Lockleigh Park Endurance win Aayan Dubai Endurance Challenge

You need passion, dedication, motivation and a good attitude to be a top endurance rider,
and of course, a good horse helps too!

And that’s exactly what I had. Lockleigh Park Sparks Afire - Sire Chaswyck Ebnee and Dam Silvermine Eclipse. An 8 year old chestnut mare that certainly lives up to her name! Sparky (as we call her) was born on our property and was never going to be an endurance horse, until someone suggested we break her in and get her going. After many successful rides and many wins – Sparky was definitely one of a kind. After successfully completing the Tom Quilty Gold Cup in Queensland in June this year and obtaining 4th Junior we prepared for the Aayan Dubai 120km Challenge held in Scottsdale and ran by the NEEC. Six weeks prior to the ride my brother, Bradley Hill, kindly offered me his horse to ride – and he was to ride our grey gelding ‘The Hobbit.’ I had never ridden Sparky before but had been around her long enough to know she wasn’t the easiest or quietest horse to ride. But, as we made our way out the gates at 5:30am on the 14th of September at the Aayan Dubai Challenge I knew I was in for a good ride! The course consisted of 3x40 kilometre loops – which were all ran on the same track, and the ride was ran under normal AERA vetting. My brother and I, alongside Heather Johnson were first across the line after the first loop in just under 2 hours. After vetting, with the all clear we all headed out on the second loop. At this stage there were a few vet outs and we led the ride throughout the second leg with no one in sight. I couldn’t of asked anymore from my horse, she was on fire! As we neared the finish line of the second loop, the weather was starting to warm up. We crossed the line coming off the second loop in just over 2 hours. The strapping was done quickly and the horses were ready to vet. With the all clear once again my brother and I then set off onto the third and final loop of the 120 kilometre ride.

Shannon Hill and Lockleigh Park Sparks Afire

Our horses were still full of energy and we still leading the pack. Unfortunately at the 105 kilometre mark my brother horses could no longer continue – blood tests later revealed he had a virus, so I was to continue without him. Sparky didn’t care about this decision, as all she wanted to do was run! Approaching the finish line I think Sparky was happy to be back after running the same track 3 times! We took our time strapping and gave Sparky a well deserved feed.

As we headed over to the vet ring the nerves set in. With a perfect heart rate it was time for the trot out – the thing I hated most! But, with the all clear we had passed the final vet check. Achieving line honours, and 1st middleweight. What made my day was when vet, Pat Hodgetts, personally told me how amazing my horse looked. Not very often d you hear that from a vet, after just completing 120 kilometres in a record time of 6 hours and 38 minutes,

Best conditioned was on the Sunday – and Sparky looked a million dollars! She was so fired up she could of done it all again. We then went on to win best conditioned middleweight horse and were informed we’d won by over an hour! The victorious performance itself is merely the demonstration of Sparky’s championship character. I cannot thank my family enough! My step-father, Noel Lockhart, who is the farrier and masseur to all our horses, my mum, Alison Lockhart for her feeding and training program, and my brother, Bradley Hill, for the lend of his horse – Lockleigh Park Sparks Afire.

I would also like to acknowledge and thank our sponsor – Equitec, for the products they provide us with – as my horse ran amazing, looked amazing and felt amazing throughout the entire ride!

Bradley Hill and The Hobbit

RESULTS 120.0KM Endurance 40.0KM Training Ride 20.0KM Introductory Ride