Showjumping is her first love
This local equestrian is proud of her babies that took her through these wins.
Sunny Park Stables owner Nicola Sime Riley (44) began riding at the age of five, since claiming titles all over South Africa for showjumping.
“My mum used to stop on the side of the road so we could pet horses,” she explained.
“The Old Benoni Riding Centre, Pats Paddock, is where I started once a week. My mum never thought we would do what we are doing now, and she always thought we would do it for fun.
“As a junior I moved to a stable in the Petit area, where we now live. The instructor saw I could ride. I was always determined and knew what I wanted to do, so I also taught myself a lot by reading books on how to teach the horses. Then when I was 14 we got our first pony, Foxy, who was an absolute madam and loved me to bits but attacked everyone else.”
By 16 years old, Riley had outgrown her pony and now needed a horse.
“My mum had only bought Foxy for fun, not to ride competitively,” she said.
“So mum and dad helped me buy a horse, and I would waitress as well to pay for the horse. I wasn’t really having lessons at this point and had only competed rarely. Then we moved back this side of town (Benoni) and we got going. My whole life I had young horses, you just get them going but then sell because they reach their limit.
“Most people have horses as pets. Don’t get me wrong, mine are my babies and I love them to bits, but I also need them to pull their weight, you know. They also have to do a job, they are an expensive animal to keep.”
Riley worked hard through the years to get where she is today, working half day for British Airways Cargo, waitressing in the evenings and teaching horse riding in the afternoons.
In 2003 she opened her very own stables, the Sunny Park Stables.
“I made a friend called Nikki Perry. We started running a business together when I left Copperfields, we ran it for seven years. She got to the point of wanting to stop running her own yard, so when I built stables, we moved her yard to ours.
“She sold her plot and then I grew my business. I came with 20 horses, now I have 70,” she said.
Riley not only has her own stables, but she is also one of the most well-known riders in Benoni for racking up achievements left, right and centre.
“I will never forget my win at the Indoor Grand Prix in 2016, which doesn’t take place anymore. I won a medal and thought it was the only one I would get. At that stage, it was called the SANEF medal but now it is a showjumping first place,” she explained.
“I also fondly remember winning the 2017 President’s Cup, as well as the one in 2018. It was just amazing. At that stage, no other rides had won it twice, until I did.”
This local equestrian is proud of her ‘babies’ that took her through these wins.
Sharp Colt: a spunky little THB
“This was my first horse that jumped into the 150s. He had a colic op when I was six months pregnant and shortly after he won the Indoor Grand Prix, the following year President’s Cup and again the following year. He actually broke his leg falling over a 1m paddock fence. We had to put him down. Horses’ legs shatter when they break and you can’t say let’s go on a crutch. It broke my heart.”
Sunny Park Stables Connoisseur: a warmblood x THB stallion
“When I got him he was jumping in 1m’s. He’s jumped successfully in 1.50m/1.60m for many years and is 20 years old going on four. Con was the first horse I jumped in the derby with. He has been an outstanding horse and he has always just been keen to do his job. His successes include second place in the SA champs and derby, as well as winning the SA Outdoor Grand Prix.”
Sunny Park Stables Elpaso
“He came to me as a narrow little ‘squib’, while he was walking out the box I was unsure but gave him the chance. I had one of my students jump on him and give him a ride around the arena, he couldn’t even go in a straight line. I decided to take a chance on him. Once he was up in the big classes he began to show some super jumping. He went on to win every title there is to win except for the President’s Cup in which we placed second. He has just retired at the derby this year and will go on to be happy and loved for the remainder of his years here.”
Sunny Park Stables Insaghi: an imported Belgian stallion
“This horse came to me to be sold, he wasn’t thought to be good enough by most. I loved him from the start when Ronelle Gilbert first showed me a video of him jumping. Long story short, I rode him, fell in love and my wonderful hubby Jason said let’s buy him. He won President’s Cup last year and this year, as well as the South African Championships earlier on this year.”
Riley is the only rider to have accumulated four wins of the President’s Cup and continues to ride, teach and run her stables daily.
“This was a huge achievement for me on its own because you carry your penalties through the whole show of the President’s Cup, so to have won four times is just wow.”
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