No hour of life is lost that is spent in the saddle – Winston Churchill
This is a sentiment that is most definitely shared by Carramar Year 12, Layla Diamantis, who is the current Jumping WA State Junior Champion and also the Equestrian WA, Junior Jumping Rider of the Year, 2023! Together with her incredible equine partner, 23-year-old Barrabadeen Halifax, who is a warmblood, Layla is certainly bound to add to these accolades in the future.
Layla got her first pony when she was just two years old.
“Her name was Tinkerbell and she was lovely. When I was four I joined Wanneroo Horse and Pony Club with my then pony Albert and my big sister Lily,” said Layla.
“I had a couple of different ponies after that and also went to riding school when I was nine.”
A love of show jumping was cultivated by Layla’s mother, Deb, who surprised her with her first jumping pony when she was 10.
“His name was Elliot. He was quite a cheeky pony, but he taught me to be resilient and never give up”.
“Showjumping is a skill that takes time and patience, and the relationship between the horse and rider is very important,” said Layla.
“It’s a partnership- we have to trust each other in order to get around the course. We need to support each other. If the connection isn’t good, then neither will the communication.”
Layla has had her showjumping horse, Barrabadeen Halifax, whose stable name is Heidi, for two years, but also jumps with a number of other horses.
“Heidi is an amazing lady. She’s my best friend. I couldn’t ask for a better horse. I’ll never be able to repay her for what she has done for me.”
“I also have a young horse called Vinnie who I am bringing along with his education and am lucky to also be able to ride my coach’s horses and a friend’s horse named Casper.”
Showjumping at an elite level requires discipline from both horse and rider, but it’s a commitment that Layla loves.
“Showjumping is a skill that takes time and patience to perfect. I train a minimum of four times a week, plus I have a weekly lesson with my coach. I have had many lessons and been to many coaching clinics, but I love that there is always something new to learn and no two competitions or rounds are ever the same.”
In 2024, Layla is balancing her showjumping commitments with her Year 12 studies with some great aspirations for the future on all fronts.
“I am working hard towards ATAR this year as I hope to gain a place at uni to study critical care nursing. I will continue to compete on Heidi to try and once again take out the state and leading junior titles,” said Layla.
We wish Layla all the very best in her studies and in her showjumping career.
Make sure you follow our Facebook page to hear how she and “Queen Heidi” are doing. We’re grateful to Layla’s mum, Deb, for keeping us updated on their progress!