By Sarah Schwager
A CLYDE North family is celebrating after its two youngest members graced the riding world with their wins at the Dandenong Show recently.
Danielle, 11, and Jaimie Blundy, 9, were very excited after their wins and particularly so given that some of their competitors were nearly twice their age.
Parents Colleen and Glenn Blundy were very proud of their daughters’ achievements.
“They just work so hard,” Mrs Blundy said.
“They train four times a week. They’ve got a real passion for it.”
The girls have been riding for about five years with the Cranbourne Pony Club.
Mrs Blundy said they had been with the club since the beginning and a lot of the credit had to go to its fantastic instructors.
“Danielle and Jaimie have learnt so much at the Pony Club and they can now focus on which discipline at equestrian that they desire,” she said.
The club caters for beginners through to state level of competition.
The girls took their training with them to the Dandenong Show in which Danielle won Champion Junior Rider in the open ring, Champion Pony Club Rider, came first in the Pony Club Mount and was Reserve Champion in the Australian Stud Book Pony Hunter.
Jaimie took out the Reserve Champion Pony Club Rider.
Mrs Blundy said the love of horses ran in the family, having had her old horse for 35 years.
“When they were little kids you would leave them inside then the next minute they’d be outside dragging the bucket out to the horse,” she said.
“I knew they’d be horse riders when Danielle started to ride the couch.”
She said the Clyde Primary School girls’ rooms were now full of trophies, sashes and ribbons.
Mrs Blundy said Jaimie, the youngest, always lived in her elder sister’s shadow but to come second in the show’s top event was outstanding.
“I’m just so proud of both of them,” she said.
The Cranbourne Pony Club is located at the Morning Mist Reserve on Langley Road, Cranbourne.
For more information phone club president David Watson on 5978 7070.
