Lucy Turner and Carbon - 2015 CCI1* winners at Puhinui
Young New Zealand rider Lucy Turner caught our eye at Puhinui in 2014 when she produced the only clear round in the show jumping phase riding the feisty pony Tallyho Mystic to finish second overall in the CCI1* Junior.
In 2015 Lucy went one better on her horse Carbon to win the same class at Puhinui but she also took second place once again on Tallyho Mystic. Carbon, a 12 year old New Zealand thoroughbred, is a more recent ride for 16 year old Lucy but the partnership with her little black pony is well forged, as they have come up the ranks together over the past five years
On cross country day Lucy and Tallyho Mystic moved up from eighth place into fourth then a clear show jumping round moved them up again into second place while Carbon moved from second place into the lead after cross country and stayed there for the win on the final day
“The pony thinks she’s a lot bigger than she actually is (145cm or 14.2hh)” says Lucy of her Connemara X black mare Tallyho Mystic in our interview below “She can be a bit full on to handle sometimes but she’s got to have the attitude to do what she does”
Lucy and Tallyho Mystic on course at Puhinui
‘What she does’ is not only eventing at 1* level but also Pony Grand Prix showjumping at 1.35m (just 10cm smaller than Tallyho Mystic herself) however Lucy’s direction is very definitely in the world of eventing.
“I like show jumping but to be successful in that you only have to be good at one thing. I love the challenge of eventing where you have to be good at everything and that’s what I really want to do in the future”
In 2016 she will be competing at 2* level with Carbon, thanks to special dispensations allowing her compete at this level at such a young age, and we’re sure we’ll be seeing a lot more of this young rider at press conferences in the years to come
Lucy Turner
“I’d have to say that you’re always in it to win it” says Lucy at her first ever press conference after winning the CCI1* Junior
Lucy and Tallyho Mystic at the first horse inspection - neither of them are very big!
Lucy and Carbon - that determined look reminds us of several other succesful Kiwi eventers!
Lucy and Tallyho Mystic jump clear for second place
