New friendships and connections aren’t the only things that Camryn Young brought back from her “experience of a lifetime” in South America this month.
The 15-year-old showjumper also brought back two awards and a placing when she competed in three classes over three days at Sol de Mayo 2* International as part of the Global Amateur Tour in Argentina.
Dubbed the Top Foreign Rider, securing the Best Style Award and placing fifth in the 1.10m class, Camryn told The Profile: “I was really shocked, but really proud of myself”.
“It was a very big atmosphere and there [were] lots of people.
“It brings you all together so it was not too different from what it’s like at home.”
With 50 people in her age category, the Hauraki Plains College student said she “rode with an open mind” and did everything she needed to achieve her goals. One thing Camryn said she learnt from the experience was that she needed to believe in herself.
“I am more than capable of achieving results in my riding.”
The Global Amateur Tour gives amateaur horse riders the opportunity to feel what it’s like to compete internationally and unites them with riders from all over the world.
“You meet so many different people, and ride these incredible horses,” she said.
“[It’s] unbelievable to travel so far and achieve so much on a horse that I had only just met and ridden three times before the comp.”
It was love at first sight with her beautiful teammate CT Saul, Camryn said.
“I wished I could take him home.”
Camryn didn’t need to learn any Spanish to communicate with her pal CT Saul.
“When you’re on the horse, it’s not the word itself – it’s the way you say it.
“It’s a bit of horse language.”
A quick “get up” or a cluck could make the horse go a bit faster, or saying something slowly could do the trick to slow it down, she said.
Camryn said the whole experience helped her build relationships and make some really good friendships. There were 18 people in her tour group, which included riders from New Zealand, Australia, Namibia and “all over the world”.
Camryn became good friends with one of the Australian riders and was invited to fly over and stay with her family for a couple of weeks.
“I met some super successful people that have opened up doors for me to travel,” she said.
And now she has those connections in Argentina: “I can go back there whenever I like”.
