New Zealand’s best young horses are chasing top honours in Hawke’s Bay at the national age group champs this weekend.
The East Coast Performance Horses National Young Horse Show has attracted record entries from horses and riders the nation over. With 475 combinations taking part in the event, which runs from Friday through to Sunday at the Hawke’s Bay A and P Showgrounds in Hastings, organisers are expecting top-notch competition across the board.
The East Coast Performance Horses Five-Year-Old class has attracted 52 entries with the Mitavite Speedi-Beet Six-Year-Old class right behind on 51, 31 lining up in the Matthews Hanoverians Seven-Year-Old and 30 in the four-year-old. With late entries still being taken those numbers are likely to be boosted even further.
The championship titles are highly sought-after by all with a crown for the leading breeder of the champs. As a showcase used to promote the breeding and development of New Zealand’s young sport horses it has also become an event where plenty of business is also done.
The concept was started by long-time Hawke’s Bay breeder Graeme Hart in 1996, who teamed up with Taupo’s Trevor Gregory to make the champs a platform for New Zealand breeders.
Combinations in the age group classes will qualify on the opening day of the show before progressing to the final championship. Series classes are also being held in the FMG Young Rider, Dunstan Horsefeeds and EquiFibre Junior Rider, Hinterland Amateur Rider, Main-Events University, Dunstan Horsefeeds and EquiFibre Pro-Am and Equissage Horse Grand Prix divisions. The Dr Feelgood Ice Pops Area Teams Competition is also on the card.
Organisers have a few fun events for the weekend along with an auction. There will be a television crew at the show following young riders for a series on HEIHEI, a collaboration between TVNZ and NZ On Air dedicated to Kiwi kids with mostly local content.
Even the forecast looks like it is going to play ball.
WHAT: East Coast Performance Horses National Young Horse Show
WHEN: December 7-9, 2018
WHERE: Hawke’s Bay A and P Showgrounds, Hastings
LIVE SCORING: www.main-events.com
MORE INFO: Follow the show on Facebook – East Coast Performance Horses NZ Young Horse Show