Sixteen-year-old Lillianna MeyerVale from Benalla Pony Club in Victoria’s North Eastern Zone is heading to the National Pony Racing Series Final at the Gold Coast Turf Club on June 7—with her 13.2hh dynamo, Honey, ready to run!
Lillianna and Honey took out the Large Pony Category at the Victorian State Qualifier, proudly representing Ridgmont Farm. Honey is a 7-year-old Dutch Riding Pony mare who lives for ride to time and pony racing. She’s a talented jumper and, more recently, has discovered a new love for games too.
Lillianna has been part of Pony Club since she was five years old, and it’s the community that keeps her coming back:
“The friendships that you make and the opportunity to learn more and more about horses and all different equine disciplines.”
She says the biggest influence on her Pony Club journey has been her parents and her club:
“My parents—they give me every opportunity to participate in something I love doing. And my entire pony club at Benalla—the support everyone shows for each other is just the best.”
Lillianna’s favourite part of the National Pony Racing Series, a joint initiative between Pony Club Australia and Thoroughbred Industry Careers, is the thrill of racing on a real track and building her riding skills in the process:
“Wearing the colours and being on an actual race track—it’s amazing.”
Since launching in November, the Series has travelled across NSW, SA, WA, TAS, VIC and QLD, giving young Pony Club riders from around the country the chance to experience racing in a professional setting—and explore potential careers in the equine industry.
Lillianna and Honey will travel around 1,470km to reach the final—and she can’t wait for race day.
Good luck Lillianna and Honey—we’ll be cheering you all the way to the finish line!
