Horse and dog entries are up

Press, 24 October 1980, Page 8

Horse and dog entries are up

The • total number of entries for the Northern Agricultural and Pastoral Association’s show at the Rangiora showgrounds today and tomorrow is once again up on- last -year's total with a tremendous increase in the Horses and D.og Trial Sections. Mary Ann Petrie, the association’s secretary says the total number of entries this year is 3762 compared to 3666 last year. Entries in the horse and pony sections totalled 2242, an increase of 256 on last year’s total. Mary Ann Petrie says the general riding section has been going from strength to strength with over 600 entries in the saddle pony class and over 400 entries in the hunters class. The Horses section has always attracted a high number of entries at the Rangiora show, which is often thought to be the I biggest horse show, in numbers, in Canterbury. Rangiora always has a good class of jumping and entrants find that it is worth their while to travel long distances to attend because of the additional Labour week-end. activities which include the North Canterbury Racing Club’s gallops at the Rangiora racecourse and the Junior Horse Society’s Jumping Show at the showgrounds on the Monday. . The threat of drought has not affected the number .of sheep entries to any great extent although the small decline in numbers may show that some farmers are reluctant to pay transport costs to and from the show.

Mr Brian Page, the association’s president, says the drought has not affected the feed situation yet. In the last few months feed has been short but of good quality and the lambs and sheep are in better condition than normal. The drought is not worrying

farmers at the moment . providing they get more • rain. Total entries received this year compared to last year are as follows: —

1979 1980 Sheep 368 2S8 Cattle 456 483 1 Horses 1986 2242 Pigs, dogs, goats 227 208 Sundries 629 541 ■ ■ Total 3666 3762