Five Minutes With... Holly Ticehurst

Talented young eventer, Holly Ticehurst, had never planned to be a showing competitor, however, a special horse soon changed her mind!

We caught up with Holly - who won the Horsezone sponsored Champion Show Hunter Galloway at Royal Melbourne Show 2012 - to find out more about her, and her lovely horse, Terra Felix XI...

 

How did you first become involved with horses?

I grew up in NSW. Dad was a harness racing trainer and Master Farrier and Mum had been riding since she was about 10. She was always interested in showing and dressage.  I thought horses were part of a normal life and didn't stand a chance!  I don't know a life without them, nor would I change anything.  They are my life and  my escape from reality.

 

What horse sports did you first participate in and how did you get into showing?

I started at Pony Club doing a bit of everything, but my love was eventing.  Some close friends encouraged me to give showing a go. I'd always loved presenting my horses to the best of my ability but had never really been interested until Felix came along. Not knowing where to start I spoke to a few people and absorbed as much information as I could. It wasn't until I took Felix to be measured for the first time that I found that he was already too big for pony dressage - so I chased the showing dream and here we are today!

 

Tell us about Felix - how he came into your life and what makes him special.

It started off with a crazy idea to put my Warmblood eventing mare in foal, hopefully to quieten her down and also provide a new project for mum to work on. Now, six years later (and I might be slightly biased), that little "project", aka Terra Felix Xl, is the best horse I have ever ridden. He is by the stunning riding pony stallion, Rathowen Xl, who has sadly passed on now. He was absolutely amazing and a credit to Sefton Riding Ponies.  I knew Felix was special when I first started riding him and when I showed a photo of him to one of my friends she said "That is going to be a show horse".

Felix is by far and above the most stunning horse I have ever had but he is so accident prone! This makes presenting him for the show ring very hard at times.  He is so special to me because there aren't many people lucky enough to be riding at this level on a horse that they bred and trained. Everything we do is a first for both of us.

 

What is the biggest challenge for you with your horse/showing?

My job.  (Holly is a policewoman) Sometimes things get crazy at work. This week, for example, it was so busy I was only able to ride twice. I was coming home just to sleep, then going straight back to work. At the same time, I wouldn't be able to do what I do without my job as it allows me a lot of flexibility.

 

You had a great year in 2012 - tell us about some of your achievements?

2012 started out as a shocker. I blew out my knee at Barastoc and couldn't ride for six months! After that things turned around and I can't believe the year I had.  We competed at our very first Royal Melbourne Show and I was absolutely floored when I was 2nd in the Novice Ridden Show Hunter Galloway. Then the real excitement came a couple of days later when I won the Show Hunter Galloway class and went on to take out Champion -  and a very beautiful woollen rug from Horsezone.  We were also lucky enough to win Champion at Geelong Royal and Reserve Champion at the Show Horse Council Victoria Masters.  It has been an amazing year.  I'm still shaking my head and thinking  "did that really happen?"

 

Which is your favourite show?

So far it would be the Show Horse Council Masters.  I love that you have three people judging you.  It’s such a great idea and it is so rewarding when you are a placegetter.

 

What are your showing plans for this year and your horsey goals for the future?

I'm so excited for 2013! I have Barastoc coming up and have been lucky enough to gain a spot in the International Challenge, which I'm super excited about. We also have the Show Horse Council All States Showdown, State Show Horse Titles, Grand Nationals and Sydney Royal. It is going to be a busy few months but I can't wait. I'm so excited for the Sydney trip, it is going to be an honour to ride at such a prestigious show. I'm also looking forward to some good times with the other Victorians making the trip.

 

What do you love most about showing?

I love it when you go out to the ring and everything goes to plan. All the hard work at home and getting up at some strange hour of the morning pays off when you go and do your workout and return back to the line up and think to yourself "yeah, I nailed it".

 

Who has been your inspiration/role model with your riding?

This is a hard one, there are so many! I'd have to say Dale Plumb. He is such an amazing rider, I could watch him ride all day. He makes it look so effortless, which frustrates the hell out of me, but I love my lessons with him. He gives me the encouragement to keep putting myself out there.  He is so down to earth considering the success that he has had and I find that refreshing. 

 

Tips for anyone wanting to get started in showing?

Have fun, if you’re not having fun then you have to question why you're doing it. As with everything, put 110% in, listen and watch what other people are doing. I have found that this the best way of learning.

 

If you could have a ride on any horse - who would it be?

Bonfire. As I was growing up I loved watching Anky Van Grunsven and Bonfire. I used to get a bit bored with dressage but I could watch them all day.

 

Is there a horse sport you'd love to try?

At Pony Club you are exposed to everything and I have given just about everything a crack except for western. Maybe one day I'll have a go at that and see what happens!

 

What did you get up to during Christmas/New Year?

When I'm not riding I'm working as a member of the Victorian Police. Over Christmas I was working nightshift, so I slept most of the days away. For New Year I went up to the top of the Dandenongs with some friends. We took a picnic and a few drinks and watched the fireworks going off across Melbourne.  It was one of my best New Year's ever.

 

How do you enjoy spending your spare time?

Spare time, what is that?!  Generally if I'm not working or riding I'm catching up with friends. The hours I work it often makes it hard to catch up with people, so whenever I have the chance I take advantage of it.

 

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

Hopefully my life will have settled down a bit and I will be living in a nice house with my partner on a few acres with the horses.  I hope by then I will have worked out the direction I want my career to take. I will definitely still be out there competing, probably back to dressage or eventing as my young Warmblood is not going to be a show horse!

 

If you could invite any three people in the world to dinner - who would you invite?

I would invite my grandparents. They both died in their early 60's and I hate that they haven't seen what I have achieved with my life. They would definitely be top of the list and the third person would be Zara Phillips. I figure she'll be able to dish the goss on the Royals early on in the evening and then by the end of the night we'll just be talking about horses. 
 
Thanks so much for your time Holly! We wish you and Felix all the best for 2013 and look forward to hearing of more successes.

By: Jo Johnson/Horsezone

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