2019 Trans-Tasman Young Rider Team

Briar Burnett-Grant

Name:

 Briar Burnett-Grant

Age:

 18

From:

 Taupo

When did you start riding?

 I started riding at the age of 7.

What is your biggest achievement/s?

 Winning the 2018 Olympic Cup, Winning the Premier League Series, Winning my first World Cup & Top 3 in the 2018/19 FEI World Cup Series.

How do you deal with nerves before a class?

 Keep busy and distracted.

What are your tips for riding a borrowed horse?

 Try to adapt to that horse’s way of going and find as much info about the horse as possible beforehand.

What are your riding goals?

 Ultimately the Olympic Games and WEG.

What are your other interests or hobbies?

 Spending time on the lake. 

Emily Hayward

Name:

Emily Hayward

Age:

19

Nickname:

Em

From:

Te Awamutu

When did you start riding?

Riding since I was 4 years old

What is your biggest achievement/s?

Young Rider of the Year 2018, World Cup Series Round 3 Winner, Grand Prix Series Winner 2017

How do you deal with nerves before a class?

Nervousness isn’t really in my nature, what will be will be

What are your tips for riding a borrowed horse?

Let the horse go how it wants to go as much as you possibly can and try to build as much trust as possible between you and the horse so the horse and you are both as confident as each other going into the ring

What are your riding goals?

Be the best I can be in terms of my riding and horsemanship and take every good opportunity I possibly can to further my knowledge

What are your other interests or hobbies?

Hanging out with friends

Oliver Croucher

Name:

 Oliver Croucher

Age:

 19

Nickname:

 The list is long but commentators love “Olivia”

From:

Cambridge but Australian born

When did you start riding?

 10 years old

What is your biggest achievement/s?

Being named in the team for the second year.

How do you deal with nerves before a class?

 Make a plan for the course.

What are your tips for riding a borrowed horse?

Close your eyes, kick, and remember the numbers.

What are your riding goals?

 To remember my course and jump at the top level.

What are your other interests or hobbies?

 I don’t have much time for any others.

Anything else we should know about you?

 I’m quarter Chinese and obsessed with steak done blue.

Steffi Whittaker

Name:

 Steffi Whittaker

Age:

 18

Nickname:

 Stef

From:

 Springston in Canterbury

When did you start riding?

I started when I was about 2 1/2 years old, I loved the helping with the Racehorses then too.

What is your biggest achievement/s?

Pony of the Year, Junior Rider of the Year, 5th Young Rider of the Year.  5th Lady Rider. National Young Rider Champion, Placed 5th in my first World Cup and being selected in the New Zealand Young Rider Team this year

How do you deal with nerves before a class?

I’m not a person to get nervous, I’m normally very focused on riding my rounds.

What are your tips for riding a borrowed horse?

Let them go the way they want to and get the feel of the horse and try not to change them, keep going forward.

What are your riding goals?

Olympic Cup and compete in more World Cups next year and of course the Olympics

What are your other interests or hobbies?

Just horses now are my main passion

Anything else we should know about you?

I’m a twin and currently working at Berkley Thoroughbred Stud