Tanya Matheson gave up dancing and ice-skating and starting showing horses 10 years ago.

“I had a pony for a few years and my first horse was a purebred Arabian and he won numerous events and was very successful,” Tanya said.

“I then got associated with people who bred horses and I bought a colt a few years ago and won at the Sydney Royal two years in a row.

“One of his foals is our main brood mare and is the mother of the foal I am now showing.”

Tanya is currently showing two horses – a mare Inshallah Request and the foal Monarch Lodge Just Magic.

Most shows are based in Sydney and in November last year Tanya competed at the Arabian nationals and won champion ridden purebred mare and show hunter purebred Arabian with Inshallah, or Roxie as she is affectionately known.

“I am just starting out with Just Magic and to date he has been placing in all competitions,” Tanya said.

“The East Coast championships were held at the end of January and Roxie was in the top five for both ridden purebred mare and show hunter as well as a finalist for the East Coast Cup.

“Roxie is an English bred Arabian and there are often special shows just for this breed.

“Last year she won supreme ridden pure crabbet (the oldest line of the English breed) at two of the special shows last year and also took out the Silver Elysium Award.”

While Tanya has had nearly six years off from showing due to children and work commitments, she is now focused on getting the best out of her horses.

“The ribbons are nice but it’s all about what you ask the horses to do for you,” she said.

“To train them and then go to a show and they do what you ask is very rewarding.

“We handpick the shows we go to as we don’t want to overwork them and they go sour.

“We will get the pony broken in so he can work under saddle and then do a few more shows and hopefully qualify for the Sydney Royal next year.”