Horse comes first

Press, 19 July 1989, Page 30

Horse comes first

One of the first rules to be learnt is to put your horse before yourself in all things. This really is no hardship, since to be in the company of either horses or ponies can be the most relaxing of pastimes, whether you are riding quietly through the countyside, grooming energetically or just hanging over the stable door watching your favourite munch his way happily through his evening feed. Many of them are capable of strong attachment to their owners and have a good sense of fun, which manifests itself in all sorts of ways. After returning from a day at a show, a horse turned out in his own familar paddock, will invariably show his pleasure by showing off for a few minutes, squealing, bucking and rolling before settling down to graze peacefully. Horses love having a good roll, particularly when they are hot after a hard day’s work. The old horse dealers used to say that a horse was worth another twenty dollars if he could roll right over from one side to the other. Horses are gregarious and pine if they do not have a companion. Although they may graze at opposite ends of their paddock, they nevertheless appreciate the company. Some horses soon learn to untie ropes with amazing ease and a clip and chain can be the only answer if you want to be sure of keeping your horse in one place for more than five minutes. Many horses soon learn how to undo the bolts on the stable door and realize that the answer is instant freedom. A safety clip on the bolt

puts a stop to this .little game. Look after his heeds when you have finished with him, don’t just leave him standing in the yard and hope that someone will cope. They probably will, but how much nicer for you to show your appreciation by slacking off his girths and making him comfortable.

All horses presently registered for dressage will be sent a result sheet with an invoice from the N.Z.H.S. in Hastings. If there are any discrepancies Head Office is to be notified. When the in-

voice is returned a coloured sticker with the horse’s registration number will be returned to the owner and the sticker is to put on the cover of the horse’s grading card. Each new registration will be sent a grading card with the number and sticker attached. Please send S.A.E. to the Canterbury Dressage Group Secretary, 1 Hackthorne Road, Christchurch 2, for a copy of the new system and information regarding lost cards, etc. Ponies do not have to be registered to compete in classes scheduled by the Canterbury Dressage Group. Registration is due by August 1. A show-jumping judges seminar will be held at the Canterbury A and P Offices on Tuesday, August 8, at 8 p.m. To produce an even standard of judging and judging procedure all panel judges are requested to attend. An invitation is extended to any other interested persons to also attend. The seminar will be conducted by the chairman of the Show Jumping Discipline, Mr David Graham, of Tauranga. Excellent weather and ground conditions combined with good entries at the Brackenfield Hunt’s Annual Hunter Trials held recently on Mr J. Saville’s property at Amberley. Results were: Maiden Pony under 13.2: S. Spiers’ Pagent, 1. Maiden Pony 13.2-14.2: B. Forbes’ Smoke, 1; K. Lucy’s Ace, 2; H. Saville’s Jordy, 3. Handy Pony under 13.2: S. Morris’ Eagles Keston, 1; M. Savill’s Samuel Whiskers, 2; L. Rutherford’s Galway Snow-

drop, 3. Handy Pony 13.2-14.2: Ace, 1; F. Mason’s Prince Hal, 2; Galway Mallinger, 3. Pony Wire under 13.2: Galway Snowdrop, 1; Eagles Keston, 2; Samuel Whiskers, 3. Pony Wire 13.2-14.2: Smoke, 1; A. Saville’s Demelza, 2; Ace, 3. Open Pony under 13.2: Galway Snowdrop, 1; J. Moffatt’s Shot Silk, 2; Samuel Whiskers, 3. Open Pony 13.2-14.2: Prince Hal, 1; Demelza, 2; D. Forbes’ Hany, 3. Beginners Hack: R. Davies’ Lace, 1; A. Kebbell’s Nightcaps 2; G. Storer’s Witney, .3. Maiden Hunter: N. Johns’ Matchem, 1; A. Demouth’s Noble Note, 2; B. Rutherford’s Suggestion, 3. Handy Hunter: J. Wigley’s Louis D’Or, 1; M. Crean’s Ohau Bay, 2; L. Morris Enigma, 3. Wire Jump: J. Spark’s Cocaine, 1; F. West's Half-a-Sixpence, 2; Cricket, 3. Open Hunter: Louis D’Or, 1; Ludlow, 2; Half-a-Sixpence, 3.

• Point to Point Ponies: Samuel Whiskers, 1; Prince Hal, 2; Eagles Keston, 3. Thoroughbred Point to Point: A. Demouth’s Noble Note, 1; R. Gibson’s McGyver, 2. Members Point to Point: Ludlow, 1; Ohau Bay, 2; B. Storer’s Baracus, 3. Champion Pony Hunter: Galway Snowdrop, 1; Champion Hack Hunter: Louis D’Or, I; Railway Hotel Trophy: Smoke and Galway Snowdrop equal, 1; Katie Allison Memorial Trophy: Louis D’Or, 1.