A LOCAL equestrian rider said yes to the offer to ride in Belgium as part of the 2025 U18 Australian Mounted Games team in the World Team Championship next month.
Mother Renae McKeever is thrilled to accompany her daughter Seren to the event as the pair have a passion for horses and the sport.
Across her time in the saddle, Seren McKeever has won an U12 Individuals National Title, U12 Pairs National Title and an U15 Pairs National Title.
Seren rode Chester, her 18yo part Quarter Horse part Arab gelding at the 2025 Whittlesea Show
Now 17, she is employed at Sutherland Street Childcare and Kindergarten and has been a track rider at Seymour, and when there’s skin in the game, it’s usually a horse.
Mounted games are thrilling to compete in and to watch as horse and rider race across an obstacle course often featuring tight turns around drums, a quick dismount at any given location and reaching for flags in order to score points and qualify for the next heat.
Last October, Seren competed in Braidwood, NSW, and after a rider had a fall and injured her ankle, an unforgettable opportunity presented to ride up in the open section.
The daring act did not go unnoticed by organisers and soon after a dream invitation to compete overseas along with five other extraordinary riders arrived.
Ms McKeever is part of an all-male team and what’s unusual is that they are yet to meet their steeds.
Due to distance, riders will be allocated a pony from anywhere in Europe.
Mrs Keever said the coaches and the teams can ‘hope’ to select their pony however they really are at the mercy of the organisers.
The currency exchange rate for the AUS dollar compared to the EURO certainly does not go in the team’s favour, at 0.56 the dream to compete is almost double.
The family faced a tragedy in 2021 when son, Harvey was injured in a motor bike accident.
“Both my children chose adrenaline fuelled sports, Mrs McKeever said.
“Harvey is a quadriplegic in a wheelchair now, he was a star too!
“He still is in his newly found business venture, but we haven’t let that interrupt Seren’s dream.
“We’ve travelled Australia, but never overseas…the flight takes over 20 hours!
“It’s $1000 to ride their ponies; extra for entry fees, food, accommodation and the uniform alone is $630 which includes saddle blankets.
“We’ve borrowed a lot of money for flights and accommodation but also have a Gofundme page.”
To donate to help the McKeevers get to Belgium, go to the Gofundme page, gofundme.com/f/help-seren-get-to-belgium-to-ride-for-australia.
The excited McKeever girls board their flight on Sunday and we at the Review wish the team the best of luck.
