How did you get involved in Harness Racing?
My parents Bernie and Michelle Hackett are trainers so I was born into the industry. When I was younger I drove in the Kidz Kartz races but I am also a keen show jumper so I had to choose between the two. I now manage to juggle everything; I work for Mum and Dad when I am not at school and I attend Cadets when I am not away show jumping. I also drive at the workouts when I get the chance and I always love going to the races. Im really enjoying the monte racing up here and I particularly enjoy riding the trotters. It really is a mix between harness racing and riding.
You have had great success with your showjumpers so far- tell us a little bit about this?
I got involved in show jumping because I really loved how it wasn’t based on anyone’s opinion. The aim is to go fast and leave all the rails up. I compete at Pony Grand Prix level (1.20-1.30m), Junior Rider level (1.20-1.30m) and I am just beginning to step up to Young Rider level (1.30-1.40m) with my horse. My biggest achievement to date is winning the Junior Rider of the Year in 2017 with my horse Gin. We brought Gin from a farmer in Gisborne who also show jumps, Fraser Tombleson, and we haven’t looked back.
What does a typical day for Tyla Hackett look like?
5:30am: Get up and head to the stables
6:00am: Have horses at the beach ready to fast work
7:30am: Head back home to have a shower and get ready for school
8:10am-3:15pm: At school doing my school work to pass NCEA Level 2
3:30pm: Back home to ride and work my showjumpers
5:30pm: Inside to do any schoolwork that I got during the day. Then it is time for dinner, a shower and then bed. I repeat it all again the next day!
Do you have a favourite horse?
I don’t like to pick a sole favourite but I do have a few harness horses at home that I prefer working with. Majestic Ali is such a cool horse to ride; she has a sweet nature and tries hard to please. Makarewa Jake is another; he is a very cool horse to be around and he will always come running up to the gate of the paddock if you call his name! Galleons Victory is great too, he has a lot of attitude and he is full of spunk. My showjumper Gin is the cheekiest horse you’ll ever come across. He has way too much attitude and sass but he tries hard to please us all. Last but not least my other jumper ‘The Dreamer’ aka Velvet is the sweetest natured horse and she also tries so hard to please everyone. I wouldn’t have another team of horses around me.
What do you love about the industry?
I love the people I get to meet and work alongside. Watching and learning how other people do things and obviously my love of horses is there, if you didn’t love working with them it wouldn’t be the same.
What are your hobbies outside of racing?
Although I am pretty busy with the horses I play netball in the winter and I do a lot of PE at school to keep fit and active.
Do you have any ambition to travel?
I would love to travel to Europe to ride and also see how the harness side of things is run over there. It is always good to see how other people do things and to learn from them.
What do you enjoy most about working with the horses?
A highlight for me would definitely be watching Mum and Dad turn a troubled or unruly trotter around to win and place in races. It is also the same for me with my showjumpers I love being the one to prove everyone wrong and to get the best result I possibly can.
Is there anybody who has influenced you so far in your career?
In both harness and show jumping my Mum and Dad have both shown me that hard work pays off and if you put your mind to something you can achieve it. In harness racing I look up to people like Blair Orange, Dexter and John Dunn, Michelle Wallis and Tony Herlihy along with my parents for inspiration as to what I want to do with my life. In show jumping my coach Allan Goodall has pushed me to be the best and that is something I will forever be grateful for. I have a long way to go before I am at the top but with the help from both Allan and my parents I feel like it is possible to get there.
What are your goals for the future in the Harness Racing industry?
My goals for the future are to get my Junior Drivers licence and to win a few races. I would also love to get monte racing off the ground so that we can have tote races and then eventually, if show jumping doesn’t work out, I would love to become a trainer and/or professional driver. Hard work really does pay off and if you believe in yourself to get it done anything is possible!
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
Driving The Future Of Harness Racing
