Bega equestrian rider Troy Wilson has added even more trophies to his cabinet after an incredible performance at the Royal Melbourne Show last week.
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On his horse Shakira LP, Wilson not only won the Providence Cup for Hunter Hacks and Galloways over 14 hands he came away with four other titles – Show Hunter Hack over 16 hands, Gentleman’s Show Hunter Hack over 15 hands, Gentlemen’s Riding Competition rider 18 to 30 years and Champion Gentleman Rider 18 years or over.
Wilson is a dedicated and accomplished equestrian rider, but is unassuming in his achievements and, as always, news of success has filtered through not from Wilson, but from proud friends and family members.
Wilson, just 21, has had an amazing year, starting with local agricultural shows before hitting his stride at the Royal Easter Show in Sydney and the Macquarie Bank ACT and Southern NSW Hack Championship last month.
At the ACT Hack, Wilson won Champion Large Show Hunter Hack over 15 hands.
“I had a good showing at Melbourne, and I did well at the ACT Hack as well, which has qualified me to for Grand National at Horsley Park in Sydney next March,” he said.
Wilson has qualified for the Grand National eight times before, but he has never gone in with so many winning titles or such great form.
Wilson is a carpenter and must fit his increasingly hectic competition schedule in with his working life.
However, involved in competition level horse riding since he was a child, it’s all just second nature to Wilson who has improved exponentially since he teamed up with broodmare Shakira LP.
Purchased by the Wilson family in 2012, Shakira LP was imported to Australia in 2010 and is a Hanovarian of exceptional pedigree (BDN 16/5).
“Shakira is doing well, travelling well,” Wilson said.
“We only had two weeks between ACT Hack and Melbourne Royal so she’s in good shape.
“We’ll just keep working, I ride three to four times a week and things have been easier since I picked Equissage as a sponsor,” he said.
Wilson’s mother Sharon travelled to Melbourne to see his performance.
“It was magnificent to see, we are really proud of him and it’s topped off a great year,” she said.
Sharon said the family was completely in the dark about horse riding before her son first got on a horse aged four.
“My sister bought one and Troy would just sit and watch her for hours and hours and talk about horses, so we borrowed a pony for him one day and that was it!” she said.
“We took him to the local pony club and a woman there told us he had natural ability and a natural seat and told me he should be riding at show level.
“I said, ‘I don’t even know how to groom a horse’ but she offered to help us learn everything and we’ve never looked back.
“Troy won his first title when he was seven at the Canberra Royal Show and did the same thing at Sydney that season.
“We asked him then what we wanted to achieve with his riding and he said, ‘I want to be Champion Gentleman Hack at Sydney Royal’ and he did that this year,” she said.
Wilson’s younger sister Tayla is also an accomplished equestrienne and is keen to follow in her brother’s footsteps.
Tayla had a top five performance at the Macquarie Bank ACT and Southern NSW Hack Championship and has also qualified for the Grand National next year.
“It’s been a lot of work and a hard journey sometimes but we are just so proud of both Troy and Tayla, and Shakira is a dream to work with,” Sharon said.
