Young Rider - Sharntè Wilson

This article is from the August 2020 Horse Deals magazine.

Age: 17

Lives: Peachester, Queensland

Education/occupation: Year 12 Senior Student

How would you best describe yourself? Independent, focused, always wanting and ready to challenge myself. When it comes to my show horses, I have a bond and connection with them all that is unique and differs from each horse. I love to travel and have seen many animals in their natural habitat. I’m the caring type of person when it comes to animals - in all honesty, I’d rather be around the horses and animals any day than people! I have an amazing family bond with my mum, my two siblings and grandparents, and I have amazing support from them all.

Family history with horses? I was born and raised in Peachester on my grandparents’ property who have owned, bred and shown Quarter Horses for the last 35 years.

What age did you start riding? At three years of age, competing in leadline, but I started showing in western events at eight years old. Ken Davison was a big influence in helping me start riding and gaining confidence on my first show horse.

Tell us about your first horse. She was a Quarter Horse mare called PJ that was bred by my grandparents. PJ is a sweet and very safe mare, but is everything a show horse isn’t. She is far from a show horse, but that’s how she taught me how to ride. We still have her, but she’s retired from riding and living out the rest of her life with us.

What was your first competition and how did it go? Beerwah Charity Sports, which is an annual local carnival that raises money for cancer. I competed on my first show horse known as Honey, BPS Stage Freedom. She helped me gain my confidence and was literally a bombproof horse. We won all our events; halter, showmanship and trail.

What is your favourite class and why? Showmanship and hunt seat equitation. Both classes involve being precise, accurate and showing off to the best of you and your horse’s ability, while maintaining the shared connection with the horse. I love the challenge that can be involved within the harder patterns. Western pleasure also has my heart!

What do you enjoy about Western pleasure? It’s a true western event and the traditional class for our western breeds in which our Quarter Horses excels in. I love the natural, gentle and soft movement the horses possess and how strong hocked many can naturally be. The styles have changed over many years/generations but today’s horses are specially bred to perform this type of event.

Tell us about your partnership with BPS Somethin Pretty Hot. Ollie, as he is known, is my heart horse. I’ve always had this special connection with him from the day he was born that cannot be described. I would always lay with him in the paddock and he’d rest his head in my lap. I knew he was something else with his one of a kind personality and his beautiful and natural movement as a baby. He was always meant to be sold, but I could not part with him. He was then gifted to me by my grandparents, as they also knew a horse with his temperament is rare and hard to find. This gelding is the most beautiful, talented and phenomenal Western pleasure horse we have had! Ollie is the type of horse that always wants to please you and he loves his job. He is one in a million, there’ll never be another one like him.

What role has Natasha Humphries played in the development of your riding and horses? I’ve always looked up to Tash. She is inspiring, dedicated, very hard working and extremely talented at what she does. Tash has played a big role within developing my riding/showing skills and training my horses. She honestly brings out the best in me, as well as the horses - she loves them as if they were her own. I am extremely grateful for everything she does for me and her time that she has put into myself and my horses.

What are some of the highlights of your success?
• Winning the 3 years & under Non-Pro and the Open Youth Western Pleasures Stakes at NPHA with my first year showing Ollie in 2019
• Winning the Open Youth Western Pleasure Stakes at Summer Sizzler with Ollie, then he went on to tie for first place in the Junior Derby with Tash early this year
• High Point Showmanship of Australia for the last three years and National Champion in Showmanship with Tink after training her to do it myself
• High Point Youth of Australia and QLD for the last four years
• High Point Youth Western Pleasure of Australia in 2019 with my 3 year old and our first year together
• Being selected to represent Australia four times
• Winning four gold medals for Australia at the Trans Tasmans

Congratulations on claiming the National Champion Hunt Seat Equitation for the second year in a row aboard Tink. How did she come into your life? Tink (BPS Hot N Sassy) was bred by my grandparents and is my nan’s horse, so she always been in my life. She is by the legendary HF Somethin Hot. This mare was the best show horse they’ve had in their barn, and I took her over when she became a junior horse - I’ve been showing Tink for the last five years. We have created a bond together that we will always have. This horse did almost every event for me and has been hauled all over the country. We have gained many National and State championships titles together, as well as many Australian High Point Awards. Tink is a very quirky mare which taught me a lot, however when she is on her game she is incredible and she is a phenomenal showmanship horse. Tink’s last show will be Q20 Nationals in October and we will then retire her. It won’t be the same going to shows without her, but she has nothing left to prove and deserves to live the rest of her life on our property being a horse.

How many horses do you have in work at the moment? Currently I only have one horse in full-time work, which is a maiden three-year-old gelding.

