Young Rider Profile - Kate Hinschen

As seen in the October 2018 edition of Horse Deals Magazine

Age: 21.

Lives: Castlereagh, NSW.

Career plans: To ride overseas.

Family history with horses? My mother used to ride a small amount as a young girl, so she understood what a saddle was when I decided I wanted a pony.

What age did you start riding? Four.

Tell us about your first pony. Ricky, he stood at 11 hands high and carried me everywhere I wanted to go until I grew too tall for him. He used to walk all the way down to the arena before bolting back to the stables on a daily basis, which I used to hold on for the ride! Other than that he really was a dream.

What was your first competition? Finch Hatton Show, I rode in a hack class.

Why showjumping? I love the thrill.

What are some of the highlights of your success? Winning my first start on an international stage.

For the last two years you have been jumping around World Cup tracks, what has been the key ingredient to consistently performing at such a high level, especially at a young age? Hard work, there are no short cuts in getting to where you want to go, the only thing you can do is work at your weaknesses and find the right guidance to get you to where you want to go.

How many horses do you have in work at the moment? Two, Oaks Ventriloquist and Finch Farm Cadel. They are both very promising young horses with a big future ahead of them.

You recently sold Chironic Dominant Visage, tell us about your partnership with him. He was a very special horse in my career, he was my first World Cup horse which is something that no other horse can ever replace.

Finch Farm Cadel recently stepped up to World Cup level at Caboolture and Gatton, how did he feel around the track? He felt fantastic, he is such a scopey horse with a lot of step so he finds it easy. He will continue to jump World Cups throughout the season.

Tell us about your gorgeous grey youngster Oaks Ventriloquist and how he came into your life. Yes, he really is a beautiful horse and I am so excited to produce him into hopefully being a Grand Prix horse one day. I actually came to find him thanks to George Sanna and Amber Fuller; I was at Hamilton Island when I got a phone call from Amber telling me that herself and George had made the trip to the Oaks to try him for me!

Tell us how your current rides differ from each other. Cadel is a very athletic, fine type horse that can get very hot and keen in the ring. He has a lot more blood compared to Ventriloquist and is also much smaller, though they both have a very decent stride which is always a good thing when you need to get down the lines.

You worked at George Sanna’s Chatham Park for 3 years, how has working there changed your career? Working at Chatham Park was probably the best thing I could have done for my career. I am triple the rider now, than I was before I went there. George is a fantastic coach and I have learnt an enormous amount from him and also Amber Fuller. Amber plays a huge role in the every day work at CP, she also has a lot to offer and I have learnt a huge amount from her.

Share a typical day in your life. I now work for Jono and Bridget Berry, which I start at 6.30am every day. I help Jono ride his two horses, along with feed and do boxes until 8.30am. Then I put horses out and help Bridget do her horses through to 11.30. After that I will do my two horses and go to lunch before I go back to work at 2.30pm. I bring horses in at 2.30 and do afternoon jobs until I finish at 4.15pm.

How do you manage a horse-life balance? Because I work with horses I don’t have much time to go out and do normal every day things, but that is a sacrifice I am willing to take to reach my goals.

Who is your idol? Penelope Leprevost.

Who is your coach and what are their best words of advice for you? George and Amber along with Bridget and Jono; which they all say the same thing; “pat your horse!”

What is the most important lesson you’ve learnt working with horses? Patience is the best way to convey a message to any horse you work with.

What’s next for your showjumper career? I would love to win the Australian World Cup League one day and earn myself a place to compete overseas.

What do you like to do outside of horses? Hanging out with friends is the only thing I do in my spare time!

Cant live without? McDonalds.

Three things we don’t know about Kate?
1. I have a sugar addiction.
2. I failed my car P plate drivers test three times.
3. My dog is called Pet Rat.

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