Sophia Coombes riding Grand Prix horse Jigsaw. Image by Simon Scully.
For many young riders, dreams of competing at FEI level begin in well-established horse families, with purpose-bred horses, extensive facilities and a clear pathway through the sport. For 16-year-old Sophia Coombes, the journey has been very different.
To meet Sophia is a breath of fresh air. Polite, demure, happy, respectful and witty. She is very competitive against herself and has a desire to succeed within her realistic goals.
All the same, Sophia is the friendliest and most genuinely honest girl when it comes to others winning and she wholeheartedly admires their success. She has an ability to make others feel good. This story is like a book, where dedication and passion and desire all come to fruition. For Sophia, she marvels at the best riders and horses.
Sophia is home schooling and works hard for everything she has. Living in a rural area and not having a lot of funding behind her makes her all the more avid to make a go of it. She adores the competition and admits that it’s not about the winning (with a smirk and a smile though, she admits “who doesn’t love a ribbon, a garland… or a rug!”) but she says she competes against her own performances and loves to see an improvement in her scores and tests at each competition.
Raised in the small rural community of Cowra, northwest of Sydney, Sophia’s path into horses was anything but conventional. Neither of her parents had any equestrian background and when Sophia was two years old her parents separated and Sophia lived with her mother, Michelle, and subsequently moved to a property out of Cowra. Despite growing up on 100 acres, horses were not part of everyday life.
“Neither of my parents were involved with horses whatsoever,” Sophia explains. “They got dragged into horses when my grandparents bought me a surprise pony.” That surprise would ultimately change the course of her life. Like many horse-crazy children, Sophia spent years pleading for a pony after experiencing rides at local agricultural shows. Eventually, when she was 10 years old, her wish was granted.
Sophia’s first pony, a chestnut Brumby mare named Arwen. Image supplied.
The pony that arrived, however, was far from the polished schoolmaster many parents might hope for. Arwen, a six-year-old chestnut Brumby mare, had previously failed as a Riding for the Disabled mount. She was challenging, opinionated and certainly not the straightforward beginner’s pony that most young riders would have been given.
Yet those early struggles taught Sophia lessons that continue to shape her riding today. There were setbacks, moments of frustration and occasions when confidence wavered. But while many young riders may have become discouraged, Sophia simply kept turning up, determined to improve. On signing up to a newsletter written by FEI dressage rider Megan Bryant, there was a prize for a lesson with Megan; Sophia’s name was drawn out of the hat and she had a lesson, and the rest all simply fell into place!
Initially she trained with a local mobile instructor before eventually training regularly with Megan, a decision that would prove pivotal. About six months later another opportunity presented itself when Megan offered Sophia a lease on Bamborough Jonas (by Thistledown Wicked), a talented grey Welsh pony. At this time, her family also purchased an unbroken 13-hand palomino Welsh pony named Kenda Park Brass Knuckles, aka Teddy, which Sophia helped to break in and train.
Sophia and Bamborough Jonas went on to compete at FEI Pony level. Image by Rodney’s Photography.
Being young and sharp, they thought best to sell Teddy, but the potential buyers were tricky and so Sophia persisted with the pony. Under Megan’s guidance, the pair went on to win at the 2025 Australian Youth Dressage Championships.
With Megan, Sophia and Jonas progressed steadily through the grades and eventually reached FEI Pony level. One of the highlights came at Willinga Park’s Dressage by the Sea in 2025, where the pair made their FEI Pony debut and finished third in the Freestyle.
“The pair made their FEI
Pony debut and finished
third in the Freestyle….”
Sophia took Kenda Park Brass Knuckles from unbroken to a successful competition pony. Images supplied.
TIME FOR A BIGGER HORSE
After ageing out of the FEI Pony ranks, Sophia knew she needed a bigger horse if she wanted to continue progressing. Mid-2025, her mother placed a Facebook post asking if anyone had a horse available. They expected perhaps a green Stock Horse that Sophia could educate herself. Instead, within 20 minutes, Linda Krogh replied. That horse was Jigsaw, a beautiful Warmblood gelding that was wonderfully trained in all Grand Prix movements and had competed successfully at that level.
The opportunity to ride a Grand Prix schoolmaster completely changed the direction of Sophia’s dressage journey. After years on 13-hand ponies, stepping onto a horse over 16 hands was a huge adjustment. The biggest surprise, however, was not his size but how lazy he was compared with the ponies, Sophia laughs.
The partnership has gone from strength to strength, moving up through the EA levels to FEI Junior, and now to Small Tour and Young Rider classes.
TALENT AND COMMITMENT
Living six kilometres down country roads from the Bryant training establishment, Sophia rides her bicycle to training before dawn. Guided by bike lights, she rides through the dark to the stables before returning home for online schooling.
Megan and Sophia celebrate dual success at Willinga Park. Image supplied.
“She has big dreams, and
she’s worked incredibly hard
to get where she is.”
If her dedication wasn’t already obvious, her work ethic reinforces it. Sophia also works seven days a week for the Bryant family. Every dollar helps support Jigsaw, fund competition expenses, and save for a trip to Europe later this year. She mucks out stables, feeds horses, changes rugs, brings horses in and out from paddocks and exercises ponies in work.
Megan believes Sophia possesses both talent and commitment. “Sophia has always shown a really enthusiastic and dedicated attitude to her lessons. She has big dreams, and she’s worked incredibly hard to get where she is,” says Megan.
The support of the Bryant family has been enormously important, and Sophia is quick to acknowledge the opportunities and guidance they have provided. She is equally grateful to her mother.
Sophia laughs when she admits that her mother never intended to become a horse mum. Thrown into the horse world unexpectedly, she has embraced every challenge, every early morning and every long drive to competitions.
Sophia and Jigsaw, pictured here at Willinga Park, are currently competing at Small Tour and Young Rider level. Image by Simon Scully.
Sophia and Jigsaw. Image by Roger Fitzhardinge.
“I think enjoyment
and improvement are
more important…”
Today she remains one of Sophia’s strongest supporters and is excited by the opportunities that continue to open up for her daughter. One of those opportunities is a self-funded trip to Europe and Aachen. For a young rider who has spent years watching elite dressage on YouTube, the chance to see the world’s best combinations in person is a dream come true.
Despite her achievements, Sophia remains remarkably grounded. “I think enjoyment and improvement are more important,” she says. Like many talented young riders, Sophia’s ultimate ambition is to represent Australia internationally and compete at the highest level of the sport.
Nothing has been handed to her on a plate. Through determination, sacrifice, family support, strong mentorship and an unwavering work ethic, she has steadily created opportunities for herself.
The journey from a surprise Brumby pony to FEI competition has already been remarkable. Yet in many ways it feels as though the story is only just beginning. The road from Cowra to the world stage may be long, but Sophia Coombes has already shown she is prepared to do whatever it takes to travel it. EQ
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