Serpentine Jarrahdale’s thriving equine community is a key pillar of the area’s past, present and future.
Horse owners, trainers, breeders and general equine enthusiasts alike contribute to the Shire’s significant equine community.
The Shire of Serpentine Jarrahdale recently profiled some of the people involved in their local equine community to learn more about their passion for horses.
Jaye Barnesby-Buie
For Jaye Barnesby-Buie, horses have been an important part of her life journey.
Jaye faced several challenges in the early stages her life, where she was deaf until the age of four and diagnosed with autism at the age of six.
Introduced to horses as a therapy, her relationship with horses has blossomed into a beloved sport that she now competes at a national level.
Jaye says she was introduced to horses with regular visits to her aunt’s property in Darling Downs where she made sure to do all the carrot rounds feeding the horses.
From here, Jaye’s mum enrolled her in the Claremont Therapeutic Riding Centre. She was then able to start competing and progressed to Riding for the Disabled and Special Olympics competitions at a national level with medal placings in almost all of her classes at the 2018 Special Olympics Australia National Games in Adelaide.
Jaye has also been a semi-finalist in the WA Young Achievers Surge Fitness Sports Award.
Emma Cumming
Growing up on a large property in Cardup, Emma Cumming has been surrounded by horses her entire life.
Supported by her mum, Wendy, who herself is an experienced rider, Emma is involved with dressage and jumping and is a successful competitor having achieved significant milestones such as qualifying for the WA Interschools Team eight years in a row, and competing and placing at numerous competitions at a national level.
Emma is also a successful horse trainer and finds great reward in building relationships with inexperienced horses.
As a disability support worker, Emma says that working with horses has allowed her to unwind from the stresses of her job and develop important skills that have translated into other areas of her life.
She is proud to be part of the active SJ equine community and promotes the Serpentine Horse and Pony Club as a great place for young riders.
Crissy Coletta
For Darling Downs resident Crissy Coletta, it has been a childhood dream to be a horse owner.
Her first experience with horses was meeting them in Lipica, Yugoslavia, as a child where the well-known breed of Lipizzaner horses were bred.
After emigrating to Australia, she discovered a love of trail riding as a teenager and this is where her dream started to become a reality.
Taking a break from the industry to raise her family, Crissy moved to Darling Downs and soon returned to her passion for horses.
Crissy is now president of Southern Districts Working Equitation, a riding club based on classical principles of training dressage with obstacles and she is also currently studying to become a coach.
Coco Mitchell
Darling Downs teenager Coco Mitchell started horse-riding at 10 years old after asking her mum, Paula, if she could take lessons. A horse rider herself, Paula agreed and Coco hasn’t looked back.
She has achieved some significant milestones so far having won the 2020 State Tetrathlon and competing in show-jumping and eventing.
Coco says that being involved in the SJ equine community has helped her develop great relationships, but she also values the relaxing and peaceful state of mind she finds when spending time with her horses.
She often finds herself heading out for a ride as a way to put a bad day in the rear view. Coco says there are many benefits in horse riding such as making great friends and travelling to new places for competitions.