Amy Brenssell (17) on Kiwi Tune wins her class in the new South Island Junior Amateur series.
A four year struggle with a mare that was “unpredictable” has paid off for 17-year-old Amy Brenssell, at a new jumping category introduced into the South Island this season. The South Island Junior Amateur series is a new addition to the SI series that has been running for a number of years. It has been developed due to a lack of a series opportunity for riders who age out of the National Junior Rider series, are too young for the National Amateur series and do not wish to compete at the higher level of National Young rider series. It also provides a great step for riders who have not yet started in the Junior classes being at a slightly lower height.
For Amy, it was the perfect opportunity to put to the test the hours of training she had undertaken with her cross-bred mare, Kiwi Tune. And she came out smiling as she rode out of Ring 1 with a clear round, and went on to win the class held in Otago two weeks ago.
“I told you so mum, I told you I’d get to the bottom of this horse,” she said to her mother.
Amy was just 13 when the family from Tapanui purchased Tunie four years ago from Jess Land as a 5-year-old. They understood the horse to be nappy and unpredictable, but there was something about the mare that Amy loved. Amy’s mother, Angela says it has been two steps forward, three steps backwards, and then another two forward, and then another three back. But her daughter had persevered, and finally this year the “the penny dropped”.
Junior Rider had always been in her sights, but she has found the new Junior Amateur series to be a great stepping stone for riders not quite ready for the next step. Angela says the timing was perfect.
“There was nothing really for kids that didn’t have a junior horse because a lot of kids haven’t got a junior rider horse that’s going to jump 1.25m. So, the introduction of this series was just brilliant, I was stoked when they announced it and one of the things that makes it pretty cool is that it is actually a South Island initiative,” says Angela.
Amy comes from a riding background. Her parents, Angela and Lloyd Brenssell met on the hunt field in the Hawke’s Bay, and moved to Tapanui and onto the family farm where they married and raised a family. Amy is a student at Blue Mountain College. Along with training, her horses are extensively hacked and she makes the most of the farm terrain with hill work used to strengthen them up.
ESNZ Board Jumping Chair Penny Tapley says she is pleased to hear that the South Island Junior Amateur Series is proving popular.
“All the SI series are very well supported by the riders and is a great example of regional series filling the gaps between national series,” says Penny.
This series class is held in conjunction with the National Amateur class (1.10-20m) and open to riders up to 21 yrs who are competing on their own or leased horses. Points are collated by a SI representative and awards are presented at the final SI show at the end of the season with sponsors providing rugs and sashes.