Kassie Pontifex has taken horse Disney Patch from the abatoir to star Pony Club mount. Image by MC Jukes Photography.
In the eyes of 13-year-old Kassie Pontifex, Disney is the perfect horse. Rescued from an abattoir and not knowing his history, there have been challenges along the way – but Kassie’s perseverance and hard work has paid off. Not only has she enjoyed success on the Pony Club circuit, but she has also made a friend for life.
Kassie getting Disney Patch out of the rain at the abattoir; he wouldn’t come in for anyone else. He was horse Number 11, Kassie’s new lucky number. Image supplied
Growing up in Bahrain, Kassie Pontifex caught the horse bug by chance. “For my fourth birthday party we hired ponies to ride, and by the end of the party I was riding unassisted in my Snow White dress. This is where it all began,” she explains.
Next came riding lessons, and pretty soon Kassie had her father Steve involved as well. “We were not a horsey family; I had never ridden,” explains Steve. “When we went to the stables in Bahrain, Little Miss Six told Dad, ‘If you are coming to the stables, you need to ride!’, so at 50-plus years old, Dad had to learn about horses.” Kassie and her father ended up with a horse each, and her family’s love for equestrian sports grew from there.
Fast forward to 2019 and the family relocated to Australia, settling on acreage near the southeast Queensland town of Gympie – a region dotted with horse properties. The perfect place to continue the equestrian dream!
ALONG CAME DISNEY
Kassie’s first pony in Australia did not come via conventional means. Her mother came across a job advertisement for feeding horses and pondered whether it could be good way to get out in the local equestrian community and meet people. Below that job listing was another advert for a cute but sad-looking little horse; for Kassie, it was love at first sight.
“I looked at the advert… he was dirty and skinny, he didn’t look very healthy. I just looked at him and I just knew…. that’s the one that I wanted,” she recalls.
“He was dirty and skinny,
he didn’t look very healthy.”
Kassie trialling Disney Patch at the abattoir. Image supplied.
When she and her parents arrived to look at the horse, it quickly became apparent that both advertisements were connected to the local abattoir.
“Mum got on him first and he was crazy… there was no stopping him… but I still insisted on getting on, and that is the best choice I ever made,” explains Kassie. “He was perfect; he didn’t put a foot wrong. Right then and there I decided that he was mine, even though we didn’t know any of his history.”
And so the little horse promptly left death row and headed home to begin life as a Pony Club mount. Kassie named him Disney (full name Disney Patch, but Kassie explains he’s only referred to by his full name when he’s in trouble) – fitting, since she was dressed up as Disney’s Snow White on her first-ever pony ride.
From the get-go, the 14.3 hand skewbald only wanted to please. “We had no idea what he was capable of, but he always wanted to please,” explains Kassie. In the beginning he over-jumped everything – including trot poles on the ground that were cleared by a metre – and had his head in the air like a llama, but over time his work improved with training.
Steve explains that early on Kassie and Disney were not always on the same page, especially when the horse’s keenness over jumps was ahead of Kassie’s ability. It also wasn’t easy adjusting to riding in wide-open spaces; in Bahrain, riding was confined to a small arena!
However, the determined young rider stuck with it and in her eyes the little horse could do no wrong. “Disney was the most perfect horse that you could ever ask for. He did everything I said. He made sure not to touch any poles, that’s for sure!” explains Kassie. “He was amazing. I had no confidence at all; I was so used to riding in a little arena. He took care of me, and now I take care of him. He’s been good to me.”
PONY CLUB SUCCESS
Over the four years of owning Disney, Kassie has taken the horse to many different competitions through the Pony Club system, from local shows to state and international level. Starting out at Eumundi Pony Club, she is now a member of Gympie & District Pony Club. The pair also made the Interschool State Championships in 2022, 2023 and 2024, and the Australian Interschool Championships in 2022.
“We had no idea what
he was capable of…”
Kassie’s first competition on Disney back in 2020. Image supplied.
