YO U N G R I D E R
A jump ahead
a working student for jumping great George Sanna. “I brought my four horses with me and worked with the Chatham Park clients,” she says. Since then, Chatham Park has become
With a stellar year behind her, showjumper Amelia Douglass has no intention of slowing the pace. She spoke to AMANDA MAC about the story so far and her plans for the future.
I
a private business with three riders lucky enough to have George as their coach, and a team of horses. Amelia’s current horses are all Warmbloods. There’s 13-year-old Sirius du Granit and eight-year-old Upper Class Z, both from Edwina Tops-
n 2019, Amelia Douglass had a big
terrified of jumping. “I started riding at
year! She won the NSW State Titles
riding school and school riding camps
Championship (where she was
when I was about six and got my first
Alexander’s stables in Europe, and two others: “Barrichello is also from Europe and he’s my World Cup horse, and then there’s Cassis Z Ten Halven, who’s
also runner-up) and the NSW Indoor
pony a year later. I thought jumping
Championship. She was awarded
was the scariest thing because I was
Kathy Ward’s horse,” she explains.
Equestrian Australia’s Young Rider of the
put on ponies that didn’t like to jump.
Year, was both Champion and runner
I kept persevering though, because I
No stranger to hard work, last year
up in the Stal Tops Australian Young
wanted to keep up with the other kids in
Rider Series, and placed third overall
Pony Club. By the time I was 12, I had a
at the Australian Championships. She
from 5:30am to around 10:00, when it
pony that actually wanted to jump and I
becomes too hot to ride. In winter it’s
also rode in her first three World Cups,
loved it! I loved the thrill of it and didn’t
generally from 7:30 to 11:30am spent
placing tenth in one of them, plus, in
want to do anything else,” she laughs.
in the saddle, plus Pilates once a week
a victory that’s probably one of her biggest to date, came third to Tom McDermott’s first place and Chris Chugg in second at the Aquis Silver Final. “That was pretty exciting,” she says.
When she was 17, Amelia, who comes from a family in which she’s the only rider – “my younger brother used to ride but gave it up” – moved from her
Amelia rode five horses, this year it’s been four. In summer, she rides
and currently a lot of home workouts including cardio and resistance training. “I spend quite a bit of time working on my core strength and legs,” she says.
family home in the Southern Highlands
For the future, Amelia has her sights
And that’s quite an understatement
of New South Wales to Chatham
set firmly on Europe: “One of my
given that 19-year-old Amelia was once
Park in the Hawkesbury to become
biggest goals is to compete on the Longines Global Champions Tour on one of the teams.” And just as it’s been teamwork that has supported her success so far, it’ll be teamwork that will help her to achieve her dreams. “I’d really like to thank Mum and Dad,” says Amelia, “they’ve been massive supporters, as well as George, of course, and Amber Fuller, Kate Hinchsen, Tess Anderson our head groom, and the rest of the team at home.” Once COVID-19 restrictions ease and competition begins, we have no doubt that Amelia Douglass’ name will be front and centre. Congratulations Amelia, on all you’ve achieved so far and our very best wishes for the future.
104 | H O R S E V I B E S J U LY / A U G U S T 2 0 2 0
