Becoming the best in any sport takes determination and dedication, plus countless hours of training, week in and week out. For young aspiring student athletes, intense training and travelling to competitions nationally and across the globe, often do not fit neatly within the traditional secondary school timetable.
Olivia, a dedicated Year 9 equestrian athlete, embodies this unique balance. As a student of Haileybury Pangea online school, she benefits from an innovative learning environment designed to support students pursuing excellence both in and out of the classroom. The School offers small classes, live classes and recorded lessons, engaging assessment tasks and personalised support through one-on-one and small group sessions with expert teachers. Self-paced learning is a cornerstone of the program, making it possible for students like Olivia to attend class from anywhere, even while travelling to competitions.
Olivia started riding at just eight years old, and she now competes regularly on two of her three competition horses, Ngawihi Lady Blu and Yalambi’s Luciana. Most recently, she proudly represented Haileybury as a member of the equestrian team in the 2025 Horseland Australian Interschool Nationals in Sydney, her third consecutive year competing at this prestigious event. Her hard work paid off with a 6th place finish overall in the Secondary 110cm Showjumping, further cementing her reputation as a rising star in the sport.
Olivia’s full days are a testament to her passion and commitment as she balances rigorous daily training and the responsibilities of caring for her three competition horses, with regular competition schedules, all while keeping up with her academic studies. The flexibility of attending an online school like Haileybury Pangea allows her to pursue her ambitions without compromising her education. The School provides both asynchronous study options and live classes each morning and this flexibility enables Olivia to stay connected with her teachers and classmates, as well as her friends in the equestrian community.
“I love everything about horses, riding and competing,” Olivia shares. “Training and improving your skills are hard work, but it’s so rewarding. It’s an amazing feeling when you finally achieve something you’ve been working towards.”
For Olivia, the supportive environment of Haileybury Pangea has been instrumental in helping her chase her dreams. She enjoys strong friendships within both the equestrian world and her Year 9 cohort, making her school experience both enriching and well-rounded.
The future looks bright for this young aspiring equestrian athlete. “I’m so proud to be part of the Haileybury equestrian team, and I’d love to represent Australia at the Youth Olympics and the Olympic Games one day,” she says.
Olivia is just one of a number of growing young equestrian riders and student athletes attending Haileybury Pangea, which is a powerful example of what young athletes can achieve with dedication, passion, and the right support in both their sport and education.
In the spirit of reconciliation, Haileybury acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.
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