Top pony tests held

Press, 13 February 1986, Page 22

Top pony tests held

The two top examinations of the New Zealand Pony Clubs’ Association were held at Christchurch recently. The examiners were Miss S. Dickens and Miss J. Stobart, both national instructors. The horsemastership certificate examination was held at the Canterbury Showgrounds. The two successful candidates were Cathy Hamer and Anne Nicholl, of the North Canterbury club.

The A certificate examination at Kennels Park, produced two partial passes, to Emma Stoothoff and Nicci Schroeder, from the Christchurch club, who passed the riding phase. The next examinations in Christchurch will be on August 2 and 3.

The Canterbury area of the New Zealand Horse Society will host the Canterbury championship show for dressage and show jumping at the Ellesmere showgrounds on February 22 and 23.

An international course designer Pam Curruthers, made a considerable mark on her last visit and will undoubtedly set up challenges again for the riders at Ellesmere. Building the show jumping courses for the show will be the task facing enthusiasts at

a working bee on February 20. * * • The dressage phase of eventing is very much the“poor cousin” in the thoughts of some riders. The necessity of a good dressage test was clearly demonstrated at the A.M.G. national three-day horse trial at McLeans Island. All the dressage leaders in the three grades maintained placings at the top of the class. One rider, having ridden the winning test in her grade, stopped on the cross-country, but still took fourth place. When horses go from novice grade to advanced the tests get progressively harder. But the standard of work presented to the judge does not always get better. In the South Island, with small open

fields, horses can pun through after a bad test to a placing. But against bigger fields the odds against this happening become greater. Canterbury is fortunate to have many good instructors, and some excellent overseas visitors. Stephen and Sandy. Clarke recently made a visit from Great Britain and in the near future Claire Morrison will make a return tour of the South Island. The New Zealander, Lockie Richards, the team trainer for the Newmans three-day world championship team, and the New Zealand-based German, Christian Theiss, are also prominent. A better schooled horse becomes a more balanced, safer, cross-country horse. « • « The North Canterbury Pony Club held its non-grad-ing event on Waitangi Day at the Windsor club grounds. Five new cross-country jumps were built, and two of these caused problems for some of the riders. In class 1, Sarah Hom, of Cheviot, on Satchmo, finished four points clear to take first placing. Rhonda Cobley, riding Kotere Migonne, just managed to hold her dressage lead and win by 0.66 points, in class 11. Results: Class 1: S. Hom 1; K. Bell, Houdini, 2; K. Menzies, Night Usher, 3; A. Nicholl, Zebadee, 4. Class 2: R. Cobley, 1; L. Carlyon, Pedita, 2; C. Jarvis, Grey Fantasy, 3; S. Topp, Free Rule. 4. • « • Post entries will, be accepted for the Derby Day to be held on Sunday at the Winsdor pony grounds, Yellowstone Crescent, starting at v a.m.

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