TALENTED show jumper Kristy Bruhn has proved the apple does not fall far from the tree, continuing her family’s long-standing horse riding tradition.
Based in Mil-Lel, Ms Bruhn said she had grown-up around horses since birth, first involved in the Mil Lel Show topsy ring at 18-months-old.
“My great-grandmother Vene Campbell and grandmother Jean Drury were pioneers of their time and achieved some great things,” Ms Bruhn said.
“Horse riding runs in the family and has become a family tradition.”
Ms Bruhn has stepped up as this year’s Mil Lel Show show jumping course builder and had some exciting things planned.
“We want anybody and everybody who can jump a horse at this year’s event,” she said.
“I think the Mil Lel Show is an amazing event which truly brings the community together.
“It is a great place to mingle, spend time with your horses and catch up with people.”
Ms Bruhn said she planned to enter young horse Splash who was just starting his show jumping career.
“Over my 30 years of event involvement I have definitely seen all parts of the show progress, with more rings catering for different horse levels and more family-oriented activities available,” she said.
“This year’s showjumping will be based the way it has been over the past couple of years.
“At the 2018 event we debuted a purpose-built show jump arena, but we have had more time to consolidate this year so it should run smoothly.”
In a recent interview with the Royal Agricultural and Horticultural Society of South Australia, Ms Bruhn said she loved show jumping because it was simple and fair.
“If you have the fastest time, you win and no part of the judging is based on opinion,” she said.
“I have competed in a few different horse sports over my time but show jumping was my favourite.
“I began to concentrate on it in my early teens.”
Ms Bruhn has had a string of accomplishments over her lifetime winning the South Australian state championships four times, multiple grand prix class titles, a world cup qualifier and an Australian speed title.
“I am just a competitive person and I like to win,” she said.
“I have been lucky over my years and have had a clean slate free from any major injuries.
“I think the greatest accomplishment is when you watch the horse you produce move all the way up to the championship level.”
Ms Bruhn said she would like to keep riding as a hobby and would never want to rely on horses as a full-time career.
Ms Bruhn also competed at this year’s Royal Adelaide Show with three horses including Jack, who competed at the highest level and the worldcup qualifier and James Bentley and Blackall Park Chopin, which are both young horses.
The Mil Lel Show starts at 8.30am on October 12.
