East Coast horsewoman bound for France to learn from world's best

East Coast horsewoman Quinn Sidney with Jypsy. Sidney is busy fundraising for a trip to France next year to learn from expert show jumping coaches and instructors. Picture by Liam Clayton

It’s a long way from Tolaga Bay to Bonnieres -sur-Seine in France — 18,789 kilometres to be exact — but it is a journey Quinn Sidney will be making next year.

Scrolling through social media, keen horsewoman Sidney came across an advertisement for a global selection of placements on offer to travel internationally and learn from renowned show jumping coaches and instructors.

The Global Amateur Show Jumping Tour Group was created in 2018 by three internationally recognised riders — New Zealander Lucy Olphert, Brazilian Alexander Stefan Dattelkremer and Mexican Christian Lopez Redetzki.

Olphert is a seven-time New Zealand representative in show jumping.

The tour group was put together with the vision of providing an opportunity for amateur riders from across the globe to learn at an international level on borrowed horses.

“I thought ‘that sounds amazing’, so I put an application in and received an email about two weeks ago that I had been shortlisted, then last week I got the thumbs up,” Sidney said.

Born and raised in Uawa, she has spent her life around horses.

Her dad, Sam Sidney — known as “the horse whisperer" — has been the inspiration for her lifelong involvement.

“He’s probably the biggest reason I am going over there. I wouldn’t be getting the opportunity I have without him,” she said.

Sidney takes part in show jumping and horse sports including barrel racing — a rodeo-style event.

She was the last member of the East Coast Tolaga Bay pony club as a teenager before it closed due to a lack of members and merged with Gisborne Pony Club.

“Through this I was able to compete in local show jumping events in Gisborne on my pony Cricket, who is now retired to the paddock.”

The 10-day trip to France will involve being a spectator at the FEI (Federation Equestre International) show jumping competition.

“It’s like the best of the best from around the world and we get the opportunity to watch and learn from them,” Sidney said.

They will be based in Bonnieres-sur-Seine, 55 kilometres from Paris and less than an hour from the home of the 2024 Olympic Games venue — the iconic Château de Versailles which Sidney hopes they will be able to visit.

Sidney is fundraising for the trip. She has already run a raffle on local social media sites — the winning prize being an hour with her dad.

Sam is highly sought after locally for his knowledge of horses. In his free time, he teaches people and helps them with their horses.

Tickets for the raffle sold fast so another is to to be held. The prize for this will be beginner rider time with Quinn.

Uawa Horse Sports Club is to run a hangi and the club has set up a learn-to-ride programme as fundraisers for her trip.

Sidney will lead the course, which is aimed at helping riders build confidence. Sixteen have already signed up.

“I have a lot of support from them (the horse sports club),” said Sidney, who has a nine-month-old baby.

“Adjusting to motherhood and continuing to ride and coach has been a challenging and rewarding experience for me, but I wouldn’t change it for the world.”