HORSE TALK

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32676, 4 August 1971, Page 12

HORSE TALK

Olympic school At the first training school to be held in Hastings at the end of September, for the 1972 Olympics, there will be three horses and riders from Southland—D. Hamilton on Henry Lea, B. Anderson on Cardiff Lass and M. McCall on Pegasus. Henry Lea and Cardiff Lass both achieved national honours with major wins in Auckland, while Pegasus, a consistent performer, has more recently been in the news with victory in the Forest Gate Trophy at Balclutha. Nightowl from Southland. and Rhett from Hawke’s Bay have been made available for training, but have not yet been" placed with a selected rider. The North Island representatives are S. Mitchell (Aquaba), G. Pike, recently returned from Japan, on Deerstalker and Justice R. McVicar (Fanfare), who was winner of the . 1971 Horse of the Year contest, A. White, who has already ridden in two Olympics, on Masai, G. Hansen, who rode Saba Sam in Tokyo, this time training with two horses, Sabana and Saba Star, and H. Wilson on Solo. Other horses asked for but which

were not available were Aristocrat, Nautical, Rock of Alarm, Tam and The Nob. All horses selected to train are required to have a veterinary certificate. They will then undergo another examination from the Horse Society’s veterinarian in Hastings. The 14 horses will be divided into two schools, and after the 10-day course, those selected on their training will coihpete at a sports meeting, the Gisborne, Hastings, Waikato, Manawatu and Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Shows. New edition ■ The new 1971-72-73 Equestrian 'Guide, put out by the Canterbury area of the Horse Society, is being prepared and will be published soon. Much work goes into this handbook, which is very useful for all members of the equestrian world. Measuring day The annual measuring morning will be held at the Show Grounds next Sunday, at 9.30 a.m. A veterinary surgeon and blacksmith will be in attendance for those

ponies seven and over requiring life certificates. Annual certificates will be given to those under seven. This year jumping ponies competing at Christchurch will also be asked for their height certificates. Mini-circuit The 1971 Peerless minicircuit is under way again with the first show being held at Kaiapoi. This circuit, sponsored by D. H. Brown and Son, will be spread over eight shows: Rangiora P.C., September 5; Christchurch P.C., September 11; Kaiapoi P.C., September 18; Ellesmere P.C., September 25; Hawarden, October 9; Ellesmere Agricultural and Pastoral, October 16, and terminating at the Labour Day show and carnival on October 25. The first show at Kaiapoi, which was run in aid of the community centre, was most successful, with all the prize money being generously donated by local businesses. The points leaders in the horses are Mrs F. West on Dusty Bay with eight, followed by J. Bourne on the former open class racehorse, Shakes, with seven. J. McLean on HiLyte leads the pony section with two wins for 10 points with G. Heard on Midnight is in second place with six.