A LOCAL horse rider has returned to the Riverland with a swag full of ribbons following a strong performance at a national event.
Renmark’s Jasmine Brine came home with four firsts and two seconds from the recent Appaloosa Nationals event in New South Wales.
The Appaloosa Nationals includes a number of different riding styles including dressage, hunter, trail, ranch, reining, western pleasure, showmanship and halter.
The 15-year-old competed in a number of events across the country in the lead-up to the nationals, winning the SA high point youth and SA runner-up performance horse.
Day one at the nationals saw Jasmine finish first in youth 14-18-year-olds hunter under saddle, as well as the trail competition for the same age group.
Day two saw Jasmine win the youth 14-18-year-olds showmanship competition, while on day three she finished first in the youth barrels competition and second in the youth horsemanship and youth ranch categories.
At the end of the competition all of Jasmine’s points were added up from her classes and as a result she won the 14-18-year-olds high point youth.
Following the nationals, Jasmine stayed on to compete in the New South Wales state championships.
Jasmine, who usually trained in Mildura prior to the coronavirus pandemic resulting in the closure of the borders, finished with two first place finishes and five runner-up finishes following another stellar display.
Jasmine’s mother Leanne Williams thanked everyone involved in getting her daughter to the nationals.
“Her dream wouldn’t have come true if it wasn’t for Lesley and Paul, also known as Henschke Horses,” she said.
“The two of them work incredibly well with one another to help break, train and do lessons for people and their horses.
“Paul and Lesley both helped to break and train Jasmine’s horse from day one.
“Lesley has helped train Jasmine individually to improve her riding, with lessons maybe once or twice a week.
“For us it was a fair drive to and back from Mildura after school and Jasmine would also travel to Adelaide to the Northern Equestrian Centre to do clinics with a top trainer, Mark Shaffer.
“If a show happened to be on a weekend she would pack her gear and would jump in Paul and Lesley’s truck so that she could compete with her horse and their guidance.
“Jasmine would not be where she is today with these awesome results if it wasn’t for team Henschke Horses, the support from her family and the family business Creative Canvas and Saddlery Renmark.”