Horses and ponies

Press, 12 November 1981, Page 24

Horses and ponies

The high standard of the horses and ponies which competed in the first day of the Show yesterday impressed several visiting judges, including a husband-and-wife team from Britain. Classes judged yesterday were: Arabs, led hacks and thoroughbreds, led ponies, Shetlands, standardbreds, donkeys, Clydesdales. Welsh ponies and hunters. Led ponies The best ponies in this class were of a very high standard and “certainly not too light boned." said the judge, Mr R. Mills, of Herefordshire, England. Mr Mills said that he had never come across such a predominance of chestnuts in the led pony class before. The quality of the top ponies, such as the champion stallion, Mrs S. H. Sampson's National Title, was equal to that overseas, he said. But the quality seemed to taper off into the minor placings. One reservation on the standard was that some of the ponies towards the bottom of the line had ewenecks, he said. Welsh ponies Canterbury’s top Welsh ponies could match the standard of the breed's top competitors in Britain, said the judge, Mrs R. Mills, of Herefordshire, England. The standard of the winning ponies was "very, very good" she said. But the high quality did not show up as far down the minor placings as was usual “back home,” she said. The champion Welsh stallion, L. F. and L. W. Newick's Trehame Jacob (Imp.) was a “lovely pony and would be at the top at home.” said Mrs Mills. Welsh pony breeders in New Zealand would have to watch out that the breed did not become too fine-boned and lose the traditional strength of the breed. “With all your beautiful country I’m amazed someone hasn't started running wild ponies as we have them on the hills in Wales,” she said. This would keep up the proper mountain pony types of the breed. Led hacks and thoroughbreds Hunter Mr P. Holden from Hawke’s Bay said that Christchurch’s standard of hunters was “pretty good” compared to the rest of the country.

“Thev all moved well which is the most important point with hunters and they were able to stretch out well and do some good clear jumping,” said Mr Holden. However, only the two or three top hunters made outstanding jumping rounds in the two jumping competitions. he said. Most of the horses got too close to their fences and were putting in quick steps or cat-jumping to get out of trouble. Mr Holden said that the standard of led hacks was generally good and compared favourably with other areas. F.E.L events Three horses jumped clear first rounds in the Table AM3 competition for B grade horses, the first F.E.L jumping competition of the show. They were the recently upgraded Mr Hagen, ridden by Julie Srhoy from Hinds, the Otago horse. Honkey Tonk. ridden by Michael Lucas, and Golan Heights, ridden by Mr lan Bell from Rakaia. Jumping off over raised fences and against time, Mr Hagen and Golan Heights again jumped clear and both in the same time of 35 seconds, a rather rare occurence. Honkey Tonk incurred four faults for third place. Mr Hagen, first to go in the second jump-off had eight faults in the winning

time of 32.4 seconds. Golan Heights, also had eight faults in the slower time of 35.9 for second place. The two most recent upgradings to the A grade • ranks, Missouri, ridden by 17 year old school boy. Mark Crean from Hawarden, and Never Know, ridden by Richard Hampton from Rakaia, ' provided the excitement in the Gamblers Stakes for A and B grade horses. Although no riders scored the possible 69 points. Missouri. fresh from his recent Labour Day show jumping championship win, and Never Know, fought a close tussle. Both scored 63 points, but Missouri just headed Never Know, to win in the time of 33.6, with Never Know second in 33.8 seconds. Third place went to Pieman. ridden by Julie Vandeweg from Rakaia, with a score of 63 also, but a slower time of 35.4. The final class of the day, the Gamblers Stakes for A and B grade ponies, resulted in Prue Chapman from Rangiora taking first and second places with Coco and Koromiko. The first four placings all scored the highest possible 69 points. Coco's winning time was 28.8, well ahead of Koromiko’s time of 31.9. Third place went to Simon Pain from Prebbleton, riding Cascade, whose time was 37.6.