Young Serengeti rider qualifies for overseas children’s classic final

Kempton Park and South Africa will be well represented at the Federal Equestrian International (FEI) Children’s Classic Final.

Serengeti’s Hailey Strydom (15) qualified to compete in the finals in Tashkent, Uzbekistan from April 17-21.

Hailey entered the qualifiers in June 2018.

“While I was riding my horse, Locarno Cosmopolitan in November last year, my mom showed me the email where they informed us I have qualified,” said Hailey.

“I was shocked and thrilled at the same time and what made it more special was to receive the news with Locarno present, because he helped me and means a lot to me.

The show jumping competition is for children between aged 12 to 14 and Hailey is one of two riders from South Africa competing. Alexandra Ric-Hansen from KZN is the other rider.

The top 16 qualifiers in the world and four from the hosting country were selected to compete in the finals.

“I received my junior Protea colours and intend to make my country proud.”

The young rider’s love for horses dates back to when she was a toddler.

“It all started when my mother Elize put me on her horse, Bold, when I was four years old. She walked me while holding my hand so I could get the feel of it and since then I have never looked back,” Hailey said as she reminisced.

“I fell in love with horses first. The sport came through my love for them. I started riding properly at the age of seven and have been riding competitively for five years now.”

Hailey has had Locarno Cosmopolitan, a Namibian Warmblood, for a year and four months but she had three other horses before, Blossom, Magic Merlin and Gandalf The Great.

She told Express she wanted to be more involved in the horse society in future, even though she wants to become a geologist.

“I just want to see horses forever. They are magnificent and majestic creatures. I love how calm their spirits are and the way they can sense how you feel,” said Hailey.

The Grade Nine learner at Shangri-La Academy is coached by Nicola Sime-Riley at Sunny Park Stables in Benoni, and has been for eight years.

“I am bringing home the gold. I have been working very hard towards it,” said the confident Hailey.

Motivational phrases that drive Hailey and have helped get her this far include: ‘If you can put your mind to it you can do it’ and ‘It is only through the grace of God that opportunities come and I thank God for getting me where I am because if it wasn’t for Him, I wouldn’t be where I am today.’

“Thank you to my family, my horse and my coach for the continued support and different roles they play in my life.”

The contestants will draw a number to be paired with a horse at the competition and Hailey hopes to be paired with a Holsteiner because, according to her, they are very fast and athletic horses.

Hailey has entered various other competitions and her most recent win was the Equitation Gauteng Championships last year.