Pony club camp

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 12, Issue 538, 31 May 1994, Page 16

Pony club camp

The Ohakune Branch of the Waimarino Pony Club ran a successful camp during the first five days of the May holidays with cold but mainly fine weather - that is until the ride home on Wednesday aftemoon when everyone got wet. Saturday 7 May was very busy with Adrian Fetzer, Angela Fraser, Hone Brausch and Briar McGregor (Raetihi) acting as guinea pigs for an Eqvalan Instructors Level 2 Assessment day at Warrens Farm. They were all a credit to the Pony Club movement. In the early afternoon they were joined by three guests, two from Hamilton and one from Auckland and started the ride out to the Gliding Club, Valley Road, Raetihi, for a four-night camp. The two Hamilton riders, Eric Stewart and . Kushla Samujh, were loaned horses and were here as part of a rider exchange giving them the opportunity to sample pony club life. Sunday morning was a departure from pony club with a trip back to Ohakune to witness the opening of the steam engine turntable at the Junction. Then it was back to camp for a rally which started with everyone having a chance to handle horse clippers with hands-on experience using four different patient horses. On Monday the farrier arrived early to reshoe four hoses and then it was off on

a 25-km trek kindly and ably led by Amanda Garland and Kelly Godfrey of the Raetihi Branch. Lunch was at the Godfrey homestead, Motete Road, hosted by Lynne and brought out by Eileen Gotlieb. Soon after it was cattle mustering for half an hour for four of the senior riders before the return ride to camp. Connie Cooper sat and passed her 'D' Certificate the next morning prior to a short rally. In the afternoon - despite rain threatening - the group rode along Pipipi Road and on through Manson' s property up to the old house site. Views were not great that afternoon but they promised themselves a further opportunity in the future. Several parents and friends joined the group for dinner on different evenings and, on Tuesday, club patron Ian Roke and Ann, who is the NZPCA President, were guests. Ann presented the Branch with the Fair Play Sports Charter of New Zealand, explaining its significance emphasising sportsmanship and fair play. Members were presented with their own copy of the charter and urged to sign and uphold its ideals. Wednesday dawned bleak but almost dry and the club' s breakup day was held. Because of the small number of riders (10) they paired everyone as evenly as possible (ie. most and least experienced together) and had a morning of games and jumping with everyone helping each other. Prize giving followed

lunch with special thanks to camp helpers Eileen Gotlieb, Juanita Brausch, Heather Cooper, Robyn and Melissa Hodder and Sandy Ripo of Owhango. Members also expressed appreciation of the kindness of the landowners over whose properties they rode. The morning' s results were all very close but Hone Brausch and Eric Stewart were 1st, Victoria Duigan and Natalie Hodder 2nd, Shelly Gotlieb and Connie Cooper 3rd, Leilana Hunter and Angela Fraser 4th and Adrian Fetzer and Kushla Samujh 5th. The 1993/94 Cups were presented as follows: Attendance, Connie Cooper; grooming and gear, 13yrs & under, Shelly Gotlieb; 14yrs & over, Victoria Duigan; most improved rider junior, Natalie Hodder; senior, Adrian Fetzer; most promising rider, Shelly Gotlieb; Certificate of Nomination for Singapore Rosette, Adrian Fetzer. On .21 May Adrian Fetzer sat 'C' Certificate and Victoria Duigan sat her 'C+' . Both were successful with Adrian being the first boy to reach this milestone since Patrick Cooper and Philip Oakley gained theirs in 1981. Victoria is only Ohakune' s 3rd 'C+' holder since the certificate was introduced in 1984. Results are however on a par with much bigger branches from around the country and made a very satisfactory end to a successful and enjoyable season.