Harriet Laing rides Triple Star Picture Puzzle to win the ESNZ Show Hunter Cat C Pony of the Year, Horse of the Year 2018, Hawke’s Bay A&P Showgrounds, Hastings, Wednesday, March 14, 2018. Credit: KAMPIC / Sarah Lord
By Diana Dobson
Winner Aniwell Cat C High Points Series
Harriet Laing was a bolt-away winner of the Aniwell Cat C High Points Series at HOY and she couldn’t have been happier.
“To win the series just shows how much work my family have put in for me,” said the 13-year-old from Canterbury. “I am very grateful for all their support.”
She and 12-year-old Triple Star Picture Puzzle have been doing show hunter for two seasons and this year won the Canterbury Cat C Series, South Island Cat C Series, the National Cat C title and the SCNO overall show hunter crown.
They had already secured the Aniwell Cat C High Points before starting at HOY.
“Our partnership is really coming together now,” said Laing.
She was quick to praise her “amazing” coach Lucy Maley.
“She really sets me up before a show. She is easy to understand and makes training fun.”
Laing is planning on competing more in showjumping next season but says she will certainly keep up her show hunter training.
She’s grown up riding and following in mum Anna’s footsteps headed first to showing as a five-year-old. These days she still competes in showing for Amberleigh Stud.
Laing lives on a 3500-acre sheep and Angus stud where she loves to ride her pony all over the property.
“Dixie (Triple Star Picture Puzzle) is a real tomboy. She moves cattle and sheep, loves swimming in the river, is really good on the farm and just does everything. She is certainly not a princess,” says Laing. “But she isn’t a push button pony though.”
The pony has previously won the same series with former owner Frankie Middleton.
Results
Aniwell Cat C High Points Series: Harriet Laing, Triple Star Picture Puzzle 75 points 1, Georgia Allison, Pioneer High Jinx 53 2, Chantelle Smith, Finch 49 3, Abe Baker, Tawa 48 4.