Imagine winning one of the biggest pony showjumping competitions in South Africa. Now imagine your dad winning the Grand Prix the next day. AND your sister winning her class too. That’s exactly what happened to Oliver Neill at the Toyota Easter Festival!
Oliver and his superstar pony My Irish Boy (everyone calls him Laddie) jumped an incredible triple clear to win the Toyota Pony Rider Outdoor Grand Prix. That means no faults in three tough rounds – absolutely amazing!
We chatted to Oliver about his epic win, what makes Laddie so special, and what it felt like to share the win with his whole family!
HQ Pony: Congratulations on winning the Toyota Pony Rider Outdoor Grand Prix! Can you tell us how you felt when you knew you’d won?
Oliver: I didn’t know that I had won when I finished my jump off, as there were 2 very competitive riders still to come, but I was over the moon with a triple clear!
HQPony: Had you ever imagined winning the Pony Rider Grand Prix at Easter Festival? What does this win mean to you?
Oliver: I have always wanted to win this prestigious title and I was definitely a goal of mine, but the feeling of winning it with so much support from everyone felt better than I could have dreamed.
HQPony: Can you describe your rounds? Were there any tricky moments, or did everything go to plan?
Oliver: I think there were definitely some tricky moments. The 334 double was particularly hard to ride and the last fence in the jump off, where I had to risk it with the first stride that I saw. But Laddie was INCREDIBLE and gave it his all.
HQPony: The course was big and technical. What was the most challenging part or jump, in your opinion?
Oliver: The first round was easier than the second round, which was big! The Winx oxer was particularly big, and the 334 double caught a lot of people out. The jump off was exciting as we had some difficult turn backs and a gallop to the last, which all made it technical but really fun!
HQPony: Tell us all about My Irish Boy. How did you find him, and how long have you two been partners?
Oliver: My Irish Boy, aka Laddie, is owned by Jade Anderson and Charley Barford, who told my mom that he was looking for a lease rider back in May 2023. My mom approached Sandra Anderson, and we tried Laddie out, and he was the best pony I had ever sat on. I feel so lucky to ride him, and he is my best friend.
HQPony: What’s his personality like? Does he have any quirks?
Oliver: Laddie has the BIGGEST personality!! He is very funny, he will do anything for a carrot and has a party trick where he shows off by eating the biggest carrot there is in the fridge in one go. He absolutely loves to be at a show and in the arena, he is truly magical and I’m so lucky to be able to ride him.
HQPony: What makes him such a good showjumper? Is there something special about the way he jumps?
Oliver: Laddie gets very pumped up especially in the Bob Charter. He is so intelligent, he knows when he is plaited that it’s the big day, and I can feel him fighting for it as much as I am. He is scopey and careful and super competitive. When we go for a hack, Laddie hates to be at the back; he loves to win even if it’s a walking race 😂!
HQPony: How do you prepare him for a big show like Easter Festival?
Oliver: Usually we jump a gymnastic the week of the show and a course about five days before the show. Other than that, I try to give Laddie lots of different types of work without jumping. I trot him out on the track, work him on the grass arena and take him for a gallop once a week.
HQPony: Who is your coach, and how did they help you prepare for the show?
Oliver: Joanne van Achterbergh from Kincardine Equestrian is my coach. Jo has been with me since my first ride on Laddie, and we have been together for three years now. Jo helps to keep me calm and focused. She gives me a plan, and I try to stick to it. My mom and dad help me to plan my training and work schedule with Jo.
HQPony: Tell us about your other ponies.
Oliver: I have two other ponies and one horse. I am very lucky to ride for the 334 Stud, on their super young pony stallion called 334 Expelliarmus. We have been to two small shows, and I’m enjoying producing such an amazing pony. I also have a pony called Sillogue Tally who is a 15 year old Connemara who is my mom’s third child 😂. Tally is a real gentleman, and he’s as safe as houses as well as being scopey and brave. Tally loves the Derby stuff, so I can’t wait for Derby on him later this year. I have a Junior horse that my parents bought for me at the end of last year. He is a 16-year-old OTTB called I am Will, and he is teaching me the ropes of how to ride a horse. We will just take it slowly with him as I start to ride in a few Junior classes.
HQPonyMag: Your dad won the Grand Prix, and your sister Sarah won the 1m Championship – all on the same weekend! What was that like?
Oliver: Truly unbelievable!! It was a dream come true for us all, and I am SO proud of my family!
HQPonyMag: What have been the proudest moments of your horse-riding career so far?
Oliver: Winning the Indoor GP last year, jumping a triple clear in the PR SA Champs last year, as well as coming 2nd and 3rd in the SA Derby last year. This win of the Outdoor GP was the biggest win for me by far though!
HQPonyMag: What are your goals for the rest of the season?
Oliver: I would like to try and make the 1.10m PR Gauteng Team on Tally; I would like to ride well at SA Champs and try and get a triple clear again, and then obviously Derby is my favourite show of the year, so I’m excited for that!
HQPonyMag: What are your big dreams for the future?
Oliver: I would like to ride overseas – that’s my long-term goal, but my biggest dream is to one day win the SA Derby.
HQPonyMag: Is there anyone you’d like us to thank for you in the magazine?
Oliver: My parents, my coach Jo, my mentor and groom, Thomas Mcoco, everyone at home who helps keep Laddie so happy and healthy, Toyota for the incredible sponsorship, Jade Anderson for allowing me to lease Laddie, and of course, Laddie!!
Wrap-up
What an incredible story! And the best part? Oliver’s just getting started!
With the SA Derby coming up (Oliver’s favourite show of the year!), plus dreams of riding overseas one day, we know we’ll be seeing a lot more of Olly in the future.
So next time you’re at a show, remember Oliver’s story: what matters is the partnership you build and the hard work you put in!
Oh, and maybe keep some extra-large carrots handy if you want to be friends with Laddie! 🥕
Huge congratulations, Oliver; you’re officially the Toyota Pony Rider Outdoor Grand Prix Champion, and we’re SO proud of you!
