Allira Bond and Yalambis Ohranj competing at the Yalambi Easter Jumping Classic. Image by Eric Lloyd Photography.
As the daughter of successful harness racing trainers, Allira Bond grew up around horses. At 16, she’s now carving out her own success in the show jumping world and has inherited not only her family’s love of horses, but also a sound knowledge of equine nutrition. Like her parents, she trusts HYGAIN to fuel her performance team.
“I started riding horses when I was three,” says Allira. “I’ve been around them pretty much my whole life.”
Allira’s parents, Greg and Skye Bond, are well known in the world of harness racing, with Skye also an FEI level dressage rider. Based 20 minutes south of Perth, the Bond family is very much dedicated to horses, and with Allira now making a name for herself on the WA show jumping circuit, the family’s equestrian ties look set to continue.
Like many, Allira began her riding career on a Shetland pony. “His name was Wiggles. He was the cutest little pony. He was tiny, but he really started my love for the sport,” she recalls.
Her first competitive pony, Flash, was a great allrounder who showed her the ropes of several disciplines, and she enjoyed eventing with him in particular. However, it was the next horse she received at the age 10 that would set her on the show jumping path.
Allira Bond, pictured here competing with Noblewood Park Conchetta at the recent Yalambi Easter Jumping Classic, is a keen and talented show jumper. Image by Eric Lloyd Photography.
A LOVE OF JUMPING
“GKO Arpeggio was mainly a show jumper, and he was the one that really got me into the sport… it’s all just gone on from there,” explains Allira of how she became hooked on the discipline. Allira hasn’t looked back since and is now competing up to 1.25m with success.
“I love not having to do dressage,” she laughs of one of the reasons she’s stuck to show jumping. “I’m not a big fan of that!”
Her mother is, of course, an FEI dressage rider who formerly competed to two-star level eventing, and so Allira is well versed in the importance of flatwork for show jumpers. While she’s avoided the dressage arena in competition, she doesn’t shy away from it at home. “It’s nice to have Mum behind the scenes helping me with my flatwork, and getting everything right on the jumping side,” she says.
Besides the profound influence of her parents, Allira says her coach, Caitlin Bolger – also a HYGAIN ambassador – has also had a very positive influence on her career. “Caitlin is so nice to watch ride, and I’d love to get to that level one day,” says Allira. “I also love the way Frida Lindgren rides. She is really, really nice to watch.”
However, the real drawcards for Allira when it comes to show jumping are the bond you develop with your horse and the wonderful community involved. “Our community is so nice over here [in WA]. Everyone’s so supportive and you like coming to competitions because you know everyone wants you to do well,” she explains.
While Allira is yet to cross the Nullarbor for any events over east, she hopes to in the future: “We’d love to go over and compete, just to experience the atmosphere.”
COMPETITION HIGHLIGHTS
Although only a teenager, Allira has already had some exciting career highlights to date – including winning the Prestige Youth Cup at the WA State Jumping Championships last year. “That was definitely a highlight for me and my horse, Noblewood Park Conchetta. That was a pretty cool one. And then I also placed both Oaks Cascade and Noblewood Park Concetta in the WA State Junior Championship. That was pretty cool to have two horses in the top five of that competition.”
Allira has had 21-year-old Noblewood Park Conchetta for four years now and has enjoyed plenty of success with her. “The WA State Junior Championship at the end of last year was up to 1.25m. She’s just under 15 hands, so she’s doing a pretty good job for herself to be jumping those tracks!”
Allira’s most recent success was at the 2025 Yalambi Easter Jumping Classic, where she took Conchetta as well as eight-year-old Oaks Cascade and six-year-old Yalambi’s Ohranj.
Allira and Oaks Cascade competing at the Yalambi Easter Jumping Classic. Image by Eric Lloyd Photography.
“My team of three horses jumped superb, all walking away with a win each,” she says. “Yalambi’s Ohranj and I are still working each other out, but everything felt a bit more together. He jumped clean all weekend and had no faults next to his name; he jumped a super round in the 1.15m Bronze Series to be beaten by the last rider in the jump-off and placed second in a very competitive class. He then backed it up on the Sunday with a super round in the Rainbow Classic for horses seven years of age and under to come out on top!
