By Natasha Fujimoto
MADDY Tracy is an extraordinary young woman, full of self-composure and passion for her sport.
An equestrian since the age of eight, Maddy has won a plethora of awards in different breed groups in pony shows across Victoria including a first (led) and second (child’s mount) at the Victorian Agricultural Society (VAS) as well as a second at the Canberra Royal.
With a swag of supreme titles under her belt as well, Maddy has set her sights on a win when she returns to next year’s Canberra Royal in February with her exquisite and much-loved pony, Birchwood Enchantress, or Ivy, as she is more affectionately known.
When asked what she hoped to achieve in Canberra, the ever-graceful Maddy said, “I would love to at least win a first and if I win a first maybe a championship too, but also a win for me is more about being happy with how Ivy’s gone, if she’s behaved and is, well, perfect.”
The partnership between Maddy and Ivy is a credit to both, and is evidence of much hard work, training and trust resulting in a sporting prowess that is both breathtaking and elegant to watch.
As with all sporting achievement, however, the recipe for Maddy and Ivy’s success comes with a full itinerary of skill development and practice as Maddy said, “In the lead up to a big competition, I get a few extra lessons beforehand to make sure everything is perfect.
“I ride two to three times a week at least and if I’m not riding, I do lunging with Ivy for extra exercise.”
If a horse is a mirror to the rider’s soul, then it is not hard to see why the partnership between Maddy and Ivy is such a successful one because not only do they share an intuitive understanding of each other they also exude a gentle dignity which perfectly complements their steely determination to succeed.
