Emma Booth and her new ride, Glenhill Divine Classic. Image by One Eyed Frog Photography.
When Paralympian Emma Booth began looking for her next equine partner, she wasn’t searching for something young — or a pony. Glenhill Divine Classic changed her mind on both counts, and now Emma is enjoying building a new partnership with the mare — and she’s in no rush.
“She’s a pretty special little pony,” says Emma of Glenhill Divine Classic. The mare came into Emma’s life less than 12 months ago, after a Facebook post prompted a phone call.
A long-time friend of Riley Alexander, who rides for Glenhill Sporthorses, Emma had noticed one of his Facebook posts advertising a horse for sale. On the lookout for a new horse — and aware that Glenhill was breeding and producing quality horses — Emma decided to reach out to Christan Trainor to see whether she had anything suitable for a para rider.
Glenhill Divine Classic (by Numerus Clausus out of Divine Essence) as a young Germany Riding Pony at Glenhill Sporthorses. Image by Simon Scully.
“I wasn’t expecting
to end up on a
German Riding Pony…”
“Christan got back to me straight away and asked whether I’d be small enough for a German Riding Pony,” recalls Emma. At the time, the thought of purchasing a pony hadn’t crossed her mind — but Emma was willing to explore Christan’s recommendation.
That recommendation was the five-year-old, 14.1-hand Glenhill Divine Classic – better known as ‘Peach’.
“My partner, groom and I all drove up to NSW the following week to have a test ride and just fell in love with how sweet she was. I wasn’t expecting to end up with something that young and I wasn’t expecting to end up on a German Riding Pony because I’ve just always had Warmbloods… but I was very open to the idea of being on something else.
Christan bought Glenhill Divine Classic as an embryo in utero, by Numerus Clausus out of the mare Divine Essence that Vicki Chidgey imported. Raising her from a foal to one of the country’s most successful young dressage ponies, it’s exciting to see the mare now stepping into a new role with a rider who has represented Australia on the world stage.
“Christan was nothing but wonderful to deal with as a professional in the industry. She was just everything that a professional horse person should be.”
Christan Trainor, Alison Gill and Glenhill Divine Classic at the 2024 Dressage and Jumping with the Stars, where ‘Peach’ was crowned the Young Dressage Pony Champion of Champions as a four-year-old. Image Equisoul.
PONY FOR THE FUTURE
Peach was just five years old at the time — younger than Emma had originally been looking for. However, the mare already had significant experience for her age. She was Champion Four-Year-Old Pony and Young Dressage Pony Champion of Champions at the 2024 Dressage and Jumping with the Stars, and in 2025 she was Reserve Champion Five-Year-Old Pony, alongside further success in Young Pony classes at both Sydney CDI and Willinga Park.
“The five-year-old ‘issue’ was outweighed by how sensible she was – she’d been out and about and was unfazed by competition atmosphere. She was a proven five-year-old, and it gave me a bit more confidence,” explains Emma. “The age wasn’t as much of a factor given how good her nature is and her brain. She’s just a really lovely laid-back sweetheart that is the same no matter what’s going on. She doesn’t change whether she’s out or at home.”
Emma and Peach competing at Boneo Park. Image by One Eyed Frog Photography.
Peach’s age also gave Emma something else: time.
“Given her age, I knew we could just take our time. At the time when I bought her, I had a spinal surgery coming up… so I got her and then literally a month later was unable to ride for six months.
“The FEI World Championships weren’t really a priority for this year… and it now means we can just slowly, potentially, work towards the LA Paralympics in 2028. And at that point she’ll be an eight-year-old,” notes Emma, who has represented Australia previously at the 2016 Rio Paralympics and 2021 Tokyo Paralympics with the very special Mogelvangs Zidane.
By the Brisbane Paralympics in 2032, Peach will still only be 12 years old.
“I’ve tried a couple of times to do a quick campaign. Before the FEI World Championships in 2022 [where Emma represented Australia with Maree Tomkinson’s Furst Deluxe], and before the Paris Paralympics in 2024… Paris didn’t pan out as we’d hoped.
“With this one, we can just pump the brakes a little bit and actually play the slow game, which I’m not very good at doing, but it’s that transition period for me where it feels okay to just take the time with a young horse that’s really looking like she’s going to pay off in the future.”
Emma and Peach on their way to winning all three CPEDI2* Grade III tests at the recent Leader Equine Dressage Spectacular CPEDI. Image by One Eyed Frog Photography.
