Five of the region's best young equestrians are getting ready to saddle up for NSW against the best in the country this weekend.
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More than 40 young riders from across the state will showcase their talents over two days at the Moonbi Recreation Ground after Pony Club Australia opted to run the nationals, which due to COVID were unable to go ahead as originally planned, virtually in state hubs.
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Some of the events including the quiz, which Henry was involved in, and the dressage, which Gunnedah's Jessica Swain competed in, have already been held.
For the ridden events riders will all have to complete the same set course or test, which will be filmed and submitted to PCA for judging.
The grounds will be especially familiar for two of the Zone 5 contingent with Haling and U'Ren both members of Kootingal.
U'Ren will compete in the showjumping and tetrathlon, which will consist of a run, laser shoot, swim and showjumping round.
She has been involved in pony club since she was three, and has formed a strong combination with horse Diamondedge Radar over the last two years. Earlier this year they were crowned the state tetrathlon sub-junior champions.
Haling will also compete in the tetrathlon, as well as the combined training, which is made up of a round of showjumping and a dressage test and is replacing the eventing.
The 19-year old associate rider has been riding since the age of seven, and at the last nationals two years ago was part of the NSW team that were reserve champions in the novice dressage for under-17s.
She has also been the NSW champion for showjumping equitation and reserve NSW champion for dressage for NSW Pony Club, and won numerous Australian Stock Horse Society national champion ribbons.
Henry also competed at the previous nationals, winning the sub-junior formal gymkhana and being part of the winning NSW team for eventing and gymkhana.
This time she round the Quirindi Pony Club member will combine with her faithful palomino pony Arathanes Graphic, who she has been competing on since she was seven, in the sub-junior combined training and showjumping.
The 12-year old has had a great year. She was a finalist in the Pony Club Australia awards, won her division at the State Jumping Equitation Championships and was reserve champion at the state gymkana.
Baker is also a member of Quirindi Pony Club and has been riding since she was three.
Now 16, over the years she has competed in a range of disciplines but showjumping is her real love. In 2019, she represented PCA at Gullin in China, which was an unforgettable experience for the teen.
She will on the weekend compete in the showjumping aboard Brooklyn Jalapeno, which her family bred and she has brought through her full education.
Kerridge will likewise be riding a home bred mount - MJK Red Barron.
The Tamworth Pony Club junior captain, he can't wait to get out there and compete on the weekend.
"I'm really happy to represent my state," he said, adding that he's not really focused on winning; it's more about "giving it my best and having fun".
He will be in action in the combined training and tetrathlon.
Swain started riding when she was four and regards qualifying for the nationals as one of the highlights so far.
The 10-year old competes in dressage, showjumping and eventing on pony Karanga Dallas, or Basil as he is better known, who has a penchant for licorice but not cows.
When she first got him, the first time he saw a cow he 'did a 360' and took off back to the stables.