“My other two really shined bright and gave me their all on the Saturday night in the Youth Series and Open Speed. As everyone knows, Noblewood Park Conchetta loves the night classes held indoor at Yalambi, and we took out the competitive Youth Series, followed very closely by Oaks Cascade, who finished second!
“After the Youth Series, Oaks Cascade then jumped in the 1.15cm Open Speed, jumping an awesome round to finish the night off with a win. I am so proud of each of these horses jumping some difficult tracks, and really stepping up and producing some really good rounds!”
Allira is in year eleven and still has school to think about when she’s not training or out at competitions with her team.
“It does get hard sometimes,” she says of the juggle. “I’m going into my first set of exams, which definitely makes it harder. I do find that having a routine with their horses and even just planning out for the week really helps. Having my mum and even the racing staff at home to lend a hand when needed… it’s such a help just to get that one more horse worked on that day and make sure they’re fit for competition.”
THE FAMILY FEED
Good training and support are crucial to success for every young rider, however, equally as important is the nutrition and management of their equine partners. Allira has learnt a lot from her parents when it comes to this, not least the importance of good feed.
The Bond family have long relied on HYGAIN feeds to fuel their racehorses, and Allira has found that HYGAIN products are of course also suited to producing top show jumpers.
“My parents have used the brand for a long time, so it’s always just been a staple in my routine,” she explains.
While she’s used HYGAIN products since day dot, it was two years ago that she first became an ambassador for the brand. HYGAIN’s Donna Mann was dropping off an order for the Bond family when she got talking to Skye about Allira’s success in the show jumping arena. HYGAIN were starting a new ambassador group at the time, and with her excellent results and promise for the future, Allira was the perfect fit.
“Nearly all of our horses are fed either HYGAIN® ICE®, HYGAIN RELEASE®, or HYGAIN TRU CARE® in their twice-daily feeds,” she notes. “All of our horses, including the racehorses, have ICE as their breakfast, and then it’s catered to their more specific needs for dinner. My show jumpers are on ICE as their base feed, and then HYGAIN® GLEAM® for coat and hoof health, and HYGAIN® HYAGLYDE® for joint care.”
Allira and 21-year-old Noblewood Park Conchetta competing at the Yalambi Easter Jumping Classic; Conchetta is fed a little extra HYGAIN RELEASE in the lead up and during competitions. Image by Eric Lloyd Photography.
Twenty-one-year-old Conchetta is mostly fed the same as the others and thrives, with the specific addition of a little extra RELEASE – a non-oat micronized sweet feed, scientifically formulated to provide the fuel and essential nutrients required for optimum performance – before competitions. “It gives her a bit more of energy during those times, which definitely helps her.”
Allira says tailoring feed to the individual is important: “It’s definitely important to tailor the feed that you give a horse to what they’re jumping, and what they’re doing as exercise. Conchetta doesn’t necessarily need a lot, but on those days before competitions – especially multi-day shows like at Yalambi – she might need that a little bit more to make sure she does have the energy to compete at the level.”
FUTURE GOALS
With Concetta now 21, Allira says this year will probably be the mare’s last jumping the bigger tracks – and therefore, her aim is to just relax and have fun with her.
With Oaks Cascade and Yalambi’s Ohranj, she is eagerly looking ahead to the future. “The aim with them is to continue producing them and working towards jumping the bigger tracks. It is pretty cool to have these three amazing horses, at my age, that are jumping decent tracks. I’m pretty lucky.”
This article was written in conjunction with HYGAIN. You can find out more about the range of feed and supplements here. EQ
Related articles
One of Australia's most accomplished and decorated FEI dressage riders, Michelle Baker has enjoyed a very successful 2024 and is looking forward to a big year ahead. With her equine team of three well on the way to Grand Prix, she explains that good nutrition, a kind and empathetic relationship with your horse, and a focus on improving yourself are all key to success.
An eventer for the better part of 30 years, Brett Cantle has had some great horses in his time and is now looking to the future with three exciting young prospects. As Brett explains, competing at the top end of the sport is tough, and to give yourself the greatest chance of success you must surround yourself with the best – whether that’s horses, coaches or equine nutrition.