Celebrating 80 years of Pony Club NSW in 2026!
🌟 Elyse Sidarous
Meet nine-year-old Elyse Sidarous from Sun Valley Pony Club in Zone 19, our September Rider of the Month!
Elyse may have only been riding for two years, but she has already packed plenty into her Pony Club journey — from dressage and showjumping to international virtual competitions, Zone events and plenty of special moments with her much-loved pony, Oreo.
🐴 Meet Oreo
Elyse’s favourite pony is her beautiful 10.2hh paint Shetland, Oreo.
At 21 years young, Oreo might be small in size, but according to Elyse, he has one very big personality!
“Oreo is very gentle and loving, and he has been such a special part of my riding journey. He has taught me so much about riding, caring for horses and, most importantly, trust.”
When Elyse first started riding, Oreo helped her learn the basics and slowly build her confidence. After just over a year together, Elyse progressed to riding him off lead.
Oreo has also become braver along the way, learning not to worry about things such as flags, mugs and other potentially spooky objects.
Together, the pair enjoy dressage, sporting and showjumping, although Oreo also has one particular talent that doesn’t require any training at all — finding grass!
“He always tries to sneak little bites of grass whenever he gets the chance!”
🏆 Plenty to Celebrate
Elyse has already achieved some fantastic results with Oreo and her other equine partner, Rose.
Some of her recent achievements include:
Not bad for someone who has only been riding for two years!
💛 The Pony Who Started It All
For Elyse, though, the ribbons and results are only one part of what makes riding special.
One of her most treasured memories is simply the journey she and Oreo have shared.
“When I first started riding, I was still learning so much, and Oreo was the perfect pony to teach me. He was patient with me, even when I wasn’t sure what I was doing, and slowly we built trust and confidence together.”
Like many young riders, Elyse remembers feeling nervous before competitions, but Oreo has always helped her settle.
“Once I was on Oreo, I felt like we could do it together. He always seemed to know when I was nervous and would help me feel calm.”
Their journey has included Sun Valley Pony Club rally days, Zone 19 events, gymkhanas, competitions and lessons with Shayna and Kaylee Jordaan.
Elyse is also learning aboard her mum’s 13.3hh Arabian mare, Rose, helping her continue developing her riding skills.
“Oreo has taught me that being a good rider isn’t just about winning ribbons. It is about building a relationship with your horse, trusting each other and enjoying every moment together.”
And no matter where her riding takes her in the future, Elyse says Oreo will always be incredibly special.
“Oreo will always be the pony who started it all for me.”
⭐ Quick Questions with Elyse
Favourite discipline: Dressage and Showjumping
Pony, Galloway or Hack? Pony!
Favourite animal: Horse
Favourite food: Plain pasta with cheese
Favourite movie: Unicorn Academy
What do you want to be when you grow up? A dancer or a builder like Dad.
When she isn’t riding, Elyse loves swimming, bike riding, dance lessons, athletics, soccer, futsal, reading and spending time with her friends.
💙 Who Inspires Elyse?
For Elyse, inspiration is close to home.
She looks up to the riders and instructors at Sun Valley Pony Club, describing them as supportive, amazing to watch and always willing to help her become a better rider.
That wonderful Pony Club community, combined with a very special little pony called Oreo, is helping this young rider build confidence, develop new skills and create memories that will last a lifetime.
Congratulations Elyse on being named our September Rider of the Month, you have won a free subscription from our sponsor HorseWyse Magazine! 🌟🐴
