DRAUGHT HORSE CLASSES

Southland Times, Issue 25546, 14 December 1944, Page 6

DRAUGHT HORSE CLASSES

Limited Competition The classes for Clydesdales were not strongly supported on the whole and competition was generally limited. However, the class for dry mares four years old or over, attracted a good many entries and competition was keen, the quality of the mares being outstanding. First prize in this class went to Calcium Lady Mac by Netherton Mac-Calcium Pearl, owned and bred by Mr T. W. McKenzie, Gladfield R.D. This mare was also awarded the championship and the Reginald MacKinnon Medal for the exhibitor bringing forward his entry in the best show condition in the breeding draught section. Mr C. T. McCallum, of Waikouaiti, secured second prize and reserve championship in the dry mare class with Princess Rowena, by Scotland Superb. Another daughter of Netherton Mac, Avondale Leitha, owned by Mr J. A. Lindsay, of Wrights BushGladfield R.D., was awarded third prize in the dry mare class. Mr J. S. Anderson, of Waimatuku, won the class for three-year-old fillies and also the class for two-year-old fillies with animals sired by Netherton Mac and in each case bred by the exhibitor. However, in the class for one-year-old fillies Mr Anderson was beaten by Mr P. J. H. McDonald, of Dipton, who exhibited a filly by Netherton Mac-Strathmore Bess. This filly was awarded the silver medal of the N.Z. Clydesdale Horse Society for the best yearling or two-year-old filly. The judge of the Clydesdales, Mr J. Young, of Allanton, said that the classes for the younger horses were not strong and left a lot to be desired from a competitive and quality point of view.

The most successful exhibitor in the working draughts and trades displays section was Mr J. J. O’Neill, of Invercargill, who in the nine classes in this section secured seven firsts, three seconds and one third.

In the class for a pair of horses, mares or geldings Mr O’Neill’s mares, Lady and Betty, were beaten by Queen and Violet, belonging to Mr W. D. Finlayson, of Oteramika road. The only other class in which Mr O’Neill failed to gain first prize was that for a spring van mare or gelding up to 30cwt. This class was won by Baldy, belonging to Mr John Eades, of Edendale. This animal was awarded the championship ribbon and the reserve championship went to Mr O’Neill’s Lady, which came second to Mr Eade’s horse in this class. In addition to the first prize already mentioned Mr Finlayson secured five, seconds and one third.

The judge of the working draughts, Mr Allison, of Clarksville, Otago, said that the champion and reserve champion were fit to take a prize in any show ring. He was particularly pleased with the entries in the trades displays classes. The condition of the horses, the harness and the vehicles was a credit to Southland.

LIGHT HARNESS HORSES STRONGEST - SECTION IN YEARS The competition in the saddle horse sections was the strongest for many years, and the judge, Mr C. L. Orbell, of Timaru, remarked that the winners were very good types. Many of the horses, however, were not turned out in the right shape for a show, and one or two of the entrants lost a good winning chance on that account. One of the biggest faults was the lack of schooling for show purposes, said Mr Orbell. The most successful competitior was Mr F. Blackie, of Mosgiel, whose Monty won three classes, and the championship ribbon. Commenting on the champion, Mr Orbell said that he was a particularly good type, his only drawback being a short tail. In Canterbury they went in more for a longtailed horse, and if Monty had a long tail he would win prizes in Canterbury. Miss M. Johnston (Waikaka) won the prize for best lady rider. HARNESS HORSES The feature of the harness horse section in the opinion of the judge, Mr C. L. Orbell, of Timaru, was the winning exhibit of Lindsay Johnston in the class for the best and tidiest turnout. It would take a prize in any show ring in New Zealand, he said. The section was quite a good one, the winning horses being well worthy of the honours. SADDLE COBS AND PONIES Undoubtedly a great section, was how the judge, Mr F. J. Conn, summed up the classes for saddle cobs and ponies. The champion Spitfire, exhibited by Mr F. Blackie (Mosgiel) was the outstanding pony of both the saddle and harness classes. He would hold his own in any show in New Zealand. It was pleasing to record that all of the entries were well handled. In the boys’ and girls’ classes the competition was exceptionally keen. There were large entries and it was a credit to the children to see their ponies turned out so well. The champion pony stallion, Mr J. Cockburn’s (Kennington) “Glen Bhraggie” was a real good type and well up to show standard. PONIES, 13 HANDS AND UNDER Good competition in the pony sections, 13 hands and under, gave the judge, Mr H. S. S. Kyle, plenty of thought. All round the standard was high and in the saddle classes the entries were superior to anything he had previously judged at Invercargill. The champion saddle pony, Mr C. Hughes’s (Lorneville) Starlight, who was reserve champion in the section, was fit to take his place in any show ring in the country. Generally the entries were good representatives of the typical saddle pony. Of the harness ponies, Mr Kyle said that he had seen better hock action by the ponies at other Southland shows, but there was not doubt that the ponies forward were good representatives of the class. The champion harness pony,. E. P. King’s (Glencoe) Wendy, which was also champion of the section, was a nice-moving animal and but for a slight deficiency in hock action was well up to the best standard. The class as a whole was deficient in hock action, but otherwise was up to standard. A comparison of the saddle and harness classes showed up the saddle ponies in a good light.