Ginger Kennett ready to make her mark in Aachen

Growing up in Picton, Ginger Kennett was already a passionate rider and horse lover before discovering vaulting through her local club. Always looking for new skills to master, she quickly found the sport to be the perfect combination of everything she loved.

Together with her family, Kennett made the decision as a junior to purchase their own vaulting horse and pursue the sport independently, a decision that would shape the athlete she has become.

“It gave me the opportunity to grow alongside the horses I was training,” Kennett said.

“It taught me that becoming a successful vaulter isn’t just about improving yourself, it’s also about learning how to develop a horse into a confident and successful vaulting partner.

“To have a horse trust you enough to perform some of the most difficult and high-risk movements together is something truly special.”

After competing at two World Championships and World Cup Finals in Basel and Belgium, Kennett is preparing for her third World Championships in Aachen, where the excitement and nerves remain as strong as ever.

“Every time I put on the Australian uniform, it feels just as special as the first time, and that’s something I’ll never take for granted,” she said.

This year’s World Championships also present a particularly significant opportunity, with Kennett aiming to become the first Australian vaulter to compete internationally with a fully Australian combination, an Australian vaulter, Australian horse and Australian lunger.

For Kennett, the milestone would represent what can be achieved through dedication, belief and a commitment to developing Australian talent.

“It would show what’s possible with dedication and belief,” she said.

“I hope it inspires more Australians to develop their own horses and shows that we don’t always have to rely on overseas combinations to be competitive.”

At the centre of that combination will be Kennett’s mum Georgie, her lunger throughout her journey, with the pair developing a partnership built on trust, understanding and years of shared experiences.

“We’ve shared the highs and the disappointments together, and it’s really special to be able to represent Australia alongside her,” Kennett said.

In Aachen, Kennett will compete alongside her own horse Djebel de Hus, after spending the past season developing him into an international vaulting horse, making the opportunity to compete at one of the world’s most iconic equestrian venues even more meaningful.

Representing Australia is an incredible honour and another step in a bigger journey, with Kennett also looking forward to sharing the experience with athletes from across the Australian equestrian team.

While her career has brought successes and challenges, Kennett’s proudest achievement is the journey she has shared with her family, who have remained her constant support and kept her grounded throughout.

“Nothing about this journey has ever been perfect, but we’ve faced every obstacle together, learnt from it and kept moving forward,” she said.

As Kennett enters the Aachen arena, she will have her mum by her side, Djebel de Hus beneath her and the Australian uniform on her back, a fitting reflection of the people and partnership that have shaped her journey.