Pony Club Australia is proud to introduce the riders selected to represent Australia in the 2026 Pony Club International Alliance Virtual Dressage Training Challenge.
This unique international event brings Pony Club riders from around the world together in a development-focused competition format. Rather than being based only on final placings, the challenge gives riders the opportunity to receive feedback from international judges, reflect on their first-round performance, and then ride their test again in Round 2 to demonstrate measurable improvement.
The 2026 Australian team includes riders competing across Training Level and Prix Caprilli, representing Pony Clubs from Victoria, Tasmania and New South Wales.
Australia’s representatives will upload their Round 1 videos for judging in June, with Round 2 to take place in September/October. Riders will use the feedback from Round 1 to guide their training before riding their test again in Round 2.
We are looking forward to following their progress, sharing their journey, and celebrating the learning that comes from this international Pony Club experience.
Training Level
Daisy Laycock
Apsley Pony Club, Pony Club Victoria
Age: 13
Mount: Moment In Time, known as Danny
Primary discipline: Dressage
Years in Pony Club: 2
Daisy Laycock, from Apsley Pony Club in Victoria, will represent Pony Club Australia in the Training Level section of the 2026 Pony Club International Alliance Virtual Dressage Training Challenge.
Daisy will be competing on Moment In Time, known as Danny. Although dressage is now her primary discipline, Daisy only began dressage after getting Danny late last year, making her selection for this international training challenge especially rewarding.
“When I found out I had been selected to represent Pony Club Australia for this event, I was really excited and grateful for the opportunity,” Daisy said.
“It was super rewarding to be selected when I never thought I would do anything like this. I’m looking forward to improving my riding and being part of this training competition.”
For Daisy, one of the most exciting parts of the challenge is the opportunity to work through the full process of learning, riding and improving a dressage test. She is looking forward to giving the test a go, filming her ride, and then using the judges’ feedback to make improvements before Round 2.
“I’m most excited about having the opportunity to ride the test and just give it a go,” she said.
“I’m looking forward to the process of learning the test, riding and filming it, and then getting feedback on how to improve. It’s also exciting to have something to work towards and focus on while riding over the next couple of months.”
Daisy hopes the challenge will help her continue developing her partnership with Danny. She is especially looking forward to receiving feedback from international judges and learning from different perspectives.
“I’m hoping to learn from the different feedback and perspectives the judges give me and Danny, as I think that will really help us develop our partnership,” she said.
“I’m also looking forward to gaining confidence when I show, improving my riding, and learning more about how to get the best out of our dressage tests.”
Daisy says she has been supported along the way by her mum, her instructors, and the whole Apsley Pony Club community.
“Everyone has been so supportive and I’m extremely grateful to be a part of such a great club,” she said.
Away from horses, Daisy loves spending time at the beach, especially swimming and surfing.
Grace Jones
Huntingfield Pony & Riding Club, Pony Club Tasmania
Age: 14
Mount: Bella Carmena
Primary discipline: Dressage
Years in Pony Club: 4
Grace Jones, from Huntingfield Pony & Riding Club in Tasmania, will compete in the Training Level section of the 2026 Pony Club International Alliance Virtual Dressage Training Challenge.
Grace will ride Bella Carmena, a relatively new partnership, with the pair having been together for only four months at the time of selection. For Grace, this makes the training challenge an exciting opportunity to receive feedback, set goals and continue developing with Bella.
“I felt excited,” Grace said of her selection.
“Bella and I have only been together for four months. Competing in the Virtual Dressage Training Challenge is going to be a great opportunity for Bella and I to receive feedback, and then have things to improve on.”
Grace is particularly looking forward to seeing the standard of riders from other countries and using the format of the challenge to guide her own training.
“I’m most excited about getting to see the standard of riders from other countries,” she said.
“Also being able to set some training goals from the first round of feedback and aiming for improvement in the second round.”
Through the experience, Grace hopes to gain a better understanding of how her dressage riding compares with other riders her age from around the world.
Grace says she has been supported by her parents, her coaches Liz Elliot, Lydia Jackson and Fiona Fehlberg, and the Huntingfield Pony & Riding Club community.
“Huntingfield Pony & Riding Club has provided opportunities for me to develop skills in many disciplines and make great friends,” she said.
Grace’s fun fact is refreshingly simple: her favourite drink is a frozen raspberry.
