Equestrian gets boost for studies

Maungatapere's Mihi Shepherd, has been awarded the Whangarei A&P Society's agricultural scholarship.

Mihi Shepherd's first memory of the Whangarei Agricultural & Pastoral Show was the exhilaration she felt clearing the brushes on a tiny horse called Magic.

Seven years of Round the Ring and Showing Classes later, the 17-year-old from Maungatapere has been awarded the Whangarei A&P Society's agricultural scholarship.

With help from the $7500 fund, the Whangarei Girls' High School head girl will travel to Palmerston North in February to study at Massey University to become an equine vet.

Mihi began her equestrian adventures at the Maunu Pony Club and says that these days she enjoys dressage.

She came third overall in the Level 5 North Island Championships in Taupo in October, where she competed against adults. "I even managed to go up a level this year," she said.

She credited her trainers Andrea Raves and Lindsay Attwood for keeping her motivated.

"I find dressage so rewarding - the connection between horse and rider and the harnessing of so much power is a feeling which I am so lucky to experience every day," Mihi told The Country.

"My first memory of the A&P Show was when I competed in the Round the Ring on a small horse called Magic. The brushes looked really big - I was only about 10 years old. I didn't think the horse could make it but she was experienced and just cleared them."

When Mihi isn't riding, the talented musician plays clarinet and piano. She volunteers with North Haven Hospice in Tikipunga and was awarded top academic dux for Year 13 in her school.

She is excited about her move to Massey.

"I think Palmerston North is quite like Whangarei. It's a small place, and some friends of mine are taking the same course there with me."

Her connection to the A&P Shows made her scholarship special, she says.

Judges described Mihi as organised, passionate and motivated.

Mihi was a "a confident communicator who is achieving outstanding results academically in her chosen equestrian sports and within the community", said scholarship convener and A&P Society president Murray Jagger.

"Mihi's passion and enthusiasm is infectious and she is a great example of what can be achieved in life and what success looks like. Combined with her demonstrated leadership skills to date, the selection panel believes the scholarship is going to a worthy recipient.

"Although, it is not a part of the criteria, Mihi has been a longtime supporter of the A&P Society from competing at the Whangarei A&P Shows since she was 5 years old and being a member since 2013."

The scholarship is applied at $2500 each year over three years and is designed to help students pursue a career in agriculture, or agriculturally related studies.

A total of 13 applications were received.