Dunsborough rider gets a boost

Emma Courtney Bennett has already made big strides on horseback, but her goal to stay in the saddle has received a boost through recognition as a potential future star of equestrian.

The 13-year-old Dunsborough girl was selected among five recipients for a Department of Sport and Recreation Elite Country Athlete Scholarship based on her results and involvement in the Pony Club Association of WA development squad.

She has represented WA twice in the National Interschool Competition and this year with Georgiana Molloy Anglican School placed third at State level, for the eventing discipline.

Last weekend she also won four of six show jumping events at the Busselton Agricultural Show before being declared High Points Champion across the two days.

Regularly venturing to Perth to ride, Emma said the $750 scholarship would help with travel expenses and go towards qualifying for more national competition.

While hoping to make the Olympics “in the long run”, she ultimately loved the thrill of just being on her pony and wanted to teach children with disabilities to ride horses.

“I really like kids and horses,” Emma told the Times.

“(It will be) rewarding to see them do something they normally wouldn’t be able to.”

Dunsborough coach of four years Nina Talbot-Ponsonby said Emma possessed the qualities to succeed, including determination without being “obsessively competitive”.

“She enjoys doing well, so the better she does, the more inspired she becomes,” she said.

“Competing is not just talent, it’s attitude as well. To work with horses you have to be kind and gentle.”