Daliah Thill’s journey from Jo’burg to Europe
At just 15 years old, Daliah Thill is living a reality that most young riders only dream about. Splitting her time between South Africa and Germany, competing internationally for Luxembourg, and training with top European and South African coaches while maintaining her schoolwork and musical pursuits, Daliah represents a new generation of equestrian athletes who are redefining what’s possible at a young age.
Her journey is one of evolving passions, clear ambition, and an unwavering commitment to excellence that has seen her transition from eventing aspirations to dressage dedication, ultimately finding herself on the international stage far sooner than most riders dare to imagine.
From eventing dreams to dressage passion
Like many young riders, Daliah’s equestrian dreams were initially shaped by the books she devoured as a child. Stacy Gregg’s popular series captured her imagination, and she set her sights on what she considered the ultimate achievement: winning the Grand Slam in eventing.
“I first wanted to be an eventer because of these books I read when I first started riding. I also wanted to win the Grand Slam in eventing because that’s the biggest eventing goal that you can have, but in order to do that, you have to get good in dressage because dressage is a very big thing in eventing, and it helps a lot if you get a good score.”
What began as a means to an end, improving her dressage to enhance her eventing scores, gradually revealed itself to be something far more significant. As Daliah progressed through the levels, the complexity and precision of dressage began to overshadow her initial eventing ambitions.
“So my goal was first to get to Grand Prix level in dressage while still jumping on the side to still keep the jumping going, and then actually start doing big eventing competitions. But eventually the dressage started getting so cool and so complex that it got a lot more fun because you don’t just go round and round in circles, and it doesn’t repeat—it’s a lot more than that. It’s precision, and you need to be a lot more in time, and it’s really fun, so then I just wanted to do dressage.”
The turning point
The decision to fully commit to dressage came early this year, marking a significant turning point in Daliah’s career trajectory. What drew her wasn’t just the technical challenge, but the aesthetic and philosophical appeal of the discipline—the pursuit of invisible communication between horse and rider.
“I knew that dressage was the discipline that I wanted to pursue this year because it just started being so much fun to ride. I want to get to where you use the slightest aid to do the movement, and it looks like you haven’t even done anything. It’s about achieving perfect harmony.”
This pursuit of harmony, the classical ideal of dressage where aids become nearly imperceptible and horse and rider move as one, demonstrates a maturity of understanding that belies Daliah’s age. It’s this deeper appreciation for the art form that drives her training regimen and informs her decision to seek instruction at the highest levels.
The South African foundation
Huck Finn DB
At the heart of Daliah’s South African training is her partnership with Huck Finn DB, a 14-year-old Hanoverian who has been instrumental in her development over the past two years. Huck came to Daliah just as he was starting Prix St. Georges work, providing her with the perfect platform to develop at FEI level.
“He is a big, thickly built boy, but he’s such a cutie pie. He loves getting attention. He’s so sensitive, and if you don’t do something the way he likes or if you repeat things too much, he throws small tantrums. He’s very picky, but he’s so adorable.”
Managing Huck’s training while she’s overseas has required careful planning and a strong support team. Her coaches, Jesse and Jo, ride him during her absences, while stable manager Thato and groom John ensure his overall well-being is maintained. This collaborative approach has allowed Daliah to pursue her overseas opportunities without compromising Huck’s development.
Saratoga Sky Dancer
While dressage has become her primary focus, Daliah hasn’t entirely abandoned jumping. Her Warmblood mare, Saratoga Sky Dancer, keeps her competing and provides a different kind of riding experience.
“She’s my jumper. I’ve also had her for about a year now, and she’s given me so much confidence in jumping and even overall. I feel like I can do anything on her. I’ve jumped an oxer with one hand with a bag of glass bottles in my hand. I’ve jumped a Saint Andrews cross on her bareback at about 80cm and she’s given me just so much confidence.”
Sky Dancer’s confidence-inspiring nature has translated into competitive success as well, with Daliah winning two championships on her at the 90cm level: the Easter Festival Championship and the Post Derby Championship.
The European Experience
The decision to train in Europe was driven by Daliah’s ambition to compete at the European Championships, a goal that required establishing a presence on the continent. With her coach Jesse’s networking and industry connections, an opportunity materialised at Gut Römerhof in Düsseldorf, where Daliah now trains under the guidance of Tara Schneider.
The logistics of maintaining a presence in two countries while managing schoolwork has been challenging. “Yes, it has been hard to manage time-wise, especially with school, because I have also gone during school time. It has needed a bit of juggling but I am starting to figure it out,” Daliah admits.
Cultural differences in training
The contrast between South African and German training cultures has been one of the most valuable aspects of Daliah’s overseas experience. The European approach, honed over generations of dressage tradition, brings a level of intensity and attention to detail that distinguishes it from training in other parts of the world.
“The training culture in Germany is a lot more intense; they train a lot more, and they pay a lot more attention to detail and precision because they know that that is where you pick up those extra points for those higher marks.”
The German horses
In Germany, Daliah rides two horses that provide distinctly different educational experiences. O’Finley RB, a six-year-old Warmblood standing 17.2 hands, offers the opportunity to develop a young horse and learn the systematic progression through the levels that German training is famous for. Best Friends Forever, known as Bruno, is a 16-year-old 16-hand Warmblood who brings experience and schoolmaster qualities to her education.
“They’re both really, really cool and really awesome and absolutely lovely to ride.”
