Hall Perpetual Trophy
Congratulations from all of us
for Leading Junior Showjumper, and
here at HorseVibes on everything
last year represented her state at
you’ve achieved so far, Ellie - and
the Interschool Nationals in Sydney.
we’re absolutely sure that even
Despite being the youngest in her
bigger things are yet to come.
