Brooke Langbecker starred in the third round of the 2016 Young Rider Selection Series, winning the class at the Gympie Show and filling a further three of the next four placings.
The Young Rider Selection Series allows riders to compete with more than one horse, but only one horse may earn points for the overall leaderboard. Fortunately for Brooke she won with her nominated horse Flowervale Diamond.
Six of the 10 competitors produced two clear jumping rounds so time proved to be decisive in deciding the ultimate placings. Riding Flowervale Diamond, Langbecker rode to victory in a second round time of 46.10. Her second horse Riverside Freedom was exactly one second slower stopping the clock in 47.10.
I asked Brooke if – given her parents involvement in showjumping – she was always destined to be a showjumper?
“My parents showjumped, but I originally started off hacking and I wasn’t too keen on the jumping, and then when I turned twelve, I was a bit sick of the political side of the hacking, and we were fortunate enough to get Torchbearer from the Hamood family, and my jumping career went from there. I just fell in love with it straight away.”
How many horses are you riding right now?
“I have four competitive horses, and I also have a four year old, Yalambi Garibaldi, who seems pretty promising – he won the four-year-old style class at Elysian Fields.”
The horse that won in the Young Rider Series, Flowervale Diamond?
“He’s one of my favorites. He’s out of a pretty cool mare, I did most of my young rider classes with her.”
Do you aim to become a professional showjumping rider?
“Yeah, my goal is to go overseas and ride over there. I am going to try and do a World Cup this year, hopefully, that’s my goal, and in a few years time, go overseas. I’m riding full time at the moment, but we are moving, and after we’ve moved I’d like to do a Business Studies course as well as riding.”
What riders do you look at when you are thinking about your own style?
“I’ve always looked up at Tom McDermott, and Chris Chugg and Vicki Roycroft. Vicki has a style a bit different to Tom, but I really like everything about how they ride, and then overseas, I love Marcus Ehning – he’s lovely.”
And of course, being the professional young rider she is, Brooke, takes time to thank her sponsor – Garrads Horse and Hound.
Photo: Brooke and Flowervale Diamond, photo by Julie Wilson
Introducing the Saddleworld Rising Star
Australia’s only Rising Star – Young Rider award recognising excellence over all three Olympic disciplines. Each monthly winner will receive a prize from the Saddleworld Range. To be eligible, riders must be under 21 on January 1, 2016.
Winners will be selected for their performances at Young Rider Championships, and will also be considered for their performances in open events.
This month’s winner, Brooke Langbecker, will receive a Kentucky Half Pad Absorb valued at $269.95 and will be in the draw to win her choice of a Pessoa Heritage Pro valued at $4,295.00 or PDS Carl Hester Euro Pro Saddle valued at $4,395.00.
