WANGANUI AGRICULTURAL ASSOCIATION.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XLIX, Issue 12638, 27 October 1905, Page 8

WANGANUI AGRICULTURAL ASSOCIATION.

THE BUCK-JUMPING COMPETI-

TION

11l writing on this —one of the big events at the forthcoming show—we are reminded of the intrepid deeds perform- j ed on 'horseback by the late Lindsay Gordon, for it is on record that he could not be shaken from the saddle no matter how hard in the mouth the animal was he had to handle. He was an Australian by adoption, "but it must not be thought replying to our Australian friend—that the New Zealand lads a>re in any way deficient as to the deeds performed by Gordon arid others' on " the other side." We in New Zealand consider that we have the finest lot of rough-riders,to be found in the two hemisphere, and there are many men of means who are willing to back that opinion should occasion offer. Well, to bring matters to an issue, the Wanganui Agricultural Association put forward an absolute challenge, and apart from its merits or demerits —especially its merits—the fact remains that the man who is master of the horse —to make the animal docile, tractable, and workable in everyday life, and who can demonstrate the same in a public competition on the Show grounds of our racecourse on the first day of our Show —November 15 —will indeed prove his superiority. For it follows that the man who is master of the fiery, untamed steed, to be made tractable in everyday life, is entitled to general thanks and the prize money which may be awarded him. By the way, the conditions of this competition at our annual Wanganui Show indicate that the first prize amounts to £5, the second of £2, and the third of £1. Of course, as our Australian friend will note, the conditions are based on New Zealand's progressive measures. That is to say, the saddle will be supplied by the committee, horses will 'be balloted for, each competitor saddles his own horse, horses will have been taught to lead, each horse has to be ridden for two minutes, each competitor may be called upon to ride more than one horse, no bit or monkey is allowed, the use of. blind-fold is allowed, dummy spurs only, and celerity of handling and method will be taken into consideration in awarding the prize or prizes. It may be mentioned here that the entrance is 5s (post entry). It may be of interest, too, to learn that the perfect horseman does not allow the animal he is breaking to the bit, the saddle, or collar to know what we term vioa, but high-strung equines will—especially the spirited ones—resent the saddle and the girth, the natural consequence being that directly the rider is in the saddle the horse commences to buck. And don't we all, as lovers of the noble animal—^the horse—watch with avidity the conflict with the man? Why, some of the best animals, the sturdiest, the best bred, have been known as confirmed buck-jumpers, and yet they did but attempt to assert themselves, failing only through the superiority and skill of their human master. " What price?" we then say as to this buck-jumping competition, promote?! by our go-asiead Wanganui Agricultural Association, so that on the first day of their annual Show —on November 15 — there can be demonstrated to the public the gallant struggles of the man against the horse, the one for superiority and the other for freedom. This will be a sight worth seeing—to be remembered by those who have not hitherto participated in such a contest. Not only does this appeal to the younger generation who probably do not understand the ethics of breaking-in the horse, but also to old-timers, now in " the sere and yellow," who. shall we say, in the halcyon days of youth—and especially in the spring-time—absolutely fancied themselves " some " —as our American friends have it—in the pigskin. At any rate, this buck-jumping competition is going to be a ibig boom at our forthcoming Show. And it is unique, so much so that it will proVe one of the best attractions in 'Which some of the descendants of our pioneers wiH be pitted against others from far and near. It mightbe mentioned that the judge in this buck-jumping competition is Dr Graham—well known as a horseman, and who, we understand, is a pastmaster in the pigskin. It has been said of him that " the cobbler to his last" cannot stick tighter than the genial medico to & good old, well-seasoned " buck- | jumper." May we then have some fun,