Busy life for pony club's head coach

Emma Turnbull, giving back to the sport she loves

For Waikato University student Emma Turnbull, coaching the Tamahere Pony club, competing in dressage competitions and completing her degree are all now part of her life.

After saddling a horse for the first time as a child, she received her first horse at 12 and has never looked back.

Eight years on the law and accounting student recently won the Fair Play award at the dressage conference in Blenheim, nominated by Dressage Waikato after giving up her stable for another horse.

Now, after scooping the award, Turnbull is planning for the up-coming season as the Tamahere head coach.

"The biggest thing for me as a coach, is for them to just have to have fun and just learning to be safe with the ponies and be safe as riders," Turnbull said.

Turnbull has been with the Tamahere club for just over a year, while also sacrificing time to coach at two other local clubs.

The club runs events such as derby days which Turnbull designs to help develop the group of riders and allows experienced riders the chance to work on leadership roles as well.

"I get some of the older riders to take the little kids around and walk the course with them, so I really try and encouragethem to become a real community team."

The events also include musical choreograph tests, and while a fan of Robbie Williams, Turnbull admits that her last horse did not dance to the tune of Rock DJ.

"For my advance horse his musical is Queen, so Freddie Mercury."

Juggling her law degree while coaching the club and competitions in dressage around the country is no small feat, but Turnbull credits her dedication to horses and the support staff behind her for making the club successful.

"I have a wonderful chairman and great secretary.

"The parent committee has been a big help."

"Pony Club is where I made so many good memories, so it's all about giving back to the sport now and I love it."

Riders will return to the paddock later this year while the team will also look to run fundraising events to help with the running of the club.