Dalpark’s Chamone Olivier has been aiming to win big things in show jumping ever since she started the sport seven years ago. The 15-year-old has now achieved this.
The youngster came first and third in the 80cm jumps at the national show jumping championships at Kyalami Equestrian Park on Saturday.
“You never know what to expect, going into the competition. You just have to remember what you practised at your horse riding school.
“You have to put your trust in your horse and then take it from there. You get more and more confident over the years,” she said.
That confidence and bond with her horse saw her winning for the first time at the nationals.
“It feels so great. I give all the credit to my horse. She helped me and carried me. I can’t explain the feeling, it’s amazing,” said the youngster.
The bond she has developed with the horse, Chance, has developed over the last three years.
“You need to learn to trust your horse,” said Oliver.
“To do that you have to spend a lot of time grooming them, cleaning them and giving them treats. If you don’t have that bond you can’t build trust.
“If you don’t trust your horse, then your horse is not going to trust you. If the horse doesn’t trust you it’s not going to want you on its back.”
The young Olivier dreams of one day competing internationally.
“Unfortunately, I’m still too young for competing internationally,” she says.
“So competing nationally is what I have been working on for so long.”
Riders have to be 18 years or older to compete internationally. Saturday was the perfect way to end the season for Chamone and Chance.
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Unfortunately, the horse is retiring at the end of this season and the youngster now has to work with a new horse.
“Honestly I thought Chance was going to retire last but this year she was amazing. She was shining so bright. She got me first in the schools’ competition.
“And then first in Ekurhuleni, second in Gauteng and now this achievement in South Africa as well. The year has been amazing,” she said.
Oliver now looks forward to training with her new horse at the Winstead Stables in Springs with her coach Kirsten Winn.
