Sophie Burling Sophie was born in 1995 and started riding at the tender age of 3, but only as a holiday hobby for fun with her cousin and didn't really get into lessons until she was 8. By 10 she had her first pony, Jupiter's Boy, and together they progressed from pony club gymkhanas to 3*** Pony Grand Prix in just two seasons, gaining two NZ representative Silver Ferns along the way. She remembers when she had to decide between an impeccably schooled pony schoolmaster who'd showjumped 1.10m and been twice to PC eventing champs and Cheeko (Jupiter's Boy), a hairy, cheeky pony with no experience and a reputation for being difficult and spooky to ride - the decision was obvious to Sophie and they ended up trundling home with Cheeko in the back of their newly purchased, old thoroughbred float. When Sophie was 12 she teamed up with Manuka Scrub, an over-sized pony that just measured in as a 150cm hack. By the end of the season the pair were jumping 1.30m and placed in 5 out of 6 classes at 1.25m-1.30m at the Kelt Capital Horse of the Year Show. Another achievement was jumping a triple bar 1.70m high and 1.80m spread at the Whangarei A&P Show 2007. He was also the mount which gained her third silver fern, and her first Junior Rider win. |  |
Sophie is enrolled in Kerikeri High School as a year 13 student but only completes half days to give her more time and flexibility in her schedule in order to work more with the horses. Being accelerated ahead of her years in school also adds to her academic pressure, although she still managed to achieve her NCEA Level 1 and Level 2 certificates with excellence. In Level 2 she also achieved academic honors and sporting honors.
Most of Sophie's time is taken up with schooling the young warmblood horses, managing and training the Maverick showjumping team and traveling to events (the Maverick property is located 5 hours north of Auckland).
With Sophie's first NZ representation in 2007, she was lucky enough to travel to Bogota, Colombia in South America to ride two lovely borrowed horses in the Junior Children's World Showjumping Championships, where she was 4th in the B final on one and nearly won the A final on the other, having the fastest time by 2 seconds but unfortunately paid the price for 4 faults and was relegated to 8th. This allowed her to see a slice of some of the european ways and training systems, and make a lot of interesting friends and contacts, giving her a new style to focus on. She was also given many interesting experiences along the way including racing a donkey, being allowed to ride a pure-bred Paso Fino stallion to the value of US$500,000, riding through the Atacama desert and in the snow storms (and cougars) of Patagonia.
Sophie is also under the wing of Astek Stud, who are looking to put good quality youngsters under her in the future years, and is also lucky enough to have huge support from her parents, Jenny and Robert, as well as being able to delve into her wide range of national and international contacts for advice and help.
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Pictured above: Sophie competing in Bogota, Colombia on her A final horse, Picasso (2007).
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Pictured: Sophie and Jupiter's Boy in the early days at North Island Pony Club Showjumping Championships. |
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Milli Owen Milli is a working student at Maverick and helps out with the young horses, doing some riding and lunging and also taking on the role of 'groom'. Milli has been riding for many years and, although new to the world of competitive showjumping, is very comfortable handling the horses and with her gutsy nature, keen work ethic to learn, ability and the gentle consideration that she shows to the horses, makes her a great person to have in the team. Milli also has three horses of her own; two ponies Diesel and Kione who she wishes to compete up to Pony Grand Prix level with Sophie's guidance and also a yearling filly. |  |
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Jenny Coulter & Robert Burling
Jenny and Robert are Sophie's parents and contribute hugely in the day to day running, competition and Management of Maverick Sporthorses and without them progression and success would be impossible. Jenny is also a fabulous truck driver for us and manages to capture photos of the horses in action as well.
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Pictured below - some things you should definitely do in life; ride a US$500,000 pure-bred Paso Fino stallion in the dark, gallop through the record-breaking sand dunes of the Atacama desert, race a donkey (preferably not the dud one like I got!) and ride a horse through the snow, blizzards, beauty and all.
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