Horse Talk

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31316, 11 March 1967, Page 11

Horse Talk

Now that the shows and the main show jumping events are nearing the end of their season, those interested in horse trials and one-day events will be eagerly awaiting the first com-

petitions. The national horse trials, this year being held in Christchurch, will be added incentive to many to prepare their horses pro- i perly. The first one-day event * will be held by the Halswell Pony Club on April 23 and should provide a warm-up for the Otahuna horse trials a week later. Otahuna Horse Trials Beautiful surroundings make Otahuna one of the most popular events of the autumn, for both spectators and competitors. Run by the junior committee, the event will be held on April 30. It is hoped there will be good entries and to encourage this a teams’ competition will be held for area teams and also for South Canterbury teams. The team will consist of three or four horses from either the open or novice class, the best three scores to count. As there are many young and novice horses likely to be competing, special attention will be given to the cross-country course, to see that it is suitable. As well as the horse competitors, the Dorothy Campbell Trophy qualifiers, riding ponies, will be invited to use this event as a practice before the Pony Club Championships in May. The

classes are for open and novice horse trial* and two separate dressage classes have also been included. Pony Club Competition This year the Inter-Pacific Pony Club competition will be held in Hamilton during the August-September holidays. The 36 riders taking part in the competition will arrive in Christchurch on August 3 and will be in the South Island until August 9. Countries taking part in the competition will be Great Britain, Japan, U.S.A., Canada, and Australia. The mounts for the visiting and New Zealand teams will all be drawn from a pool of horses provided by the Hamilton area and the competitors will spend a fortnight before the event schooling and getting the feel of their new horses. During their stay in Christchurch and other areas, pony club members and interested people will be asked to billet the 36 riders, their team managers and chaperons. New Cup A new trophy which was presented to Mr B. G. Rutherford by the Avion Riding Academy of Japan will be competed for for the first time at the Easter Show on March 25. It is to be awarded to the champion pony. At present the trophy is on display in Hastings.