Pony

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 29051, 13 November 1959, Page 11

Pony

Competitions There were very large entries in the Nydfa Cup class for pony and rider judged as a unit, points being given for riding and for the pony’s paces and manners. The judges, Messrs B. Burke (Gisborne) and T. Simmonds (Hastings) said they considered it a very good competition and the standard was very high. There was a very small margin, between the first and second placings which were gained by two sisters, Miss Jennifer Dunn on Sari and Miss Diana Dunn on Fiesta. The only criticism Mr Simmonds had to make was that the riders were using their hands too much to turn their ponies and neglecting to use the leg aids. In the Nydfa Memorial Cup class, which is a dressage competition for riders ovet 15 and under 21, competitors had to, contend with the distractions of’cows milling around very close to the arena and noises of all description.- * This was won by Miss Judith Kelly on Cavalier, who won the open competition on Wednesday. Later in the day she was also awarded the champion hunter ribbon. *

The judge, Mrs G. Stevenson (Invercargill) said that all the placed horses gave a good exhibition but some of the other competitors appeared not to have worked their horses in sufficiently and it was noticeable that these horses improved as their test progressed. Many riders could improve by sitting more deeply in the saddle to enable theniio-use their leg aids more effectively. In the Branston Cup, a unity class for riders under 11,' the judge, Mr W. D. Orbell (Tirnaru), said he was delighted with these small riders. He said many came to him sitting too stiffly. What he was looking for was a good combination with the pony willing to please its young rider. This he found in the winner, Janet Cochrane on Silver Light, who gave a pleasing exhibition. In the led classes the judge, Mr Burke, said he was most impressed with the- brood mares and young stock that came before him and he said that he could see no falling off in the high standard of ponies in the next few years.