5 Minutes with Ella Manning

This story is from the August 2019 Horse Deals magazine.

Who is your equestrian idol? I really admire and enjoy watching a lot of people ride but I would have to choose a few people. Margot Haynes would have to stand out because she has helped me so much. She is an amazing rider and coach and she has given me the opportunity’s to ride some amazing horses. She’s shown me a very balanced attitude and how to act when things don’t always go to plan.

Another idol I love is my mum. She is an amazing jump rider and rode for Australia in the eventing team. She’s always helping me at home getting the show horses ready and coaching me with my eventers.

What’s your most memorable win? I have had so many memorable wins, on lots of wonderful horses but I loved winning the 2018 Grand National Rider under 12 title. For me it was a huge confidence booster and of course a massive surprise. I was not expecting it all!

What’s your favourite subject in school and why? I think my favourite subject would have to be History. I love learning about all the things that have created our world today and I have an amazingly kind and funny teacher.

If you had to compete in another discipline, what would it be? I would definitely choose eventing. I already compete in this discipline and enjoy it a lot. I have a little pony called Rivington Little Bird who is an amazing jumper for a pony. Last year she won the SA State Eventing Championships at only her second event. We’ve just broken in and started eventing another pony we called Wychwood who has gone really well for her first two events.

What do you want to do when you finish school? Honestly at this stage I have no idea, I am leaving my options open. I enjoy school and being organised but I have no real clue right now. Hopefully it is something that I can keep riding as well as work.

If horse riding wasn’t your hobby, what would you do? I think I would choose to go towards something like AFL football. I have just started playing AFL footy in my school team and because I haven’t played very much it’s exciting trying something new, especially tackling people!

What is your favourite food? Simple. Gnocchi with crème sauce. I just love it!

Among your friends, what are you known best for? Apart from the horses, at school I think I’m known as the funny one because we always sit there laughing at lunch and recess and sometimes during maths class.

Cats or dogs and why? I love both but if I had to choose one I would have to say dogs because they have so much energy and they are playful and funny when they are around.

Who is your all-time favourite horse you have ridden? I have ridden so many great ponies and horses like Newington Tinkerbell, Splashdance and loads of Rivington ponies, who have won lots, but my all-time favourite horse would have to be my old pony Rivington Topsy Turvy. Topsy was my own pony, Margot and David helped me break her in and then I trained her myself. She was the first horse to go to Nationals that I owned and prepared myself. She was a lovely horse to ride and I enjoyed every moment of it. She is now with a little girl called Elka Torrens who loves her as much as I do.

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