Harriet Le Grand
Ballarat Pony Club, Pony Club Victoria
Age: 13
Mount: Art Dealer, known as Alf
Primary discipline: Eventing
Years in Pony Club: 8
Harriet Le Grand, from Ballarat Pony Club in Victoria, will represent Pony Club Australia in the Training Level section of the 2026 Pony Club International Alliance Virtual Dressage Training Challenge.
Harriet’s primary discipline is eventing, and she will be competing on Art Dealer, known as Alf. While jumping is a major passion, Harriet says Alf has helped her understand the importance of flatwork and dressage as part of a horse’s overall training.
“I was incredibly excited for the opportunity to learn and also to compete for PCA,” Harriet said.
“I was also very proud of my horse Alf, who has helped me see the vitalness of flatwork and dressage.”
For Harriet, one of the most exciting parts of the challenge is the opportunity to represent Australia.
She is hoping the experience will help her learn more skills that she can use to continue developing with Alf, both at this level and as they work towards higher levels in the future.
“I am hoping to learn more things that will help me and my horse advance through this level and higher levels,” she said.
Harriet has been riding for many years and says her mum and dad have supported her from the very beginning. She is also grateful for the guidance of her coach Sue Nevett and all the coaches at Ballarat Pony Club.
“I’ve always loved riding ever since I was little and just being around horses, no matter what I’m doing with them,” Harriet said.
“But especially, I love jumping.”
Esther Coxon
Apsley Pony Club, Pony Club Victoria
Age: 9
Mount: Fastnet Princess
Years in Pony Club: 4
At just nine years old, Esther Coxon from Apsley Pony Club in Victoria is the youngest member of the 2026 Pony Club Australia team for the Pony Club International Alliance Virtual Dressage Training Challenge.
Esther will compete in the Training Level section on Fastnet Princess.
“When I was selected, I felt excited because I got to represent Australia,” Esther said.
“I was also nervous because I had to do a dressage test more complex than I was used to.”
For Esther, the opportunity to represent Australia is one of the most exciting parts of the challenge. She is also looking forward to taking on a more advanced dressage test with more complicated movements.
“I am most excited about getting to represent Australia,” she said.
“I get to do a dressage test with more complicated movements.”
Esther hopes the experience will show her that hard work pays off. She has been supported along the way by her mum, who has taken her to Pony Club, helped her learn her test and helped her improve her riding.
Esther’s mount, Fastnet Princess, has a special story of her own. She is an off-the-track Thoroughbred who finished racing three years ago and is a granddaughter of Fastnet Rock.
Prix Caprilli
Charlotte Collins
Cobbitty Pony Club, Pony Club NSW
Age: 11
Mount: Flowerdale Titanium
Primary disciplines: Eventing and showing
Years in Pony Club: 9
Charlotte Collins, from Cobbitty Pony Club in New South Wales, will represent Pony Club Australia in the Prix Caprilli section of the 2026 Pony Club International Alliance Virtual Dressage Training Challenge.
Charlotte will ride Flowerdale Titanium and brings experience in both eventing and showing. She has been involved in Pony Club for nine years and was thrilled to be selected for the Australian team.
“I was very excited to be selected for the Australian Team and couldn’t wait to accept my place on the team,” Charlotte said.
“I am very grateful for this opportunity and am looking forward to showcasing my pony and my riding on the world stage for Australia.”
Charlotte is excited not only to represent Pony Club Australia, but also to be part of the team environment. She is looking forward to the training and preparation involved, particularly as the Prix Caprilli test is different from the dressage tests she usually learns for competitions.
“I am most excited about being part of the team and representing Pony Club Australia at an international event,” she said.
“I am also really excited about training and preparing for the competition as the test is very different to the dressage tests I typically learn for competitions.”
Charlotte is especially looking forward to receiving feedback from the international judges, then using that advice to improve and bring out the best in herself and her pony.
Charlotte says many people have supported her along the way, but two stand out in particular: her mum and her best friend Lola.
“My mum gives me all my lessons and her knowledge from when she used to ride and compete,” Charlotte said.
“She has supported me through my highs and lows and takes me to all my events, and I couldn’t be more grateful for her.”
She also says her best friend Lola is always there to encourage her, cheer her on and compete alongside her at shows.
Charlotte also loves a bit of fun and creativity. One of her favourite things is fancy dress classes at local shows.
