A Nyngan woman has brought home a prestigious blue ribbon from the Sydney Royal Easter Show.
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Katie Atherton and her horse Charisma won the Best Ridden Pinto at the 2017 Show.
Miss Atherton, her partner Snow Robb and her horse attended the Easter Show. She competed in the Pinton Classes including Pinto Led Gelding over 14 hands height, a ridden Pinto Stallion, Mare or Gelding over 15 hands.
“In the ridden Pinto over 15 hands height we placed first out of seven, As we won [that] we qualified to content for the Best Ridden Pinto of 2017,” she said.
“Charisma and I were competing against the winners of the other height divisions, after a lengthy work out we were declared the winners.”
Miss Atherton started riding when she was 12 years old at her local riding school in Sydney. Her parents bought her first horse at 15 and she attended pony club for many years.
“After I left school I wanted to work with animals and horses so I went on to be a veterinary nurse. Several years later I began my career in racing and worked as a stable hand rider for a trainer at Warwick Farm,” she said.
“Not long after I worked part time for a bookmaker in Sydney, loving horses and the racing game I pursued a career for many years as a Thoroughbred Racing Steward. I now focus my time mainly on Charisma.”
Charisma and I were competing against the winners of the other height divisions, after a work out we were declared the winners.
- Katie Atherton
Miss Atherton said anyone who wants to ride at the Royal Easter Show should pursue their dreams with passion.
“It doesn’t matter if you win or lose, just being there is a success itself and the experience is fantastic,” she said
“My dream began as a young girl when my dad would take us to the Easter Show ever year. I would insist we spent half the day looking through the stables and watching horses in the main arena. It has taken many years to get there, but I finally made it, so having a goal and determination will allow you to achieve anything in life.”
The horserider has thanked her family and partner for their efforts in helping her get to the Show.
“I would like to thanks Snow Robb for all the help and guidance because without him we wouldn’t have been there let alone taking out the best ridden title and my mum and dad as they have always supported my love for horses,” she said.