Five Minutes With... Claire Guiver

Claire and Riverland Lunar Eclipse - affectionately known as Cha-Chee competing at the 2011 National Interschools Championships, held in Werribee. (Photo: Julie Wilson)

Claire and Little Hawke (photo: Lorelle Mercer)

Cha-Chee and Little Hawke

(photo: Lorelle Mercer)

(Photo: Lorelle Mercer)

In lead up to the National Interschool Championships - being held 2-5 October in Toowoomba - Horsezone’s Jenny Goodwin caught up with successful young NSW show rider, Claire Guiver. Claire will be representing NSW at  Interschools National Championships in the Showman and Interschool Challenge.

Claire has been competing in the open hack ring since 2010 with her two small hacks, Riverland Lunar Eclipse and Little Hawke. In this short span of time Claire has had the privilege of competing at the prestigious Show Horse Council Grand National Horse Show, Sydney Equitana, represented NSW at the Interschool Nationals and had both her hacks in the Open Hack Championship line up at Bathurst Royal Show.

 

Claire, how old were you when you first started riding and how did you become involved with showing?

I began riding at six years of age and had jumping lessons at Malabar Riding School. Four years later I moved to Centennial Park Equestrian Centre. It was here that I leased Kirby Stathis’ veteran show pony, Royalwood Little Toff. I learned the ropes of dressage and showing under the guidance of my long-term instructor FEI dressage rider, Michelle Baker. Six months later, I began looking for my own show horse. Within two weeks, I went out to Castle Hill Show and only one horse caught my eye - a very beautiful young, dark dappled grey gelding, called Riverland Lunar Eclipse. I have never looked back !

 

Tell us about your two horses.

I've had Riverland Lunar Eclipse, affectionately known as Cha-Chee, for five and a half years now and he is still my primary competition mount. He is a 15.1hh dappled grey, RP x TB and will always be my favourite horse, and, as anyone who knows him can confirm – he is a real character! We have grown together from a novice combination at French’s Forest Gymkhanas to wins and places at royal shows and at state and national level Interschool competitions. I am forever grateful to Cha-Chee, as he has taught me the principles of persistence and that hard work pays off.

My other horse Little Hawke is a 15.1 1/2hh bay RP x Anglo that we bought from Michael Christie two and a half years ago. Hawke is a stunning, fine-typed leggy hack that really has the look-at-me presence that a true show horse requires. He also has a very sweet nature. In the short time that Hawke has been in our family, he has exceeded all our expectations and won a royal hack championship and has competed at the SHC Grand Nationals.

 

What has been your proudest moment in showing so far? 

Winning the Open Hack 15-15.2hh on Riverland Lunar Eclipse at Bathurst Royal in 2011, when I was only 15 years old, against a very competitive field of adults and professionals. Competing at my first Sydney Royal this year was also a highlight, and to come away with high placings on both horses was a thrill.

 

Who are your biggest influences?

My Mum and Dad, Michelle Baker, my instructor, and Kirby Stathis, my best friend, have all supported me since day one and have always encouraged me to achieve to the best of my ability. Tim Hadlow has also been a big contributor to the success we have had with Little Hawke and has helped me to develop my ring craft and ability as a show rider. Pamela Bode has also been a fantastic source of support with the horses and Georgina Wadsworth has taught me a lot about presentation of show horses. 

 

What is your biggest challenge?

One of my biggest challenges is balancing my passion and the commitment for my horses with the increasing demands of school work as I will be commencing the HSC in term 4 this year.

 

Can you tell us about the National Interschool Championships and the classes you will be competing in?

It is run annually by Equestrian Australia. This year it is being held in Toowoomba, QLD. Every state sends a team selected on the basis of performance at each state's respective Interschool championships. Every team consists of primary and secondary students representing a range of disciplines, for example jumping, eventing, dressage and showman. I am competing in two of the showman classes: 3 phase showman and the 2 phase Interschool challenge. The 3-phase showman consists of a basic dressage test, ridden workout and in-hand presentation. The 2-phase Interschool challenge incorporates a ridden workout, judging both the rider's ability and the horse's performance. The second stage is judged on the rider's ability to present their horse effectively on the basis of an in-hand presentation. I am very honoured and excited about representing NSW at Toowoomba in October and Cha-Chee and I will be trying to do our best for the NSW team.

 

What is on your agenda for the rest of the year?

I have a number of competitions coming up in addition to the National Interschool Championships, including the NSW State Arabian Titles, NSW SHC HOTY and a few local comps in between.

 

What direction do you see yourself heading into the future?

Horse-wise, my main goals are those of every hackie: to represent NSW at the EA Nationals and to win an Open Hack Championship at NSW SHC Horse of the Year. I also hope to find a new competitive large hack to join the ‘family’ when I finish school next year. Personally, I would like to gain entry to Sydney University or UNSW to study a Bachelor of Commerce in 2014.

 

If you weren't involved with horses, what would you be doing?

I have always been very sporty – so I would have pursued a swimming and/or tennis competitive pathway.

 

When you are not riding, what TV shows and music do you enjoy?

My favourite TV shows are Pretty Little Liars and Revenge. Music-wise, I usually like anything on the Top 20 of ITunes but I particularly like Conor Maynard, Rihanna, Dubstep, Ed Sheeran and Coldplay.

Thank you for your time Claire! Horsezone is sponsoring the National Interschool Championships, so we wish you "good luck" and we'll see you there!!  We'll have a stand at the event so would like to extend an invitation to all competitors and visitors to drop by and say 'hi'!

Quick Links

• Find out more about the National Interschool Championships
• Visit Michelle Baker's website
• View interschool horses for sale on Horsezone
• View show horses for sale on Horsezone
• View schoolmasters for sale on Horsezone