Ballarat rider Skye Rieniets will be up at 3am on Wednesday to prepare for achieving her childhood dream - taking to the saddle in the prestigious Garryowen Equestrienne Turnout at the Royal Melbourne Show.
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She'll sleep in a "locker" or stall at the showgrounds before rising well before the birds to prepare her horse Diesel (Tarrakellah Vision) and herself for the judges.
For horse "showies", winning the Garryowen is the highest achievement and this year marks the 85th year that Australia's best female riders have competed for the trophy.
Horses and riders are judged on saddlery, costume, general appearance, riding ability, manners, pace and conformation and the competition is the culmination of months, even years of preparation.
"The Garryowen has been a childhood dream - something I've always wanted to participate in but never thought I'd be lucky enough to have a horse talented enough to take me there," Ms Rieniets said.
Unlike many other competitors riding expensive or imported horses, Ms Rieneits bred Diesel, who was born at Cardigan and now lives on a stud farm north-east of Ballarat, from a local Ballarat stallion.
Diesel will turn 11 in December but it's just his third season of showing, second Royal Melbourne Show and first Garryowen competition.
"I started aiming toward this 18 months ago when my mentor thought I could potentially take this horse to the Garryowen," she said.
"He's getting ridden or worked five or six days a week and I'm fortunate enough to have friends helping me out with a lot of the preparation.
"You need to make sure all your leather and saddlery is up to standard, impeccably cleaned and meeting all the guidelines as far as competition goes...
"And as far as getting the horse ready there's all the ridden training, physical presentation as well as making sure his coat is really nice and shiny so he's groomed a couple of times a day.
"And for me to be ready I need to be fit and costume is a big thing so I've had regular fittings for my coat and I have to make sure everything is right, and there's lots of polishing."
She will be one of about 50 women competing for the prestigious trophy.
"The Garryowen has a very rich Australian history and it's an honour to know I've qualified, I've been accepted and about to compete.
I never thought I'd be lucky enough to have a horse talented enough to take me there.
- Skye Rieniets
"When I was a child, watching videos of Vicky Lawrie winning the Garryowen in pouring rain, ever since then it's something I've wanted to do ... if you work hard you can achieve your dreams."
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