Do you have any young up and coming horses? I have two upcoming horses! Leroy is a maiden three-year-old that is a half brother to Ollie by Smoochin that I am to show in Hunter Under Saddle next year when Tink retires. This horse is a bit different to Ollie and really challenges your riding skills, but that’s what makes riding horses so interesting. I also have a full sister to Ollie, known as Ziggy. She is sired by the incredible HF Somethin Hot that is a rising yearling. She is going to be something very nice. She is such a pretty mover and beautiful temperament, I’m quite excited about her!

Which horse has taught you the most and how has this helped you become the rider you are today? Tink would have to be the horse that has taught me the most due to being such a hormonal, sensitive, quirky but talented mare. She has taken me to where I am today and has taught me a lot - especially patience! However, Leroy is now taking my riding skills to the next step as he can be a challenge, but I’m always ready to better myself.

What do you like about Quarter Horses? Their temperament and versatility.

How do you cope with the nerves and demands of competing at a high level? Everyone’s different, but I personally stick to myself and my horse and just focus on what I’m doing.

What is the secret to your success? Honestly, there is no secret! Hard work, early mornings, late nights, highs and lows and determination and I’m always prepared to challenge myself in any situation.

What did you learn from your experience on the 2019 winning Trans Tasman Team? It was a great experience to ride horses that were very different and learnt to gain a relationship with a horse in a short period and show off the horse’s strengths to the best of our ability.

How did it feel being selected to represent Australia in the 2020 Youth World Cup as a rider? I was excited to represent Australia alongside my best friend, Amelia Galea! It’s always a great opportunity to compete with other youth from different countries on horses we have never ridden before to challenge ourselves and better our skills.

With COVID-19 causing the Youth World Cup to be cancelled, how are you using this time? My two good show horses are currently resting and I have used this time to especially focus on my upcoming three-year-old horse and put more time into him and better my skills with him. I have also used this time for schooling and preparing for my external exams, as this is my final year of school.

What do you enjoy and currently miss about competing? I love and enjoy being around the show team I’m apart of - TNT. We all work together as one and support each other. I also enjoy sharing the show experience with my grandparents on horses that they have bred themselves. I do miss showing and sharing those moments with me and my horses, as well as the show family.

Do you do any fitness work other than riding? I work out four to five days a week - we have our own gym equipment at home.

How do you juggle study and horses? This year hasn’t been too bad due to the shows being cancelled from COVID-19, so I have had a lot of time to focus on my final year of school. However, previously it was very stressful, but I’d just regularly stay in contact with my teachers and ensure I complete all assignments before I travel to a show.

Share a typical day in your life. Depending on how many horses I have in work, I will ride in the morning and/or in the afternoon and attend school within the day. I then fit a workout in after school and feed up around 4pm. At night I then work on assignments and/or my Certificate III in Horsemanship.

Who’s your idol? My idol is Tash Humphries, she is something else! Talented, determined, inspiring, loving and hard-working, she will never sit still. She ensures the horses’ care and well-being is prioritised and always brings out the best in both her clients and horses.

Tash and Trav Humphries are always helping me strive to achieve a stronger connection with my horse, improving my skills and feeling their rhythm under me. When showing, they both tell me to breathe, relax and just trust my horse and stay with them. I’m grateful for them and wouldn’t have anyone else to coach/train myself and my horses.

What is your advice for young up and coming riders? Never give up on a dream just because of the time it will take to accomplish it... the time will still pass either way. Also, always remember horses will test you, some will teach you and some will bring out the best in you.

How do you manage the highs and lows of the sport? Highs and lows are involved within any sport and everyone gets them. Personally, I don’t let the lows get me down, I use them to better myself and it makes myself more determined to put in double the work!

What are your future plans? Currently still figuring that out. However I’m having a gap year in 2021 to show all year.

What do you like to do outside of horses? I love to travel around the world with my grandparents.

Can’t live without? My family. Always with me through good and bad times.

3 things we don’t know about Sharntè Wilson.
1. I love travelling
2. I’m top of the class in maths and biology
3. Before horses, I used to do dancing and swimming.

Sponsors: Tuffrock, Australian Equine Institute and Southern Cross Saddlery.
In addition, I wouldn’t be where I am today without these trainers, Ken Davison, Emma Reed and Trish Wettenhall, who have all started and helped me along the way. And to Tash and Trav who have now taken me on board for the last few years, I’m forever grateful, you are both inspiring. I would also like to thank my family for always being there for me and for your support. Especially my grandparents, I wouldn’t be doing this if it wasn’t for you two.

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