Record light horse entries

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33067, 7 November 1972, Page 27

Record light horse entries

Facilities will be taxed in the horse area at the Show grounds, when the Royal Show takes place this week, with an all time record of 1662 entries. Equestrian activities have strengthened enormously over recent years because

of the Horse Society, hunt clubs, polo, pony breeders’ and pony club associations. At the present rate of progress, entries for the 1978 Royal in Canterbury will probably reach 2000." Being a Royal Show entries, have come from all over New Zealand as it is the ambition of most breeders and owners to possess a Royal Show champion. Wednesday morning will

see the judging of the very strong led section where the Canterbury ponies, noted for their quality will have top outside competition from well-known breeders from the north and south. Most saddle pony champions of the future start their road to success in this led section, and judging by the size of the classes this year, the first

South Island Pony Breeders’ Show in February, 1973, should be well supported. Two very different styles of jumping will be seen in the afternoon. First come the hunters, where bold flowing rounds will gain the prizes, then the F.E.L jumping, where absolute control and obedience is required of the horses, especially in the hit and hurry, where it is the supple, obedient horse who will gain the fastest time. Good conformation, elegance. presence, manners and true paces are the requirements for the ladies’ and paced and mannered hack classes on Thursday. Among the entries are successful names such as Nightcall and Cindy Marie from Canterbury, and Rigoletta and Sienna Sue from Hawke’s Bay and Gisborne, while last year’s finalists for the best paced and mannered hack on the ground, Hawkins and Delmont Lad are again competing. The premier event for qualified hunters, the Renown Challenge Cup, where points are given for jumping, manners, conformation, breeding and soundness, has drawn 24 entries including the former Canterbury horses and Christchurch champion hunters, Morocco and Hunter’s Moon, and other consistent champions in Mooree and Flint. The open pony hunter, run on the same lines, has drawn 39 entries including last year’s winner, Bambi. Each year the New Zealand Farmers’ puissance provides an exciting contest and the seven A grade horses entered, Mightv Tam, Geelong and Fli Hi from Canterbury, and Cardiff Lass, New Zealand’s top mare, Hunter’s Moon, Bush Creek and Pegasus from Southland, promise to provide another close contest. The Royal Show champion hack will be judged on Friday. Will Nightcall who has this spring had an unbeaten record in the South Island again be successful, or can the consistent North Island winners, Rigoletta (Hawke’s Bay) or Sienna Sue (Gisborne) turn the tables? The pony champions from the three rings will meet to be judged for the supreme champion pony—always a difficult decision, as ponies today are indeed top quality. Last year’s supreme champion, Fairy Legend, bred in Canterbury, but owned in the North Island, will again be competing. “The Press” open hunter, a feature event on Friday, again has an excellent field, and the Ballantyne F.E.L Table A for A grade horses, with its small but top class field, should again, as last year, provide exciting jumping.