Equestrian: Milligan eyes up World Cup

Hawke's Bay's Stephanie Milligan and Whizzarita helped create transtasman western riding history. Photo / Duncan Brown

Beating the Aussies in any sport is always a feat worth celebrating.

When you beat them for the first time in the 15-year history of transtasman western riding rivalry as was the case for Hawke's Bay's Stephanie Milligan and her New Zealand teammates in Feilding recently you do a little bit more than celebrate. You set next year's Quarter Horse World Cup in Australia as a realistic goal.

"I went to last year's World Cup in Texas but not as a competitor. It was in a leadership, apprenticeship type of role. I learnt about the lifeskills and composure required for competition at that level," Milligan said.

While being part of New Zealand's six-strong team which beat the Aussies will be a big plus in her favour, Milligan, 17, knows she must produce consistent performances in eight shows during the summer to have a chance of being named early next year for the June World Cup.

A western rider for seven years, Milligan will become a second generation World Cup rider if she gets the thumbs up. Her mother Carol competed at the 1992 World Cup in Australia and recorded ninth and 10th placings in some of the classes.

"Hopefully I can get to the World Cup and beat some of Mum's placings. But it's not so much about that ... it's about learning to cope in that environment," Milligan said.

In Feilding the Kiwi team of five riders and one reserve, who like their Aussie counterparts rode borrowed horses, beat their rivals by 28 points. Milligan and her favourite horse, 7-year-old Whizzarita, were responsible for almost 40 per cent of the Kiwis points.

Six classes were contested during the two-day show which followed four days of familiarity sessions with the borrowed horses. The only Hawke's Bay rider in the Kiwi team, Milligan recorded first, third, fifth, two ninths and a 10th placing.

Aucklander India Holder rode Whizzarita and captured two golds and two silvers.

"I cried because I was so proud of what India achieved with Whizzarita. All the training I did with Whizzarita paid off," Milligan said.

The Trans-Tasman Challenge is staged every two years and alternates between Australia and New Zealand. Milligan was a member of the beaten Kiwi team in Melbourne in 2013.

A cafe worker at the Hastings Golf Club, Milligan is thrilled to have flexible hours which allows her to spend the necessary time training her horses.

This weekend she will compete at the New Zealand Western Riding Federation's Youth Show at the Hawke's Bay Equestrian Park.

"There will be training on Saturday and the show on Sunday. It isn't just open to federation riders ... anyone wanting to learn about it and give it a go will be able to," Milligan said.

To those who aren't in the know, western riding is a refined form of the American-based equestrian form which originated from ranching. There are different types of classes, including obstacle courses.

"It's similar to high-level dressage with plenty of communication between your legs and other body parts and your horse. There is low contact with the horse's mouth," Milligan explained.