“At Picton Show, I dressed as a bride and my pony was the groom, and we pretended to get married,” Charlotte said.
“My friend dressed as my bridesmaid on her pony.”
Charlotte Neilson
Vines Pony Club, Pony Club NSW
Age: 12
Mount: Halycon Affair of the Heart
Primary disciplines: Dressage and show horse
Years in Pony Club: 3
Charlotte Neilson, from Vines Pony Club in New South Wales, will compete for Pony Club Australia in the Prix Caprilli section of the 2026 Pony Club International Alliance Virtual Dressage Training Challenge.
Charlotte will ride Halycon Affair of the Heart and brings a background in dressage and show horse competition. She was thrilled to be selected and is looking forward to stepping up to the challenge.
“I felt extremely excited and privileged, and can’t wait to step up to the challenge,” Charlotte said.
For Charlotte, the chance to represent Australia on an international stage is the part she is most excited about.
She is also looking forward to learning the Prix Caprilli Test Y-2017, which will be a new experience for her. Prix Caprilli combines dressage with jumping elements, making it a different type of challenge to a traditional dressage test.
“Firstly, learning the Prix Caprilli Test Y-2017 will be a new experience and challenge,” Charlotte said.
“I will also be looking forward to the judges’ feedback, as this will help me improve and expand my skills.”
Charlotte says she has been supported by her mum, dad, coaches and her horsey community of mums and friends.
Her fun fact is that the first horse discipline she trained in was horse vaulting.
Catherine Duck
Briagolong and District Pony Club, Pony Club Victoria
Age: 15
Mount: Eulinga Doller Girl, known as Dolly
Primary discipline: Combined training
Years in Pony Club: 3
Catherine Duck, from Briagolong and District Pony Club in Victoria, will represent Pony Club Australia in the Prix Caprilli section of the 2026 Pony Club International Alliance Virtual Dressage Training Challenge.
Catherine will compete on Eulinga Doller Girl, known as Dolly, and comes into the team with a background in combined training.
Catherine said she felt “extremely excited and grateful” to be selected, as well as honoured by the opportunity.
She is looking forward to supporting her teammates and representing her club at this level.
“I’m really excited to cheer along my teammates and represent my club at this level,” Catherine said.
Catherine is also excited to learn from the experience by watching her teammates, developing her riding and learning this style of dressage.
“I’m excited to learn from this, to improve my riding by watching my team and learn this type of dressage,” she said.
Catherine says her coach Tegan Hector has played an important role throughout her horse journey.
“She has been with me my entire horse journey and I look up to her so much,” Catherine said.
She is also grateful to her friends, who are always there for her.
One of Catherine’s favourite things to do with Dolly is tackless riding and liberty training. She has even taught Dolly to sit on a bean bag and says she can ride her tackless anywhere.
Ella Hogan
Moyhu Pony Club, Pony Club Victoria
Age: 15
Mount: Plein Ciel, known as Cyril
Years in Pony Club: 8
Ella Hogan, from Moyhu Pony Club in Victoria, will compete in the Prix Caprilli section of the 2026 Pony Club International Alliance Virtual Dressage Training Challenge.
Ella will ride Plein Ciel, known as Cyril, and has been a Pony Club member for eight years. She was thrilled to be selected for the Australian team.
“I was so excited to be selected,” Ella said.
“It is an honour to represent Australia and my Pony Club. What an amazing opportunity.”
Ella is looking forward to being part of an international event and competing alongside riders from around the world.
“I’m most excited about being involved in an international event where I’ll get to compete against other riders from all around the world,” she said.
“And of course, representing my Pony Club and Pony Club Australia.”
Ella is always working to improve her riding, learn new skills and teach her horse new things. She has not completed a Prix Caprilli test before, so she is excited to learn this new style of competition.
“I’ve never completed a Prix Caprilli test before, so I’m excited to learn this new style,” she said.
Ella says she has been fortunate to have support from many people, including great coaches at Pony Club. She says Moyhu Pony Club has believed in her and helped her achieve her goals of riding at a higher level in dressage.
Her biggest supporter has been her mum.
“She has encouraged me in everything I have tried,” Ella said.
“I couldn’t do it without her.”
Ella has also taken part in the Thoroughbred Industry Careers Pony Racing Series, riding her 12.2hh pony Rusty at Moonee Valley.
