Horse-drawn display

Press, 26 October 1984, Page 9

Horse-drawn display

An addition to the Amberley Agricultural and Pastoral Show this year will be a driving display by members of the Christchurch Driving Society. About six horse-drawn vehicles will be featured in the display, with the vehicles being pulled by everything from Shetland ponies to Clydesdales. The president of the society, Mr Graeme Holloway, said the society started about three months ago and now has 60 financial members. Members are drawn from

Christchurch and North Canterbury and Mr Holloway said the group had created a lot of interest with some people joining who did not own horses themselves. “People come along to the events and help with refreshments and then if there is a spare berth they will go along for the ride,” Mr Holloway said. The society will put on the noncompetitive demonstration to give the people at the show some idea of what the society does. Drivers would compete in

an obstacle drive around cones, and the point of the exercise, said Mr Holloway, was to get through the course at speed. Shetland ponies would also give a demonstration of scurry driving, which is very fast. Mr Holloway said the event was similar to what people saw Mark Todd doing at the Olympics but this time the horses would be pulling a vehicle with several people on it. The vehicles were built with motorcycle wheels and were light, strong and easily manoeuvrable, he said. The society would be holding a one-day event at Ohoka on December 16 and a two day event would be held near the Ashley River in the new year.