There is nothing Lalwa May loves more than soaring over 1.10 metre jumps on her horse, Target.
But the 16-year-old Darwin local will reach new heights next month, representing Australia in showjumping internationally at the 2023 World Clubs Tournament in France.
The competition is part of the annual French National Championships, the largest equestrian gathering in the world, which hosts competitions in disciplines from dressage to horseback archery.
Ms May is the youngest of the four riders selected by Pony Club Australia, and believed to be the only Indigenous rider on the team.
"I can't wait. It's going to be such a big experience, seeing the level of horses and competitors over there and just learning — it's going to be incredible," she said.
Role model
Ms May is one of the relatively few Indigenous people to take up showjumping and wants to see more diversity in the sport.
"I really hope that me representing Australia and going to France will encourage other Indigenous kids to get into the sport," she said.
"I wish there were more."
"When I'm riding I just forget about anything else that's happening — good or bad. It might give [other Indigenous teenagers] the chance to just forget about what maybe happened at school or what happened at home, and just maybe enjoy themselves."
An inherited passion
A passion for horses spans three generations of women in Ms May's family.
Her first horse, Charlotte, was a gift from her grandma, who passed away last year.
"My grandma meant a lot to me," she said.
"She'd be so happy, I wish she was here."
Ms May's sights are set on reaching the Brisbane Olympics in 2032, where she hopes to continue making her grandma proud.
'Really good bond' the key to success
It takes two athletes — horse and human — to clear a jump, according to Ms May.
"We have to have a really good bond with our horses for them to put their trust in us to get around the course — and for us to trust them to get over the jumps," she said.
But her current horse, Target, won't be travelling with her to France, as it would put him under too much stress.
Instead, she will be assigned a horse after she touches down and will have about five days to build trust with it.
Ms May's coach, Nicole Mutimer believes she's up to the task.
"I think Lalwa has an exceptional feel of how much she needs to do with her horse to be able to get the best out of him on the day," she said.
Training in the harsh Top End climate, Ms Mutimer said Ms May is more than prepared for extra hurdles too.
"The only thing that stops training is lighting," she said.
"Lalwa's here training regardless of whether it's sunny, or it's raining, or monsoon — she can be out there in the pouring rain and we're still training."
"We have a bit of a running joke, you know — 'pray for lightning'," Ms Mutimer said.
Despite training almost every day in sometimes gruelling conditions, Ms May says there's nowhere she would rather be.
"It's tough. You don't get too much time outside of it, but I love it. It's my favourite thing to do."