Lessons beyond the saddle
The learning extends far beyond riding technique:
“I’ve learnt how to deal with the different types of trainers and how they teach because everyone has a different way of teaching. I’m also learning about time management and how to manage school work and riding, and also dealing with the cold, as it’s not this cold in South Africa; it’s currently 0° here, so I also need to learn how to ride in that cold weather.”
The competition circuit
The European competition experience differs markedly from what Daliah was accustomed to in South Africa, both in structure and atmosphere.
“At most of the shows, they have riders of all ages, so adults and children compete together, and you can have professional and amateur riders together. There are a lot of riders, usually about 30 or so, in a single class, and I’m usually one of the youngest unless it’s a children’s show specifically. There are a lot of shows to choose from most weekends, and at the shows, there’s always music. They always have flower pots, and even at the higher levels, sometimes you still ride in a 20m by 40m arena, even though it’s mostly on the same level as a Medium test.”
Breakthrough achievements
Daliah’s time in Europe has already yielded remarkable results. Most significantly, she has qualified to represent Luxembourg at international competitions at FEI Children’s Level, an achievement that opens doors to high-level competition experience.
“I managed to qualify to ride for Luxembourg as a Luxembourgish representative, which means I can ride at an international competition at the FEI Children’s Level until the end of this year, and then I need to requalify, as then I will be a Junior.”
Her competitive scores have been impressive as well, earning wins with 80% on O’Finley in October and 76% on Bruno in another competition.
The support network
Behind every successful young rider is a network of supporters, and Daliah’s is both extensive and deeply committed. At the foundation are Jesse and Jo from Terrouges Equestrian, where Daliah has ridden since she was seven years old.
“Jesse and Jo, especially Jo, have been there for my whole riding journey since I started when I was seven. I started at Terrouges Equestrian, which is where I’m still riding today, and they have helped me so much, and I think I would never have been able to come so far without their support and help.”
Additional influences include coaches Natalie Hobday and Karen Keller, each contributing different perspectives and skills to her development. She also cites Belgian Grand Prix rider Justin Verboomen as an inspiration, particularly admiring his harmonious partnership with his horses—a goal that aligns perfectly with her own aspirations.
Perhaps most crucial though has been the unwavering support of Daliah’s family, who have made considerable sacrifices to enable her pursuit of excellence.
“The role that my family has played is they have helped me; they have supported me; and they have encouraged me to continue. I’m very, very lucky to have such a supportive family. I’m lucky that my mum can come with me on all these riding trips to Germany, and when we go to the competitions. My dad travels a lot, so when he can, he does come to my competitions both in South Africa and in Germany, which is really, really nice, and I really do love it.”
Motivation and mental strength
When asked how she maintains motivation through the challenges of training in two countries while managing schoolwork, Daliah’s answer is refreshingly simple.
“It’s always been a big passion, and I’ve always loved it so much that it’s never really occurred to me to give it up because I enjoy it so much and I want to keep doing it. Sometimes time management is a bit hard, but my teachers and my coaches and my family all support me, so I just continue, and I love it.”
Outside the arena
Despite the demanding nature of her riding schedule, Daliah maintains other interests that provide balance and develop different skill sets. She plays violin, following in her mother’s footsteps, and participates weekly in an orchestra while also having taken part in larger orchestral events. She also plays chess regularly, though she acknowledges that riding dominates her schedule.
Looking ahead
Daliah’s objectives for the coming year are both specific and ambitious. She aims to qualify for international competition at FEI Junior level and potentially compete at the European Championships if Luxembourg selects her for their team.
“My goals for next year are to qualify for international competition FEI Junior level and to possibly go to the European Champs next year if Luxembourg puts me forward for that and my long term ambitions are to compete professionally for Luxembourg at the highest level.”
When asked where she hopes to be in five years, Daliah doesn’t hesitate to name her ultimate ambition.
“One day, I would love to represent Luxembourg at the Olympics. That is my dream goal.”
A blueprint for aspiring riders
Daliah’s journey offers valuable lessons for young riders dreaming of competing at high levels. Her story demonstrates that success requires more than just talent and hard work; it demands adaptability, strong support systems, and the courage to pursue opportunities even when they’re challenging or uncomfortable.
Her willingness to train abroad, to compete in unfamiliar environments, to manage the complexity of representing a different country, and to maintain her education alongside her riding shows a level of commitment and maturity that bodes well for her future in the sport.
Most importantly, her focus on harmony and invisible aids, on the classical ideals of dressage rather than just competitive success, suggests that she’s building a foundation that will sustain her throughout a long career. This understanding that dressage is ultimately about the relationship between horse and rider, not just scores and placings, is what separates riders who achieve temporary success from those who make lasting contributions to the sport.
As Daliah continues to develop, splitting her time between Johannesburg and Düsseldorf, working with Huck and her German horses, pursuing her Olympic dreams while maintaining her love for music and chess, she embodies the modern young rider. She’s ambitious yet grounded, focused yet well-rounded, dreaming big while attending to the small details that make those dreams achievable!
The journey from that young girl reading Stacy Gregg books and dreaming of eventing glory to a teenager representing Luxembourg on the international dressage stage has been swift, but it’s clear that this is just the beginning. If her trajectory continues, those Olympic dreams may well become reality.
Good luck, Daliah! We’re all rooting for you here!
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Follow Daliah’s journey as she continues to compete in both South Africa and Germany, pursuing her goal of representing Luxembourg at the highest levels of international dressage.