By Callum Ludwig
A young star of the Seville Pony Club has been recognised for her achievements both atop and off the horse.
Emily Hudak was awarded the ‘Best Achievement by a Junior Rider (13-17 years)’ at the 2023 Pony Club Australia Annual Awards last month.
Emily said she was excited to have been nominated at all and so grateful to be the winner.
“I started happy crying because I was just so happy, it’s always been a dream to win something like this,” she said.
Emily has been busy in 2023, organising fundraisers for her own Seville Pony Club and for the Macclesfield Pony Club in support of them after their clubhouse was destroyed by a fire in June, organising a Freshman’s Showjumping Day to support them.
Emily said she was just happy to be helping another club out.
“I felt bad for the club that they lost their club rooms and I was just happy that I could put some money towards them helping fix it,” she said.
Emily has also been mentoring younger riders, assisting in the running of club events, holding a place on the Junior Committee and through all her efforts has twice won the Seville Pony Club’s Brenda Mitton Pony Club Spirit Award as a result.
She was also selected to represent Team Victorian in the 2023 Pony Club Australia National Championships in October, having already competed in 2021, which was held virtually due to Covid-19 restrictions.
Emily said she was happy that selectors thought she would be a good part of the team.
“It was lots of fun, especially because we flew out to Perth for it and we came second,” she said.
“It was different to what I thought it was going to be but it was really fun to do it as a team and in person this time.”
The championships are held every to years, with rides competing in dressage, show jumping, combined training, mounted games, tetrathlon and a quiz with the points totalled at the end to decide the winning state.
You can expect to see Emily gunning for a spot on the team again in 2025.
