By Casey OÇonnor
Keely Gilbert is a young girl clearly addicted to horse-power of the equine variety. The 10-year-old from Glen Aplin, who has been riding since she was four, has begun the 2023 pony club, show circuit, barrel racing and Campdrafting season with a bang .
Keely is possessed with great natural talent and has lofty ambitions to continue to the pinnacle of her chosen sport.
Her parents, Emily and Nick are unsure where their daughter’s passion and ability comes from.
Both parents rode as kids but not competitively.
This young girl is obviously possessed with great natural talent and has lofty ambitions to continue to the pinnacle of her chosen sport.
Keely success without any professional training according to mother Emily.
“Her Dad Nick and I are her trainers,” she explained.
“It can be a bit like flying by the seat of your pants or jodhpurs might be a more appropriate description.
“As Keely parents Nick and I are super proud of all her achievements.
“She has the determination and persistence to go a long way with her riding.
“To keep her inside and her bum out of the saddle is a job in itself.”
Keely’s love affair with horses began as a four-year-old with a little chestnut Shetland pony and it’s been all about horses since.
There have been several special horses since then.
When she outgrew the Shetland there was Ariel, a naughty little white pony who Emily said “definitely taught her how to ride and quickly became a favourite as she began to compete in pony club events”,
She progressed to competing on her mother’s old horse Jimmy and she made her debut in Campdraft riding him.
She also made her first Pony club state championship in Goondiwindi on Jimmy at the end of the 2021 season and received the horsemanship award for Stanthorpe pony club that year.
As her riding career progressed Keely began competing on Misty, an experienced chestnut mare who had been there done that.
She rode Misty in Campdraft and barrel racing events consistently winning or placing in almost every comepitition.
Keely and the family were devastated when Misty was diagnosed with cancer and could no longer be ridden.
“It put a stop to competition, with the mare sent to the paddock to live her best life while still being loved and cared for by Keelz,” Emily said.
The family bought Keely a green young 14.2h mare Princess “aka Whip Lash” her registered name.
She proved to be a handful however Keely with confidence in the saddle and determined to get to the top, persisted. Determined to bring this wilful sassy youngster horse into comepitition.
“We probably should have kept her name to her registered name “Whip Lash,” Emily laughed.
Keely’s first barrel race with Princess did not go entirely to plan. Princess kicked Keely, knocking her out.
Emily said If there could be a silver lining to such an incident, it was that she was about to have her run and was wearing her helmet and was not seriously injured.
It was a dreadful experience for her parents and not one they can forget.
After spending a few hours in hospital Keely was amazingly given the all-clear and was permitted to ride in the draft the next day at Weengallon , the home of her great grandparents and her biggest fans Shirley and Barry Gilbert.
“It is Shirley’s saddle that Keely proudly uses in competitions most weekends,” her mother explained.
In 2022 Keely competed almost every weekend travelling with her family to campdrafts, rodeos, gymkhanas and shows. The ribbons and trophies came thick and fast.
Keely and Princess made it to state championship in Kilcoy, and although they won their Presentation, Princess had different ideas about the competition and it was soon evident to Keely that her horse was very much in need of a break.
In 2022 Keely won the Glen Aplin State School Sports Award for her achievements in her horse riding and athletics at school .She was also presented with the rising star trophy from the Stanthorpe Pony Club.
With Princess spelling, Keely and her family were offered the lease on an experienced and beautiful horse Maggie.
To date it has been a perfect match, and 2023 is shaping up to be another great year for the youngster. Keely has begun competing on Maggie and is enjoying great success.
It began with a Campdraft win at Tenterfield.
More recently Keeley, riding Maggie, won Supreme Champion Local hack and Supreme Champion Local Girl Rider at the Stanthorpe Show.
In the Bling and Barrels Summer Series the horse and rider were champions in Division Two. Keely also had success in other divisions on Princess and her mother’s horse Zippy.
