HORSE TALK

Press, 26 May 1979, Page 12

HORSE TALK

Management tour

This month a horse management tour of 21 students from the Marcus Oldham Farm Management College in Geelong, and 11 others from Victoria and South Australia will participate in an 18-day tour, through New Zealand. In Canterbury, they will visit studs covering the different breeds including thoroughbreds, standard breds, ponies, appaloosas, quarter horses, and Clydesdales. They will also visit the Lincoln University’s Equine research group and attend, also at Lincoln, the New Zealand Breeders’ convention where the guest speakers include Professor B. W. Pickett, of the Colorado State University, who is a world authority on horse reproduction, and stallion management. Another American speaker is Professor J. L. Voss, also from the Colorado State University, whose expertise is in the field of stud management, mare fertility, nutrition, and the use of A.I. in horses. New Zealand speakers, all of the Lincoln College Equine Research Centre, will be Professor Cliff Irvine, Dr Margaret Evans, Mrs Joyce Harris, and Mr B. Lawson.

After a day at the Marlborough Sounds, the tour

will travel to Wellington W'here they will study the marketing and selection of horses with the bloodstock expert, Miss P. O’Brien. They will travel further north visiting some of the leading thoroughbred studs, Massey College, as well as seeing demonstrai tions of polo, show-jum-ping, dressage and even* ting training.

S.I. hound show This year the annual South Island hound show was held by the Christchurch Hunt at its kennels at Aylesbury. All the visitors, who included pony club and beagle club members, were welcomed by the master, Mr Bruce Jessop. He also welcomed the new whip, Mr Gary Heslop, from Southland. Although a heavy nor’west shower delayed judging for half an hour, the show, with some classes of 16 entries, was most successful. Entries were received from the Birchwood, Eastern Southland, Brackenfield, South Canterbury and Christchurch hunts. The Christchurch Hunt had a most successful day winning the best bitch with Fidget, and the best dog with Foamer, which was later judged champion hound. The judge was Miss Jean Wiffin, an all breeds judge and vice-president

of the Canterbury Kennel Club Association. After the judging a representative from the Beagle Club gave a talk on their active ities.

The two local hunts, Christchurch and Brackenfield, have both started with their opening meets being held at Loburn and Wardendale. This year, Christchurch has eight children’s meets arranged during the school holidays. Certificate passes

Recently the Canter-bury-Westland Area of the New Zealand Pony Club organised A and H certificate examinations on behalf of the New Zealand Pony Club Association, at Kennels Park, Christchurch. Two candidates were successful in passing their A certificate which is the highest award in the pony club movement for proficiency in riding and horsemastership. They were Julie Hampton (nee Foster), of the Christchurch Pony Club, and Sue Erasmuson (North Canterbury Pony Club). The latter also gained her H certificate which is awarded to those who have attained the required wide and extensive level of horsemastership. Anne Collins from the Christchurch club also gained her H certificate. _