A Parent’s View with Elisha Dolbey

This article is from the October 2019 Horse Deals magazine.

Elisha Dolbey

How did Sharna commence her riding career? We purchased Sharna’s first pony when she was 18 months old and her love for ponies grew from there. Sharna learnt from a young age how to care for and love these animals. She started at Mersey Valley Pony Club when she was three.

What were your expectations of your child’s first pony and what did you end up with? We were extremely lucky to find Sharna’s first pony Tuppy. She was a little grey and as close to bombproof as I believe you could get in a pony. My husband, Anthony, called me when I was in hospital with our second child and informed me that he and 18 month old Sharna were going to have a look at a pony. I was a little nervous, however before I got out of hospital the purchase was made. Tuppy was a very much loved member of our family and Sharna’s best friend until she passed away in recent years.

What were your initial thoughts when you realised Sharna was into horses? We had no idea that Sharna’s love for horses would take her so far. She has travelled throughout our state and also to the mainland (from Tasmania) to compete. We have all met some amazing people along the way and have made life long friends through Sharna’s riding.

What was your experience with horses prior to your child’s interest? I had a pony from the age of eleven but never competed.

Does your personal experience with horses have an impact on your child’s sport? My husband and I knew very little about the horse world when Sharna started riding. We enrolled Sharna and Tuppy into pony club by the time Sharna was three as we wanted her to learn all the right things right from the start. Some things Anthony and I could not help her with. Sharna started lessons with her long-time coach Lucinda Alexander shortly after purchasing her second pony. He was a challenging little guy but Lucinda helped Sharna to combat his quirky little ways and the pair went on to compete successfully for a number of years. Sharna still has weekly lessons with Lucinda and we can certainly credit Sharna’s success with her riding to Lucinda.

How do you juggle your time for horses between the rest of your commitments? This is the most challenging part of Sharna riding. Sharna’s younger brother Mitchell now competes in motorbike racing so when horse season finishes, motorbike season starts with a little overlapping. My husband and I both work and run a 50-acre property. We are very committed to allowing the kids to follow their dreams and this results in a very chaotic lifestyle. We are not alone, we see the same parents week after week doing the same as us. We travel where we can as a family.

What are the lessons provided with horse ownership? We have all made an endless amount of life long friends through Sharna’s riding, she is very committed to the care and training of her horses and understands the responsibility that comes with having a horse. She is dedicated and always strives for improvement. She has had to deal with the highs and the lows of horses and competing, things don’t always go to plan despite the hours of work you have put in prior to a competition. She has had to say goodbye to her horses either when they have sadly passed away or when they have moved on to new homes. These are all situations that have contributed to the strong, capable young lady she is today.

Horse riding is known as high risk. How do you come to terms with the risk factors? We have a daughter that rides horses and a son that rides motorbikes and as much as we would like to wrap them up in cotton wool, we ensure they have all the correct safety gear and allow them to go out and do what they love to do. I have never stopped feeling nervous as they go out and compete though.

What enjoyment do you get out of watching your kids ride? I get so much enjoyment through watching Sharna ride. She always strives to improve and to see her get results from the effort she puts in is something I will never get tired of.

What advice can you give to other parents whose child may be interest in riding? Do what you can to help your child get into riding if that’s what they want to do. I have never regretted the life we have been able to create for our kids. We have gone from two people that have known very little about horses to a family that have basically wrapped their lives around them. We learn every day. I love the therapy that Sharna’s horses offer her especially coming into the tricky teenage years.

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