Ruby Thomas. Photo supplied.Ruby Thomas may not get a chance to showcase her equestrian chops in 2020, but could yet cap the season on a high.

The 14-year-old is one of seven nominees vying for the Junior Sportsperson gong at the Rakaia Sports Awards.

A date for the awards is still to be confirmed, however the nomination was particularly gratifying for the hard-working Rakaia teen.

“It felt good because it felt like I had accomplished something by being recognised,” she said.

Thomas has been riding for five years after she got her first pony at the age of nine, gradually building her proficiency as she has gone along.

“It’s gotten more competitive,” she said. “I started out showing … and then I got a new pony and started doing some dressage.

“And now I’m doing different types of jumping.”

Thomas has competed across multiple equestrian disciplines, delivering impressive results across the board.

“I like that you don’t have to pick what you do, there are different disciplines,” she said.

The competitive spirit among other equestrian riders has offered further appeal within the sport, she said.

She feels her form in eventing has been particularly satisfying and was meant to have carried this form on into Cromwell at the weekend for the annual NZPCA Eventing Champs 2020 which had subsequently been cancelled.

Earlier this year she jumped 1.10 metres on her horse Chico at the National Show Jumping Championships in Christchurch and also won one of her classes.

In 2018, she was also part of the Ashburton/South Canterbury/North Otago outfit which came third at the New Zealand Pony Club Association Dressage championship.

At the moment, she is doing her best to sharpen her skills during lockdown, running her horse through free running and free jumping sessions.

However it remains to be seen what events Thomas will be involved in for the remainder of the year in what would usually be a busy period.

Equestrian Sports NZ (ESNZ) announced on March 18 the cancellation of all ESNZ events in jumping, dressage and para-equestrian, eventing and endurance for a three-month period.

The decision was expected to be reviewed at the end of this month.

By Adam Burns © The Ashburton Guardian - 21 April 2020