From Moyhu pony club to the international stage | Ella's journey

Not being from a ‘horsey’ family, Carli set about looking for a pony she could start out on – and was lucky enough to be offered one for free.

This sparked a passion and Ella became a member of the Moyhu Pony Club, riding and practicing several times a week.

Now, at 15, Ella has moved on to a new horse, Plein Ciel, also known as Cyril.

And her years of dedication have led to her preparing to represent Australia in dressage.

Ella will compete for Australia in the Prix Caprilli section of the 2026 Pony Club International Alliance Virtual Dressage Training Challenge, which begins in June.

“I was so excited to be selected,” Ella said.

“It is an honour to represent Australia and my pony club. What an amazing opportunity.”

After putting the application in months earlier, Ella said she’d almost forgotten about it when the email came through saying she’d been selected.

“We’d put the application in and you had to do a list of your experience, your accomplishments and volunteer work,” Ella said.

Ella said she was now having extra lessons to prepare, with her coach Donald McCulloch.

“I have to make a video of me doing certain tests,” she said.

“I’ll have to jump over a 60cm jump, there's two of those jumps, and I’ll jump multiple times in different ways and at different speeds.

“Then I’ll do a test in a 40 by 60 dressage arena.

“We’ll make a video of that and send it off. Then there’ll be another one to do in September.”

Carli said, as an international event, it would be judged by international judges.

“I think there are seven countries, Hong Kong, China, United States, Britain, Canada, New Zealand and Australia,” she said.

“That’s the international alliance.”

Ella will be competing against riders from all seven and said she was slightly nervous, but looking forward to taking part and was well-prepared.

“We got Cyril last year and I did some showing with him,’’ Ella said.

“I took him to compete at the Victorian Agricultural Show Society.”

That involves competing in regional agricultural shows, to qualify for a final.

“And we had our first dressage test a couple of months ago,” Ella said.

“I’ve never completed a Prix Caprilli test before, so I’m excited to learn this new style.”

Ella said she had been fortunate to have support from many people, including great coaches at Moyhu Pony Club.

She said the club had believed in her and helped her achieve her goals of riding at a higher level in dressage.

But her biggest supporter has been her mum Carli.

“She has encouraged me in everything I have tried,” Ella said.

“I couldn’t do it without her.”