AT 12 YEARS old she became the Australian National Champion for reining but now the teenage business owner from Bony Mountain is using her love of horses to build riding skills and confidence in the next generation.

Chantel McInerney is now 17 years old, but she has always been sure of the path she wants to take in life.

Growing up around horses, she was eager to turn her dedication to her animals into a career, where she could work her own hours and work with her own horses.

Before moving to Bony Mountain from Kooralbyn over Christmas, Miss McInerney worked with a trainer and was running horse riding classes for children.

She started her lessons up again in March and already has 18 children visiting regularly.

Miss McInerney said physical skills weren't the only thing built up by the lessons and interactions with the horses.

One student who was suffering from PTSD was given new-found confidence through the experience.

"The first time she was very nervous and didn't want to talk, by the end she would lead the horses up by herself,” she said.

"I had another student who was home schooled and used to come five or six times a week and help with brushing, worming.

"Her parents could not believe the difference, all the sudden she had all those responsibilities and she was getting her own breakfast and making her bed.”

Miss McInerney said it was rewarding to enable children to ride horses who may not have the opportunity otherwise.

"Every child learns differently and watching them connect with the individual horses and grow together is really interesting,” she said.

"If a kid's really nervous, the horse is more likely to be calm and go slower.”

"You watch the horse and the child form a bond and they find their own path.”

Already working seven days a week, Miss McInerney said she was eager to teach more students.

For more information contact Chantel through Facebook.