Bethany Dyson - Student Spotlight
How Bethany is Building her Knowledge Beyond the Arena
How Bethany is Building her Knowledge Beyond the Arena
At just 16 years old, Bethany Dyson is already making her mark in the showjumping arena, while also studying Certificate III in Equine Studies with GOTAFE.
A passionate horse rider from southwest Victoria, Bethany has grown up around horses and has been riding and competing for most of her life. What began as a fun activity at home with her mum and sisters soon became a big passion, leading her to join Macarthur Pony Club, where she has now been a member for 12 years.
When Bethany began looking at her VCE options, she knew she wanted horses to remain a big part of her future. GOTAFE’s Equine Studies course stood out as an opportunity to build her knowledge while continuing to pursue her passion.
“There is always something new to learn to enhance your life with horses,” Bethany said.
That knowledge has already become an important part of her riding. At the Victorian Interschool Championships, Bethany competed with her horses Junior and Archie, taking home a championship title in the 90cm Showjumping, a reserve championship in the 95cm Combined Training and fourth place in the 90cm Showjumping.
Her results saw her qualify for the Australian Interschool Championships, where she represented Victoria in both Combined Training and Showjumping.
For Bethany, understanding horses goes hand in hand with success in the saddle.
“I believe that the education you learn about horses is a strong part of everything you do with them,” she said. “Knowing the horse’s body and the environment they live in is so incredibly important.”
Studying online has also allowed Bethany to balance her GOTAFE course with VCE, training and competing.
“It is very flexible and online, so I am able to focus a lot on riding and training as well as successfully complete my course,” she said.
With the support of her teachers, Sally McDonald and Christine Meunier, Bethany is continuing to build her knowledge while working towards her goals both in and out of the arena.
Looking ahead, she hopes to continue studying with GOTAFE while training and competing with her horses.
For other young people who share her passion, Bethany has simple advice: “I would highly recommend Equine Studies with GOTAFE. They provide so many learning opportunities and you meet so many friends along the way.”