Five young Pony Club members from across Australia have been named finalists for the 2026 Best Achievement by a Rider aged 12 years and under Award, proudly sponsored by VIPA Body Protector Vests.
The award recognises young riders who embrace everything Pony Club has to offer. Alongside riding achievements, finalists are considered for their participation in rallies and activities, progress through the Pony Club proficiency certificate program, and the partnership and care they demonstrate for their ponies.
This year’s finalists have achieved impressive results across a wide range of disciplines, but just as importantly, their nominations tell stories of hard work, kindness, resilience, good horsemanship and contribution to their clubs.
Laura Stewart
Laidley Pony Club, Queensland
Laura Stewart has packed an extraordinary amount into her Pony Club journey, competing across dressage, combined training, showjumping, jumping equitation, tetrathlon, eventing, Stockman’s Challenge and gymkhana.
A regular member of Laidley Pony Club who also attends activities across Zone 3, Laura has achieved her D* Certificate and is working towards her C Certificate.
Over the past year, she has competed at every Pony Club Queensland State discipline championship for which she qualified, becoming the 2026 Queensland 12 years and under State Champion in Combined Training and Reserve Champion in both Tetrathlon and Preliminary Dressage. She also placed fourth in Jumping Equitation and competed successfully in Showjumping and Eventing.
Her achievements build on an outstanding 2025, when she won Queensland State titles in Dressage and Combined Training before being selected for the Queensland team at the Pony Club Australia National Championships. As the youngest member of the state team, Laura placed fourth individually in Dressage, helped Queensland to third in the team competition, and was part of the second-placed Sub-Junior Tetrathlon team.
Laura does not own a horse, instead leasing ponies including Bordershow Red Velvet, known as Markie, and Dracmoore FfansiMe, or Tarti. Her nomination highlights the work she puts into their daily care, education, fitness and wellbeing.
She also played an important role in helping one of her ponies recover from a serious tendon injury requiring surgery, patiently following the rehabilitation program and putting the pony’s welfare ahead of competition.
Away from her own riding, Laura is known for helping at events, encouraging younger riders and sharing her ponies with other children so they too can gain experience and confidence.
Marli Potesta
Riddells Creek Pony Club, Victoria
For Marli Potesta, Pony Club is about getting involved in everything.
A committed member of Riddells Creek Pony Club, Marli participates enthusiastically in activities ranging from games and cross country to dressage, while regularly attending rallies, clinics, training days and working bees.
She is just as willing to help on the ground, whether that means setting up equipment, packing away after rallies or helping prepare the grounds for major events.
Together with her pony Harry, Marli has enjoyed an excellent year in competition. She was a member of the 2026 Victorian State Champion Grade 4 Dressage Team and was also named Overall Grade 4 Champion at her Zone Dressage Qualifiers.
She has achieved her D* Certificate and continues to build her skills and knowledge through the Pony Club syllabus.
Harry is an older pony, and Marli’s nomination particularly highlights the maturity she shows in managing his needs. At the State Championships, she could regularly be found taking him for grazing walks, cleaning his stable and making sure he had plenty of food and fresh water.
She carefully considers what Harry is capable of and balances her competitive goals with his wellbeing, ensuring he is never overfaced or overworked.
Marli is also a keen supporter of her fellow members. At one competition, she ran around the entire cross country course cheering on other riders from her club, capturing the enthusiasm and generosity that have made her such a valued member of Riddells Creek.
Eleanor Crocker
Hall Pony Club, NSW
Eleanor Crocker is a familiar face at Hall Pony Club rallies, whether she has a horse to ride or not.
A committed club member, she regularly helps set up equipment, supports her friends and clubmates, and enthusiastically takes part in local Pony Club events.
In May this year, Eleanor attended her first Pony Club NSW State event at the State Combined Training and One Day Event Championships, where she produced personal-best dressage tests on both of her horses before completing clear showjumping and cross country rounds.
She went on to win the Under 13 C Grade One Day Event with Halo and place third in the Under 13 D Grade with Monty.
Eleanor has already completed her E, D and C Pony Club proficiency certificates.
Her nomination also highlights the strong connection she has developed with her mare. By spending time together away from riding, including teaching her tricks and simply enjoying one another’s company, Eleanor found their trust and connection began to translate into better work under saddle as well.
She takes pride in presenting and caring for her horses well and demonstrates that building a successful partnership can happen just as much on the ground as it does in the arena.
Charlotte Collins
Cobbitty Pony Club, NSW
Charlotte Collins has enjoyed an exceptional year across Pony Club, eventing, dressage, showjumping, vaulting and interschool competition, but her nomination also paints the picture of a young rider who puts a great deal back into her club.
An active member of Cobbitty Pony Club, Charlotte loves rally days and competitions and takes responsibility for preparing and caring for her ponies herself.
She is also particularly generous with younger riders. At one rally, Charlotte chose not to ride so she could stay with a nervous member, encouraging her and explaining the gymkhana classes. At other events, she has helped younger riders prepare for their classes and even made show bags containing handwritten inspirational notes.
Among her major achievements over the past year, Charlotte was the Pony Club NSW State Under 13 D Grade One Day Event Champion, placed fourth in the Under 13 E Grade at the same championships, and has won and placed at numerous gymkhanas, shows and interschool competitions.
She has also been selected for Pony Club teams including the Zone 10 Mounted Games team and Pony Club Australia’s International Virtual Dressage team.
Outside Pony Club, Charlotte has achieved high-level results in eventing and vaulting, including Reserve Australian Champion honours at the 2025 Australian Vaulting Championships.
Her care for her ponies is equally important to her. Charlotte received Cobbitty Pony Club’s Allrounder and Horsemanship Awards in 2025 and takes an active role in their feeding, fitness, recovery and general wellbeing.
Her nomination describes a rider who competes hard, but who is equally happy cheering on others, helping younger members and making sure her ponies are happy and comfortable.
Lucy Archer
Midlands Pony Club, Tasmania
At just 11 years old, Lucy Archer has already established herself as one of Midlands Pony Club’s most committed members.
Lucy has been part of the club since she was old enough to join at six and rarely misses a rally. Over the past 12 months she attended eight of ten rallies as well as the club’s two-day annual camp.
Even injury has not kept her away.
After breaking her arm shortly before Tasmania’s State Dressage and Showjumping Championships, Lucy still attended the event and spent the weekend strapping for her fellow club riders. Fresh out of plaster, she then attended the following rally on foot to help coaches and riders.
Her riding has progressed considerably over the past year. Lucy has gone from jumping 50cm courses to successfully completing her first 90cm rounds and has developed the confidence to ride two preliminary dressage tests in a day.
She has also begun eventing with a horse that had previously played polocrosse, patiently introducing the horse to jumping and cross country while working through some challenging moments along the way.
Lucy has developed strong partnerships with both Poppy and Indi and is described as highly attentive to their wellbeing. She checks their legs, picks out their feet before riding and travelling, and takes their daily care seriously.
Whether competing, helping at a rally, cleaning paddocks at a State event or supporting a fellow member from the sidelines, Lucy is happiest when she is involved in Pony Club.
The 2026 Best Achievement by a Rider aged 12 years and under Award is proudly sponsored by VIPA Body Protector Vests.
The winner will be announced during the 2026 Pony Club Australia Annual Awards Virtual Presentation on Thursday, 22 October.
