HOY the dangling carrot for riders

Zoe McNaught and Nitro Pandora were third in their show hunter category going into the Horse of the Year Show at Hastings’ Tomoana Showgrounds. Picture by Sara McNaught

Gisborne riders have been competing over the past several months with the aim of qualifying for a start in the Horse of the Year events.

Horse of the Year is the pinnacle show for many.

It is even more special this year because it hasn’t run since 2020 due to Covid and then Cyclone Gabrielle.

Competition got under way yesterday.

At the Central and Southern Hawke’s Bay Show Jumping held in Dannevirke, Cindy Kershaw and Kiwi Vision had a win in the horse 1.10-metre showjumping, and daughter Rose and My Luna Eclipse were second in the pony 90-centimetre showjumping and first-equal in two 80cm showjumping classes.

In the show hunter ring, Rose was third in the Fiber Fresh Category B pony high points 80cm. Sam Brooks and The Tontonator were first in the pony 90cm showjumping.

Isobel Bevitt and Mangatu Solar Eclipse competed at the Elsthorpe Sports, where they picked up second place in the pony 85cm and fourth in the pony 1.10m showjumping.

Fraser Babbington and Jess McCann competed in the Mana Stables Show Jumping Masters. This is a new boutique event to the circuit and is set in the beautiful grounds of Mana Stables. Fraser and Awanui’s Tennessee Honey were the winners on the first day in the 1.10m one-star tour while Jess and Cheval de Fond were placed third. Jess was placed sixth in the one-star final on the second day of the competition.

Merran Hain’s well-travelled Untouchable competed at the Dannevirke A&P Show with Hollie Falloon from Masterton riding. Hollie and Untouchable were first in the wire jump, first in the open hunter over 163cm, first in round-the-ring jumping and second in the working hunter over 163cm. In the show hunter ring, they were second in the NRM High Points 1.10m, first in the junior high points and first in the equitation.

Zoe McNaught rode away with a fistful of top prizes at the Bay of Plenty North Island Show Hunter Championships. Zoe and Nitro Pandora were third in the Category C handy hunter, third in the Big on Writing Equitation Series and second in The Brave Pants Company Category C High Points.

On the second day of competition, Zoe was second in The Brave Pants Company Category C High Points and went on to win the North Island Category C Show Hunter Championship.

Ella Rouse and MJK Durham were second in the Auckland and Waitemata Show Hunter Groups’ Junior Equitation and third in the open show hunter. With Let’s Rumble Bumble, Ella was third in the Healthy Horse Open Category C 1m, second in the Category C handy hunter and first in the Category C 90cm. She was second on both days in the Big on Writing Rider Equitation, first and fourth in the Category C Brave Pants Company High Points and fourth in the Category C Championship.

Ruby Carr and MJK Isle of Skye were placed fourth in the Category C 80cm and 90cm show hunters.

Maria Atsalis and Lady Moet were third in Category C 80cm.

Molly McEwan and Wembleybrook Giovanni were fourth in the Category C pony 90cm, third in The Brave Pants Company Category C High Points, first in the 80cm Category C, third in the 90cm Category C and second in the North Island Category C Show Hunter Championship.

Gisborne riders competed in the Eastern Bay of Plenty Show Jumping and Show Hunter Show at the Whakatane racecourse.

Georgie Coop and Barney Rubble were first in the pony mini prix 1.15m, second in the pony 1.10m showjumping and first in the Category B champion show hunter. They were third in the Big on Writing Rider Equitation on both days of the show and third and fourth in the Fiber Fresh Category B High Points.

Riding her mother Caroline’s horse Zola, Georgie was third in the junior high points.

Zoe McNaught and Hocus Pocus Alakazame MJK were placed second in two pony 1m showjumping classes and third in the pony 1.05m.

Zoe and Nitro Pandora were first in The Brave Pants Company Category C High Points and first in the Canter for Cancer Category C Champion Show Hunter.

Ella Rouse and MJK Durham were third in the 1.10m, and fourth on both days in the Auckland and Waitemata Show Hunter Groups’ Junior Equitation. They were also second and fourth in the Equimatch Junior Highpoints.

Ella and Let’s Rumble Bumble were first in the pony 1m, second in the pony mini prix 1.15m and first in the pony 1.05m.

Ruby Carr and MJK Isle of Skye were fourth in the Bay of Plenty and Waikato Show Hunter 12-years-and-under Equitation Series, fourth in The Brave Pants Company Category C High Points, fourth in the Canter for Cancer Category C Championships and first in the Category C 80cm show hunter.

Georgia Hulme-Moir and Chica Caliente were third in the pony 1.10m and third in the pony mini prix 1.15m.

Maria Atsalis and Lady Moet were first in the 1m showjumping, first in the Category C 90cm show hunter, fourth in the Category C 80cm and third in The Brave Pants Company Category C High Points.

Sam Brooks and the Lone Ranger were second in the 1m showjumping, second in the 90cm and second in the 1.05m showjumping.

Kaycee Andrew and Charlie Taplin were first-equal in the 80cm showjumping, third in two 90cm classes and third in the Category C high points show hunter.

Hannah Andrew and Mount Tulloch Fantail were first-equal in the pony 80cm showjumping. Molly McEwan and Wembleybrook Giovanni were placed fourth in the pony mini prix 1.15m and first in the pony 1.10m showjumping.

Zoe McNaught and Nitro Pandora were first in The Brave Pants Company Category C High Points Series class at the Waikato Show Hunter Summer Show.

Competing at the Trust House Wairarapa Show Jumping and Show Hunter Summer Show, Ella Rouse and Halo were second in the Equimatch Junior High Points, second in the Auckland and Waitemata Junior Equitation and third in the horse 1.20m showjumping.

Ella and Let’s Rumble Bumble were fourth in the pony 1.10m.

The Horse of the Year Show is the final round of the New Zealand Show Hunter Series with several Gisborne riders near the top of their series.

Going into the show, Zoe McNaught and Nitro Pandora were third in The Brave Pants Company Category C Series. Zoe was also fifth in the Big on Writing Pony Equitation.

Ella Rouse was second in the Auckland and Waitemata Show Hunter Groups’ Junior Equitation. Ella and MJK Durham were fourth in the Equimatch Junior High Points Series.

Hollie Falloon and Untouchable were third in the Thoroughbred in Equestrian Sports Series.