HORSE TALK

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32775, 27 November 1971, Page 14

HORSE TALK

Show jumping The presence at the Christchurch Show of the horses and riders on the “short list” for the Olympic team to Munich did much to increase the popularity of show jumping in Canterbury. Gavin Pike and Justice, the winners of the two feature events, the puissance and the Table A, will long be remembered for their performances, as will those who helped to keep the contests exciting G. Pike. Deerstalker, D. Hamilton, Henry Lea, and M. McCall, Pegasus, in the puissance, and S. Mitchell, Aqaha, and R.

McVicar on Fanfare in the Table A. Finance is always the major problem when sending a team overseas; the cost of transporting horses is extremely high. Mr R. D. Dailey, and Mrs Dailey, in an effort to promote interest in the equestrian team, held a successful “jumping cocktail party” on their front lawn during show week. While guests sipped champagne and consumed hot savouries and sandwiches, which were generously donated by local firms, horses and riders on the “short list,” as well as two South Island riders who had been in the

training squad, showed their paces on the flat before jumping a very testing course built on the front lawn.

This is the first time such a function has been held in New Zealand, and the performances of these horses and riders under rather unusual conditions was creditable. Afterwards, Mr P. Donnelly, a past-president of the New Zealand Horse Society, gave an enlightening talk to the guests, explaining the many problems and costs of sending an equestrian team overseas. He told of the sacrifices the riders had made in the effort to represent their country at the Games. Horse society members have been asked to make an all-out effort to support fund-raising schemes.