Tara seeks support of community

RODEO

A young equestrian is seeking the support of the wider Far North community to help her win a $10,000 scholarship which she plans to use towards a career as a professional rodeo rider.

Tara Henderson has entered in the AMP Do Your Thing People's Choice Scholarship competition where the person with the most votes wins $10,000.

A Year 13 student at Kaitaia College, Tara has a strong equestrian background, being around horses all her life.

She competed in pony club and horse trials - eventing, showjumping, dressage, etc - at domestic, Mangonui and Northland level but recently exchanged this for the sport of barrel racing and a gypsy lifestyle competing in national rodeo.

She's been barrel racing for the past few years and made the open division (where rodeo riders must go once they've earned over $2000 in their career) last season.

However, she's going into this year's circuit on a new horse, Ozzie, and it was commonly expected for a rider and a horse to be together for around three years - where they will also need to contest every event on the NZRCA circuit including those in the South Island - before qualifying for the national finals.

If she wins the scholarship, the 17-year-old plans to use the money to pay for travel costs to attend rodeo events, and to visit legendary horse trainer, Bruce Coleman, in Taupo for coaching sessions.

"The scholarship will help me in a big way paying for travel and coaching but I need a lot of people to vote for me," she said, encouraging support from the wider community. The links to the facebook pages to vote were: amp peoples choice app and, Vote for Tara Henderson.

"It is very easy to vote, just go to the page and write my name in the search for applicant's box and my voting tab should appear.

"It would be great if you could do this for me."

Tara was fully aware of the size and nature of the competition she's up against, being one of 1500 applicants trying to win the $10,000 up for grabs. She has already begun her online campaign which has gained her a few votes but there is still a long way to go if she is to overtake the current leader. That's a hint, pilgrims: saddle up, head for the nearest computer and vote for Tara!