Coming in ninth place in the world at the International Children’s Jumping Final in December in Colombia and named State Champion in the NSW Pony Club Show Jumping Championships last year, this event is an opportunity to further secure his riding reputation.

Hunter will represent the state in the Show Jumping category at the National Championships along with five other junior riders from across the state.

At just 13-years-old, Jake is competing in the competition as part of a team and is up against riders four years his senior.

Run every two years, this is the first opportunity Hunter has had to enter the competition. He has been exercising his horse and practicing his jumps every afternoon after school and sometimes before in preparation.

The NSW Pony Club State Championships is on this weekend at Camden and Hunter is hoping to get as good a result as last year.

Jumping heights of about 1.3metres in Colombia, Jake will be going over heights of 1.15metres at the National Championships

Riding on Imperial Express since he was young Hunter has to keep his faults to a minimum if the state team has a chance at winning the competition.

“Being a good jumper comes from plenty of practice and knowing exactly how to control your horse to get the result you want,” he told The Singleton Argus on Wednesday.

Each rider also has to keep within a time limit

Knowing the dedication and determination that it takes to succeed in the competition, Hunter has been building towards this event for a number of years.

With his competing taking up most school holidays throughout the year Hunter knows that the competition will be challenging and the physical demands on him and his horse tiring.

Arriving for a fitness check on July 12, Hunter then has five days of jumping with at least one jump each day and two on one occasion.

The competition is a great way for Hunter to showcase his skills in his discipline and meet other talented riders to create a network of friends and contacts with riders from across Australia.

Through the success that Hunter has had he has been able to get some sponsorship from local company Oakwood that is helping him with his equipment and from Prides for feed, and more is very welcome.

With the Youth Festival in Canberra his next big competition after Nationals, Hunter will again have the opportunity to represent his country overseas with the International Children’s Jumping Final 2009 set to be held in Brazil.