Easy Cash was a well-travelled racehorse, starting his career in Victoria for trainer Chris Hyland before a brief stint in Adelaide with Mark Kavanagh, and the Dash for Cash gelding eventually finished his 34-start career as a rising 10-year-old in Queensland for Matthew Dunn.
Shortly after retiring, Cash found a new home with Queensland-based rider Mercadies Mitchell. During his four years with the Mitchell family, Cash’s natural ability as an all-rounder was recognised and he quickly became a successful pre-novice eventer under the guidance of coach Ulrich Klatte.
Competing under the new name ‘Kolora Stud Cash’, the handsome grey gelding won a multitude of awards and was selected for the Eventing Queensland High Performance Squad.
In December 2017, Cash made the journey south to Victoria to start another chapter – this time with his new pint-sized rider, 11-year-old La’Moza Velisha. With the help RV Acknowledged Re-trainer and respected coach Simon Tainsh and dressage coach Jason Dins, the pair have flourished.
In their short time together, Cash and Velisha have competed at the Victorian Interschools State Championship, qualifying for the national team, and won the Novice Dressage at the Assumption College Dressage Day. The pair have come away with a placing at every event in which they have competed.
Earlier this month, Velisha and Cash finished first overall in the Grade 3 Pony Club Victoria’s State Horse Trials and Interzone Team Trials, an impressive feat for a fledgling partnership.
Despite her tender years and small frame, Velisha is solely responsible for looking after Cash, and she cannot speak highly enough of the gentle grey giant.
“Cash is my unicorn, he makes me feel like I can do anything,” she said.
“He is a big horse (measuring 16.1 hands) and I’m a really little person, but I do everything for him. I feed him, saddle him on my own and rug him. He even puts his head down to let me bridle him,” said Velisha.
With dreams of becoming a professional rider, Velisha wants to compete on retired racehorses.
“I want to be a professional horse rider when I’m older and re-train Off The Track horses, just like my heroes and my coaches.
“I want to show the world how amazing OTT horses are, and how good they can be for kids. To me, Cash is the most perfect thoroughbred I have ever seen. He’s so gentle and he really, really loves me.
“I wish that every person in the world could one day have a horse like Cash, they would be lucky like me. He is my everything, my best friend, my big legs, my soul and heart, and we are going to be together forever.”
The ambitious duo certainly seemed destined for a bright future. At the Interschools State Championships in April, Cash and Velisha were Reserve Champions in the Primary 80 Combined Training. That qualified them for the Victorian team, and they will compete against the best young riders from across Australia at the Interschools Nationals in October.
Be sure to follow the Off The Track social media channels to stay up to date with the pair’s progress.