Seventeen-year-old Mila Jane is pursuing her show jumping ambitions while keeping pace academically thanks to online schooling via Crimson Global Academy. Image by Simon Scully.
Seventeen-year-old Mila Jane is pursuing her show jumping ambitions while keeping pace academically, using online schooling to balance elite training, interstate competition and international travel as she builds experience within Australia’s highly competitive Junior ranks.
Mila Jane and Riverton Kesco (‘Sparky’) competing at the 2025 JNSW Summer Showjumping Classic in Sydney, where they finished inside the top ten in both Junior classes. Image by Simon Scully.
Mila Jane made the decision to leave Tasmania and relocate to New South Wales for one reason: to give herself the best possible chance of progressing in Australian showjumping.
Now competing nationally in Juniors for Equestrian Australia, she has stepped into a far more competitive environment, one where access to coaching, competition and professional structure can accelerate development.
Mila Jane’s riding foundations were formed in Tasmania, where she developed her technical base and early competition experience. But as her ambitions sharpened, so too did her understanding that environment matters in high-performance sport.
Mila Jane competing with Diamond B Bona Fides (Diamond). Image by Simon Scully.
New South Wales offers year-round competition and a concentration of elite riders, coaches and breeding operations that is difficult to replicate elsewhere. Exposure to varied arenas, surfaces and competitive pressure is critical in developing a rider capable of stepping into bigger classes.
The turning point in her relocation came in Phuket, where Mila Jane attended a clinic at Niran Equestrian Centre. There she met Australian-born Stuart Mitchell, who has coached World Cup, Asian Games, World Equestrian Games, and Olympic riders. Stuart recognised Mila’s potential and encouraged her to pursue further development in NSW.
Through Mitchell, she connected with Maree Hewitt, an Australian trainer, breeder and coach who has represented Australia internationally and remains highly respected within the showjumping community. That introduction led her to Riverton Performance Horses and to Rhys Stones, a NSW-based World Cup rider and breeder whose horses are recognised within Australian and international competition.
Mila Jane has enjoyed success in the competition arena. Image by Simon Scully.
Today, Mila Jane trains under the guidance of Rhys Stones, Maree Hewitt and Tahlia (TK) within the Riverton Performance Horses team. Immersed in a structured professional environment, she is building her career within a program focused on long-term development.
Among the horses she is developing is Riverton Kesco, a horse at the beginning of his competitive career. The partnership reflects the same patient, strategic approach that shaped her move to NSW.
“With him just starting his career, I’m so proud of his performance so far,” Mila Jane says.
For the 17-year-old, progress is measured not simply in placings, but in building partnerships carefully – season by season, round by round. That philosophy extends beyond a single horse; it underpins the way she approaches her entire career.
“I’m so proud of his
performance so far.”
Committed to her horses, Mila has ambitions to further her show jumping career. Image by Simon Scully.
THE WORK BEHIND THE RESULTS
At Junior national level, that approach demands more than talent. Mila Jane’s weekly schedule includes one to two formal lessons and four to five training sessions, adjusted depending on the competition season. Travel varies month to month, with interstate events and regular NSW competitions shaping her calendar.
“The horse’s fitness, my own fitness, both mentally and physically, is important for a positive outcome in all events,” she explains.
Managing her horses requires patience and planning. Competition exposure must be balanced with careful development, while rider fitness and mental preparation remain constant priorities.
Her riding life also extends beyond Australia. She spends time in Germany, where her father lives, and trains in Thailand at Niran Equestrian Centre when based there. Last year she also trained in Portugal, broadening her exposure to international riding standards and different competitive cultures.
“Exposing myself to all sorts of environments in horse riding adds to the experience of being more open minded about life, and gaining experience in all areas of the sport,” she says.
STRUCTURING SCHOOL AROUND THE SPORT
Maintaining that level of competition – across states and occasionally countries – requires an education model that moves with her.
Mila Jane studies online through Crimson Global Academy via one-on-one tuition in the Da Vinci pathway, following the US curriculum. The structure allows her to maintain academic continuity despite travel and time zone shifts.
“Being enrolled in Crimson Global College has allowed me that flexibility to train and travel,” she says.
Lessons are arranged around competition blocks and international travel.
“We work out times that work for us all, depending what time zone we both are in.”
Her academic interests include Marine Biology, Environmental Science, English and Maths. Rather than competing with her riding commitments, her studies run in parallel, supported by a structure that adapts to her schedule.
LOOKING TOWARD INTERNATIONAL GOALS
Mila Jane has already been part of an Australian international Mounted Games team and holds clear ambitions for her future in showjumping.
“I’d like to gain experience both locally and abroad, and to one day hope to represent Australia or Germany in showjumping,” she says.
She is realistic about what that requires.
“It takes a lot of logistics to get there, not only with training and competing and qualifying, but one needs the right team of people around you to get to these levels internationally.”
That awareness of structure, logistics and support underpins the decisions she has already made, from relocating to NSW to positioning herself within a professional training environment.
Across competitions, continents and classrooms, one constant remains: support.
“Without the team of people I have around me, I could never do what I do,” Mila Jane says. “From my parents, friends, coaches, and mentors in the industry.”
At 17, she recognises that no rider progresses alone.
“I feel very lucky to do all of this, whilst also pursuing my studies.”
Her move to NSW, her commitment to developing her horses, and her structured approach to balancing education alongside sport reflect a measured, strategic mindset.
Rather than chasing quick results, Mila Jane is positioning herself carefully within Australian competition, building experience, partnerships and perspective as she works toward international ambitions.
This article was written in conjunction with Crimson Global Academy. Click here to learn more about Australia’s leading online learning academy. EQ
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