Horses Well Schooled For Day’s Events

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30289, 15 November 1963, Page 18

Horses Well Schooled For Day’s Events

On the second day the weather was again fine and the oval in perfect order for horse events, which began in the morning with hack classes. In nearly all classes numbers were high, and the excellent manners and schooling of the horses were commended by the judge (Mrs R. S. Fullerton-Smith), of Marton.

Premier honours went to Mrs J. S. Heard’s Cent, judged chapupion hack of the show and awarded the Betty Harper Silver Challenge Cup for the best hack on the ground. Cent also won his individual class—'hack, up to 13 stone. Second was Miss C. Bennett’s Monopoly. and third was Miss D. Dunn’s Te Huia. The reserve champion award went to Miss J. Lemon’s Pimms—a most versatile horse. He has been successful to jumping events and Hunter classes and won the heavy-weight hack class, with Mrs E. G. Rutherford's Blue Smoke second and Miss S. Williams's Brussels third. The class for hacks 14.2 to 15.1 hands was won by Miss D. Cunningham’s Harvest Moon. Second was Miss V. Nichols’s Golden Syrup and third was M. G. Fergusson’s Blue Haze. The event for hacks up to list was won by A. L. Dunn’s and Mrs Dunn's Holyport, with Mrs Rutherford’s Blue Nile second and Mrs F. F. Wilding’s Pepperpot third. The judge was most impressed with the women’s hack class, and said it was not only pleasant to judge but most gratifying to see horses so well presented and schooled. First place went to Mrs Heard’s Cent, with Mr and Mrs Dunn’s Holypart >second and Mrs Rutherford’s Blue Nile third. In the class for the bestmannered and paced hack, first place went to Mr and Mrs Dunn’s Young Blaze, ridden by their daughter, Diana. Second was the Dunns Holypant and third Mrs Rutherford’s Blue Nile. Jumps The first jumping competition of the day was for the best wire jumper, which proved to be I. M. Ritchie’s

Limelight—a horse brought forward in perfect order and most capably ridden. Second place went to Mrs E. J. Richards’s Revelanta, and third was Miss D. Cunniing‘ham’s Harvest Moon. A major jumping award, the Renown Challenge Cup, was won by H. V. Thompson's Grenadier. Mr Thompson, the only competitor from the North Island, comes from Havelock North. He has also brought Cassidy, which was one of the most successful horses in the North Island last season, winning the coveted Royal Horse of the Year trophy at Auckland. Second place to the Renown Cup went to Ritchie’s Limelight, and third went to Miss Sandford’s Fleetwing. The premier F.E.I. jump of the day, the New Zealand Farmers' puissance competition, went three rounds and built up considerable excitement before the decision went to Miss Dunn's and Miss E. Grant's Royal Tartan. Second was Miss Sandford's Fleetwing, and third equal were Ritchie’s LimeLight and R. M. Williamson’s and Mrs Williamson's Mecca. Ponies, Harness Horses The harness horses and ponies placed before the judge, Mrs J. A. A. Reid (Taieri) were up to a high standard but unfortunately most disappointing in number. On the whole manners were good, though one or two lost higher placings because of their behaviour. The supreme champion, Mrs I. Wood’s Merrymaid, was outstanding among those shown, the judge said. The brood mares were well up to standard and should produce good stock. All exhibits were well handled and generally excellently brought out. Junior Nydfa In the Junior Nydfa Cup given for pony and rider considered as a unit, the extreme cleanliness and obvious care of tack, particularly of the first three placings, which easily surpassed that of the hunters, was most noticeable, said the judge, Mr H. J. Talbot (Onga Onga). Children were smart and well turned out and a part of their ponies. He was also pleased to see that most plaited manes were correctly sewn and not done with rubber bands. Sympathy between pony and rider was very good, though a fault seen al! too often was the pony bearing down on the bit rather than being ridden into the bridle. This spoilt the chances of many competitors. Exceptions were the ponies which took the bit. The children’s knowledge was of an extremely high standard. They appeared to remember all they had been told. The winner, Wendy Neill,

on Myfeda, was very good and thoroughly deserved her victory, the judge said. Best-mannered Glasses The manners of the small ponies in the best-mannered classes were a pleasant surprise said Mr Talbot, though unfortunately, particularly in the slightly larger ponies, the old trouble of ponies not being on the bit was apparent. Mr Talbot said that mors schooling in a snaffle was required and more vigorous pushing by the rider. Ponies inclined too. to be too much on their forehand. Children’s Riding The all-over standard of ths children’s riding was very good, said the judge, Mrs Fullerton-Smith. All exhibits were of a fairly even standard, though the winner of the Elizabeth Millear Silver Challenge Cup for best boy or girl rider under 11 years, Mark Davidson, was outstanding. Mark Davidson, of Timaru, also won the Branston Cup for the best unit of pony and rider. In this event manners were the deciding factor, and many otherwise good com. petitore had their chances spoilt by disobedient ponies. The exhibitors were well turned out and of a high standard generally. Tack was well cleaned and in good order. Most of the children were suitably mounted and set a good standard. Farmer From Lanarkshire The soft reds, greens, and blues of the Lindsay tartan were seen at the Christchurch show yesterday. The wearer was a 21-year-old Scottish farmer, Mr William Lindsay, who is on a working visit to New Zealand. Mr Lindsay comes from Douglas, in Lanarkshire. He and his father and two brothers farm a 4000-acre hill property running between 800 ft and 2000 ft, and a 500acre mainly arable farm. Mr Lindsay came to New Zealand in June. For a time he worked in the Cheviot district, and at present he is at Waipara. He expects to be there until about Christmas, after which he will tour the South Island. Later he wiil go to the ITorth Island, and expects to be in New Zealand for a year to two years. The New Zealand winter, although colder than in recent years, did not impress him much. On the hill farm at home, he Mid, there were drifts 10ft and more deep lest winter, and gullies were covered right over.