The Trip: Perth to Sydney with Georgia Lowry

This article is from the December 2019 Horse Deals magazine.

Driving more than 8,000 kilometres in eight long days — across the Nullarbor, Perth to Sydney and return — with my two ponies in a float and my mum and dad? What was I thinking?

“Well as it turns out, it was absolutely the trip of a lifetime!

“Together with 31 other Western Australian Pony Club state representatives, our yellow and black army invaded the 2019 Pony Club Australia Championships held in NSW between October 7th and 13th. Competing with purpose and success against teams from all the states, in all the available disciplines of dressage, showjumping, eventing, games, gymkhana and tetrathlon. The WA riders had a great week, had some super results, but most memorably had so much fun and made great friends.

“The trip over and back with our horses and ponies was amazing. We drove in convoys of two or three families, stopping every four or five hours to walk, water and feed the ponies, as well as to refuel. Staying at racecourses, country pony clubs and curious caravan parks and stations like Fraser Range and Eucla, we saw some incredible sights. The Great Australian Bite was awe-inspiring, oysters for Mum at Ceduna, the amazing painted silo midway at Kimba, and changing a blown tyre 160kms from anywhere, all were highlights!

“Sad, but educating, to see all the roadkill which included a camel cow and calf, wombats, roos, dingos and emus galore, along with many wrecked cars and caravans, but very glad we didn’t add to that toll in any way. Hours of singing, sleeping, podcasts and too much eating whiled away the hours as we whizzed across the ever-changing landscape. One minute we could be on a barren planet, and around the next bend the pasture and trees were lush and shady – a land of enormous contrast. Characters in every pub and service station entertained us and reinforced th
e friendly Australian way and hospitality we are famous for. We were lucky enough to find everyone happy and welcoming in the lovely weather ­— always curious about the travelling ponies and wanting a pat.
“Western Australian equestrians are a hardy lot and becoming quite famous for making the annual trek — in increasingly large numbers — across to “the east” each year to compete. For many years, our eventers going to the November Australian International 3 Day Event at Adelaide, have been contributing between a quarter and a third of the field. Our showjumpers love a raid at the Sydney or Melbourne Royals, Elysian Fields and Boneo Shows. Show ponies and breeding stars trek across regularly, and each year a large gang of Interschool competitors do the pilgrimage to go up against the best in the country. It takes dedication to make these trips — it’s expensive, pretty onerous and can be pretty risky on those roads, but still, we come!

“The folklore and stories of the journey get bigger and the tips and hints between travellers could fill a volume... one day someone will write the book. Still, there is no way better to understand the sense of achievement than to just bite the bullet and do it yourself.

“I am so glad we did — very proud of my ponies Hansie (the old legend one-star eventer) and Huey (the cheeky dressage prospect) and their performances at Nationals. So grateful to my family, my sponsors Saddles Plus and Anitone, my club Serpentine and PCWA for giving me this honour and thrill to represent my State at National level. I couldn’t have dreamed of a better swansong for my last year as a member of Pony Club Australia.”

Georgia Lowry is 25 years old and has been an active member at WA’s Serpentine Horse and Pony Club for 23 years. This is Georgia’s last year as a PCA member, and the trip to Nationals ticks a long-held bucket list item for her.

Eventing is Georgia’s favourite discipline, especially with her talented partner, the 14.1hh, 19-year-old roan Welsh Stock Horse x Hansie Kronje. The smallest and probably oldest entry in the Nationals 1.05 field, Hansie and Georgia thrilled the spectators with their bold clear cross country round across the challenging SIEC track.

Georgia is a qualified coach and enjoys giving back as an instructor and mentor to younger PCWA riders.

A survivor of Leukaemia, Georgia has survived two bone marrow transplants and lives with the debilitating effects from her treatment including ongoing liver issues, osteoporosis, short stature (145 cm, 30kgs) and bleeding complications. Despite these medical and social challenges, Georgia has a positive outlook on life and thrives on working, socialising, and competing her beloved ponies. Georgia is an ambassador for the Children’s Leukaemia and Cancer Research Foundation and often delivers speeches and conducts workshops on gratefulness and maintaining a positive perspective in life.

Written by Georgia Lowry

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