Horse Talk

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 31902, 1 February 1969, Page 11

Horse Talk

Area Trials The Christchurch-Huru-nui-Greymduth area trials will be held tomorrow at Mr J. R. Hyslops Eyreton property. The two-mile crosscountry course of 19 fences has been built over adjoining properties. It appears very straightforward with no fence standing out as a particular problem. Two gorse fences will be the largest jumps on the course. They have been built with posts and a single rail in front making a false ground line. Apart from these two fences, there are several post and rail fences, some with drop landings, two wire fences, one requiring a controlled sharp left hand approach, log jumps a sheep feeder and a simple fence in the middle of a stream.

Training This year there has been more effort made to train ponies and rides before the area trials. Recently, two one-day-events were held, the first at Yaldhurst and the second at Kaiapoi. Both were up to trial standards. These events should have given children and their parents an idea of the standard they will have to reach for the trials.

A Pony Club committee invited a group of riders from these events, to take part in a pre-area trial training course. The course was run by Messrs D. C. Gould and C. L. Austin. Those invited to take part were N. Buckley,

S. Montgomery, Misses R. Murray, A. Gould, J. Gould, M. Gould, J. Hutton, J. Jones, M. Watkinson and J. Inglis. The main emphasis was on crosscountry. Local Rules Some local rules have been added to this year’s trials in an attempt to prevent ponies and riders reaching the championships and being badly overfaced and frightened. Al Cup mounts must be more than 14.1 hands. All riders must have completed a crosscountry course at a recognised one-day event. No horse or pony can be under five years of age. Applying to the D.C. competitors only, riders must not be less than 13 years on ponies less than 13 hands. Horse Of Year

The “Horse of the Year" show at the Rangiora Showgrounds on February 28 and March 1 and 2 Will be the highlight of the year for local horse enthusiasts. The GovernorGeneral, Sir Arthur Porritt, will attend the show on the Saturday when some of the major events will be held. The jumping classes will alternate with the show classes in the ring to give a wider ring attraction. < Misses J. Gould and G. Blackbum will give a display of skill and control on their ponies. These two riders won a novelty event at the HalsweU show and have delighted many spectators with their performances.

En+ries A record entry of 188 horses has been received for the shaw—sl improvers, 25 C grade, and 19 A grade horses. Town Boy, ridden by C. Clarke, is well known to local spectators and competed with distinction here last year. He has a great list of successes behind him as well as tWo trips to Australia in the New Zealand show jumping team. Justice, ridden by Miss M. McPhail, of Gisborne, also competed here last year on the circuit and won the “Lady Rider of the Year” title. The other North Island horse competing is Glendu, which took the six bar “Horse of the Year” last year. I. Grattan was the rider. With only the jumpers in the A grade events from thfe North Island, it seems probable that the southern horses will have a good share of the trophies this time. The “Hack of the Year” event has already caused much speculation with three good North Island horses, Jalna, Skipper and Yeti competing against local horses and several from Southland. Ponies The show pony classes have drawn excellent ■ entries with 18 in the Canterbury pony “Champion of the Year” and 24 in the best mannered and paced pony. In the pony “Jumper of the Year” there are also 24 entries and include ponies such as Christine, South Island “Pony of the Year” in 1967. and “Pony of the Year” in Hastings.