Armidale show rider Bronte Dagg, will don the blue of NSW and take on the country's best horse and rider combinations later this year.
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Bronte is set to represent New South Wales at the 2019 Australian Interschool Championships to be held at the Sydney International Equestrian Centre from Saturday, September 28 to Thursday, October 3.
The 15-year-old was selected after winning runner-up championship in the secondary show horse division at the NSW State Interschool event in March.
It is the second time the year 10 student has been selected to represent NSW at the national event, having won the runner-up primary show horse hunter title in 2015 and being part of the overall champion national show horse team the same year.
"I don't get to compete at the state qualifier every year due to other show horse commitments but I thought we would make a quick trip to Sydney this year and try our luck," Bronte said.
"I have a young Warmblood-Arab mare - EBL Lust - who is only in her second season so we weren't sure how she would go down there but we placed runner-up in all our classes which included a hack, rider and led phase. I was really happy with how she went down there and I am excited to be part of the NSW team again."
According to Equestrian Australia, The Australian Interschool Championships attracts more than 2000 school based competitors, family, friends and supporters from right around the country.
Competitors, aged 5-18 years old, are required to qualify through from the State Interschool Championships to the Australian Interschool Championships.
"The event is continuing to grow year on year and is a major focus for young equestrians," a spokesperson said. "It is the largest equestrian grassroots program delivered nationally in Australia."
Students compete in the disciplines of dressage, jumping, eventing and show horse.
Bronte and her horse have had a busy year already, competing at Canberra Royal and bringing home a swag of ribbons in the open, breeds and riding classes and qualified and recently competed at Grand Nationals - Australia's most prestigious show horse event.
Bronte and EBL Lust have also been performing well locally taking out many accolades at recent shows including supreme overall rider at Inverell Show and supreme district rider and hack at Armidale Show. Bronte will also be competing at this year's Royal Easter Show.
"The Interschool Championships are later in the year but it gives me plenty of time to continue training my young horse and attending show events to get in as much time in the saddle as we can," she said.
"The championships has such a great team vibe, everybody supports each other and cheers everybody else on no matter what their discipline is. It is a real honor to be selected and I am looking forward to meeting up with my friends from all over NSW down there in September."