Equestrian: Pahiatua rider gets top ten finish at Grand Nationals

Ella on Farleigh Hollyhock which she rode at the Grand Nationals. (Left): Ella with the trophy and rosette she received for her top 10 finish.

Pahiatua's Ella Rankin qualified last year at the New Zealand National Horse & Pony Show at Manfeild to ride at the Grand Nationals in Sydney last month, along with riding at Equifest.

Twelve-year-old Ella has been riding since the age of seven. Winning one of the major title classes Saddle Hunter 12.2 and under at Horse of the Year 2017 held at Hastings, Ella and her pony Markie (Sherwoods Mark II) also won the Open Pure Bred Welsh Ridden Pony Class for the second time.

Ella achieved a top 10 placing at the Sydney Grand Nationals in her rider class on a borrowed pony she had only ridden three times against 30 of the best of the best from Australia.

Ella ready to show at the Grand National in Sydney.

This reflected the preparation and training Ella had put in with the assistance from Sharon Field.

"I'm used to riding different ponies," said Ella.

While riding in the 11 years and under class in New Zealand, her birthday came before the trip to Sydney so she had to go up a class and compete in the 12 to 15 year olds.

"They are very polished and professional over there," Mother Shannan Rankin said.

"It was a major thing to do and for Ella to come in the top 10, it was not really expected. For her first time competing at the Grand Nationals we didn't really know what to expect."
All the events classes were held indoors in the SIEC Stadium.

The crowd and the atmosphere was something Ella has never experience before. Going to Australia showed what the next level is and an insight into how tough the competition is competing at that level, she said.

All three judges were English, whereas Horse of the Year normally has a mix of Australian, English and New Zealand judges. Ella has two younger sisters who also both ride and qualified for Horse of the Year, and both placed in their classes.

Brooklyn and her pony Lelo (Windsor English'e Kisses) are a new combination, and have built a lot of confidence in their first year together. Haiden is in her second year of Lead Rein and rode Markie to Reserve Pure Bred Welsh Lead Rein Pony of the year, a title he has won three times previously before with Brooklyn.

Shannan rode horses as soon as she could walk and graduated to Pony Club, Eventing and Showing. At 16 she began andcompleted her jockey apprenticeship. She stopped riding before having her daughters, and took the family to a local A&P Show where Ella said "that's what I want to do. I want to ride too".

"It all started and it's our life now, the ponies and the girls. It is a very expensive sport which we fund ourselves and a lot of travel is involved, but the girls love their ponies and the competition," said Shannon.