DOWN IN SIZE, UP IN FEEL
Moving from a Warmblood to a German Riding Pony has meant a noticeable difference in size, but Emma says it isn’t as apparent in the saddle.
“Even though she’s 14.2 hands, she’s still quite a solid build; you still feel like you’ve got a bit of neck and shoulder in front of you. She’s got good paces, and she carries you in a similar feeling to a horse… it doesn’t feel choppy or little like a pony.
“When I’ve got her in a really nice frame and a good contact and she’s travelling, she kind of sucks me into the saddle in a way that I’ve had a lot of people comment that I actually look like I’m not leaning as far back on her, compared to some of the other horses that I’ve ridden. So that’s a benefit, I suppose, that she sort of holds me in a nice way.”
It’s also been a transition for Peach, who is learning to respond to Emma’s voice aids and dressage whips in place of the leg.
“She’s a quick learner. She’s very understanding and very forgiving. But I think that’s also a credit to Christan, Riley and Alison [Alison Gill was Peach’s previous competition rider]. They did a really great job of consolidating those basic foundations and it makes it a lot easier in that transition [to a para horse].
“We’re still figuring a few things out and ultimately, I haven’t had a huge amount of time in the saddle with her yet. She’s picked up the voice commands and she’s got a good motor in that once she’s forward and travelling, she’s happy to just tick along and stay in that nice forward rhythm. I don’t feel like I have to chase her, which is a really nice feeling.”
The pair have already had a handful of competition starts, including one at Boneo Park earlier in the year, where they contested the Grade III Grand Prix tests and scored over 69% in the Grand Prix A.
“Then we did Willinga Park’s Dressage by the Sea, which our prep for was awful. Peach had a hoof abscess, and we couldn’t work her much in the lead up, and then the whole thing sort of turned pear-shaped and the scores weren’t what I was hoping for.”
For Emma, Willinga Park was a reminder that there was no need to rush.
“With the knowledge that I could take my time with her, we stepped back into the two-star at Boneo [the CPEDI2* includes Intermediate tests, compared to the Grand Prix tests for CPEDI3*] just to take out a couple of those more complicated movements like the walk pirouettes.”
The decision paid off. “I think that was a really good move… we achieved some really solid scores,” says Emma, who scored 69.127% in the CPEDI2* Grade III Intermediate A, 68.602% in the CPEDI2* Grade III Intermediate B, and 70.456% in the CPEDI2* Grade III Intermediate Freestyle — winning all three tests.
“I probably only rode her during the week prior, and knowing that there were a few mistakes throughout those tests, the scores can only go up, which is great.”
Looking ahead, Emma plans to take Peach to a few competitions at Boneo Park, in preparation for the 2026 Australian Para Dressage Championships at Boneo in October, followed by the Victorian Dressage Festival at Werribee in December.
EXCITING CHAPTERS TO COME
Emma’s partnership with Peach has also coincided with a lifestyle change. “My partner and I moved about 12 months ago [from Pearcedale] up to Strathbogie. It’s a bit of a lifestyle change, but we’re loving it. It’s a beautiful part of the world and has a really lovely community. We’re on 60 acres,” she explains.
While Peach is currently Emma’s only ride, there are other horses coming along behind the scenes.
“I’ve got a couple of young horses that we’re just ticking along, including a five-year-old who’s got a really good nature and a really good brain – Stella Rose. I haven’t had a sit on her yet, but she’s one that I will keep an open mind for moving forward. She does have a few of the characteristics I’d look for in a para horse.”
There is also another exciting development on the horizon. “We’ve got an embryo transfer foal due from Peach, by Glenhill Mr Hollywood. So that’s just another little exciting chapter to come.
“Glenhill have had two of the cross already, and both were really successful, which is why I went down that path. Glenhill Mr Hollywood just ticks all the boxes that you’re looking for in a performance horse, but in a German Riding Pony. I was guided by Christan, and she was nothing but honest and helpful. She’s just so knowledgeable in terms of bloodlines and breeding.”
With an exciting young mare, a clear long-term plan, and the patience to let it all unfold, Emma Booth’s partnership with Glenhill Divine Classic is shaping into something special. It’s a combination of talent, temperament, and timing — and perhaps, most importantly, a willingness to do things differently. From an unexpected pony to a potential championship partner, Peach has already challenged expectations, and as Emma continues to build that connection at her own pace, the future looks promising. EQ
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