Horse Society Prepares For Inter-Dominion

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28800, 22 January 1959, Page 5

Horse Society Prepares For Inter-Dominion

Uldi utaiauu may ue " represented by two of the best teams available in the interDominion show jumping contest to be held in Auckland on February 26 and 27, the New Zealand Horse Society has decided to select four of the leading South Bland horses after the shows to be held at Blenheim, Christchurch and Dunedin this month. These horses will be encouraged to attend shows at Hutt Valley, Hastings and Gisborne so that some eomparison with North Island horses can be gained before selecting the two teams to represent New Zealand against Australia The Christchurch show will begin tomorrow and conclude on Saturday.

Fine Horses

Although the general standard is far higher in the North Island, the South Island has at least two horses worthy of consideration for national honours. They are McGregor, owned and ridden by W. Wadworth, of Blenheim, and Land Rover, owned and ridden by E. Upritchard, of Cheviot. Both these horses held their own with the best in the north when on tour last autumn.

Two younger and less experienced horses which on recent form would seem most likely to gain selection to go north are Surf, owned and ridden by Miss Mary Hazlett, of Invercargill, and Treason, owned and ridden by C. Mould, of Dunedin. Surf has shown marked improvement since last autumn when he graduated from C grade. He beat Treason and was second to Land Rover at the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral show in November and again beat Treason to win the main event at the recent Royal show at Invercargill where the form was much weaker than it was at Christchurch. Treason, however, has performed consistently in the spring to beat Surf at Timaru and Ashburton and be equal third at Christchurch.

Other Contenders Below these in comparative order of merit for horses that could displace one or more of the above during the show are, Mrs B. Edwards’ Diccon, from Oamaru, which was equal third at Christchurch; H. C. Greenwood’s Tora, which, although unplaced at Christchurch, did reasonably well on tour in the north last autumn; Miss L. Darling’s Remember, which is a most experienced and' consistent

performer from Oamaru, and C. M. - Williams’ Alb from Belfast, which won a speed event at the Invercargill Royal show. Horses that represented Canterbury at the' last provincial contest in Blenheim and likely again to find favour with the selectors are: Land Rover, H. C. Greenwood’s Tora, which jumped consistently in the spring but had trouble at a spread fence at the Canterbury show, and B. G; Rutherford’s Bomber, which was ‘tequal third, at the Christchurch show in the Table A event and second to H. C. Greenwood’s Hero' in the speed event Miss Ann Hargreaves’s Pharaoh has struck trouble and it would seem doubtful if Pharaoh will be fit and available. Others most likely to gain a place in the A team or represent Canterbury in the B team are C. M. Williams’ Alb, R. Fagan’s Khyber and Mrs F. F. Wilding’s Pepperpot. This horse after jumping well in Blenheim at the Agricultural and Pastoral Show in the spring, was hurt and not produced again in public until recently when he jumped well to be second to Land Rover at the Claverley sports meeting. Starting six of its eight horses at Blenheim last Saturday the Australian team won

it competed In and also gained most of the minor placings. Polar Bay and Prince were spelling—the former because of stiffness through transport and the latter because his rider, Tom Lory, had his appendix removed in Wellington a day after he arrived in New Zealand. Precision The horses competing at Blenheim gave a fine exhibition of precision jumping which was superior to anything previously seen in New Zealand. The horses are well trained and submit to a measure of control approaching their fences which ensures that they are well placed for the takeoff and have their hocks well under—the best place for making a big and accurate leap. This control is only gained by thorough training and absolute understanding between horse and rider. The Australians should weld into a team capable of continued success, even against the stronger opposition they will meet in the North Island. In the first speed event in Blenheim, although the horses went well, they could not show

their outstanding ability and handiness ov'er a course which was a rather long and a gallop-

ing one. In the “take your own line event”—in which 14 fences are jumped in any order, and as fast as possible, they really shone. The most prominent local horses were Land Rovei-, McGregor, and Tora, with Pepperpot doing well in speed events. With a little luck any of these could have had a clear round in the Table A dr Puissance. The Australians, in spite of being assured of a win in several events without having to start their horses late in- the draw, started all those available and thus added to the interest of the day. The ground was unusually hard and it is hoped that the Addington Showground, which is provided with good watering facilities, will give better going for the show this week. ‘