“Recently I was chosen to represent Australia at the Pony Club International Alliance Virtual Dressage Show,” explains Kassie. A video competition, she and Disney contested Class 1A (Training Level) – and won!
“I was over the moon with excitement that Disney and I had come so far and that all the hours in the rain, wind and shine had paid off. I was also very thankful to everyone who had helped me get to where I am today and to the judges and organisers who made the event possible.”
The competition has certainly given Kassie the dressage bug and she looks forward to continuing her training in that discipline. “The learning doesn’t stop; you can only aim to get better than yourself!”
“I was also very thankful to
everyone who had helped me
get to where I am today…”
Competing at the Pony Club State Championships in 2021. Image by Oz Shotz.
The pair competed at the Interscool State Championships in 2022, 20223 and 2024, and made the 2022 Nationals in Combined Training (45cm). Image supplied.
These days, Kassie is coached by Brett Cantle for jumping and Sally Collins for dressage; she says both have helped her immensely. “Brett is the reason I’m not scared of jumping anymore. He’s helped me so much! The same with Sally. They’re both very good coaches.”
While it took a little while for Kassie to get used to Disney’s overzealous jumping, it seems she was perhaps an adrenaline junkie all along. In recent times, she’s found the sport of eventing – perhaps no surprise with Brett as her coach – and now there is no turning back.
“My new favourite discipline is eventing. We did our first one-day event, and it was so much fun. Disney was too fast on cross country; I couldn’t slow down,” she says with a laugh, adding, “He’s so fun. He behaves himself so well.” Ever modest, Kassie neglects to mention she in fact won her class!
“My new favourite
discipline is eventing.”
Kassie and Disney Patch have collected many ribbons and rugs in their four years together. Image supplied.
“We have always tried to teach her that being a good sport is more important than being the best at a sport,” explains Steve. “Respecting those officials, volunteers, fellow competitors and organisers is extremely important. Before every event the last thing we tell her before she enters the arena is ‘have fun!’” Mission accomplished.
SMOOCHIES & CHIPPIES
There’s no doubt that fun is the name of the game for Kassie and Disney, who’s personality has shone through in his life with the Pontifex family.
“He has the best personality… he can be cheeky and stubborn at times, but most of the time he’s a goofball and amazing to be around. He is always putting a smile on your face; he’s very special,” enthuses Kassie.
“He loves chips. Hot chips, packet chips, anything chippy and salty… he loves them so much. If you open a pack of chips around him, he will come to you and try to eat the whole packet,” she laughs. “He also loves Smoochies… smoochies and chips are his favourites.”
Kassie explains that one of the challenges of not knowing Disney’s history is there is no way of knowing previous injuries or health issues. Despite always tackling his work with full-on enthusiasm, it was recently found that the gelding is suffering from arthritis in one leg – likely due to a specific past injury. Disney is now on arthritis supplements, and while he can still handle some riding and is always keen to get out and about, the decision has been made to reduce his workload to ensure the arthritis isn’t aggravated.
Disney will always be Kassie’s best friend! Image supplied.
Kassie now has a new horse, Roger, who will no doubt benefit from the experience Kassie has gained through his equine predecessor – however, Disney very much still has a home assured for life. And while Kassie is enjoying her new horse, she’s quick to point out that Disney will always be her number one. “No one can ever be as good as Disney!”
Kassie is not just thankful for what Disney has taught her, but also the help she’s received from everyone around her throughout her riding journey.
“No one can ever be
as good as Disney!”
Roger is now picking up where Disney left off. Image by MC Jukes Photography.
“I just want to say a big thank you to everyone who’s helped me along this journey. All the credit usually goes to the rider, but there are a lot of people helping behind the scenes. My parents, coaches, and especially to my vet and farrier who have helped Disney.”
And Kassie’s words of wisdom gleaned from her four years spent training Disney? “Nothing is impossible, no matter how hard it seems.” EQ
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