Top equestrian rider just loves her horses

A good heart and genuine passion for riding horses have helped Daniella Machiné achieve unparalleled success in equestrian sports last year, and will likely empower her to realise her dream of becoming a professional rider.

Machiné is the South African junior working hunter supreme champion, and the 18-year-old can also boast top spots in the individual as well as team divisions at the Eventing SA Junior Open Championships, and 1m eventing at the finals at South African National Equestrian Schools Association Nationals.

But Machiné has no intention of stopping there.

Matriculating this year, the Centurion resident who trains at Northern Farm and Inanda Country Base plans to take a gap year to focus on her riding, before studying education and business the year after.

“When you talk about Daniella’s strengths, you realise they are not only on horseback,” said her proud coach, Chad Cunningham.

“She has an unbelievable work ethic and resilience, but she is also kind and humble, which is also why she is so good at competitions.”

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He explained that while it was in his student’s nature to encourage and console her competitors, it was this same character that helped her push herself to new limits.

As expected, when asked about riding, Machiné talks more about her horses and the adventure of eventing than about herself.

“The best thing about riding is being able to connect with a strong and powerful animal. This is not just a job,” she smiled.

“I compete in other disciplines but eventing is the best because of the adrenaline rush. The jumps you do are solid, they are not poles that will fall if your horse bumps them. You have to trust in your horse to make the jump.”

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Machiné rides three horses. Iron Ruler is a 22-year-old Zimbabwean thoroughbred. Despite his age, Ruler is a top show jumper who has carried Machiné over jumps higher than ever before. He is her favourite horse and he loves shows and loves Machiné to pieces. He is known as Madiba at some stables.

Capital Carrera and Just Evangelic are her other horses.

Machiné’s goal next year is to earn a two-star rating with the Fédération Equestre Internationale so she will have more recognition when she one day competes in Europe.

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