‘Kaimanawa Bill’ makes his mark

MATCH MADE IN HEAVEN: Georgia Bouzaid with her superstar Kaimanawa showjumper Redcliffs Bill at the Larsen Sawmilling Gisborne Showjumping Championships Premier Show.Picture by Diana Dobson/The Black Balloon

Just three and a bit years ago, Redcliffs Bill was running wild with the rest of his Kaimanawa herd. This year, it’s likely he will be lining up in the prestigious Pony of the Year class with his rather besotted owner Georgia Bouzaid.

The Cambridge 15-year-old is used to hearing the odd derogatory comment about her pony that once ran wild and free on the Kaimanawa Ranges.

“It doesn’t bother me, though, because I think he is amazing,” she said.

They also generally win the class they are contesting.

Kaimanawa horses trace back to Exmoor and Welsh mountain pony stock released in the region in the 1870s. To help control numbers, the Department of Conservation did a muster in 1993. Most were culled.

It’s a different story these days, and Bouzaid and Bill are among the success stories.

The horse was in the 2014 muster, and was ridden in the first Kaimanawa Stallion Challenge by Kate Hewlett. They won the horsemanship class and Bill became Bouzaid’s in 2016.

“I got to ride him at one of Kate’s camps and just thought he was so cool,” Bouzaid said.

She had seen another rider compete on the horse and liked what she saw. The clincher was when he walked right up to her on the last day of camp.

“He was always really hard to catch, but not that day.”

Since then it has been a fairytale run — they have had four pony grand prix wins and placed in all but three grand prix starts.

“He is so consistent and always gives his all.”

They won their first pony grand prix on debut in January 2017 and were second in the next start. Months later they were eighth in the Pony of the Year class — at only their third premier-level start.

Currently they sit in the top 10 in the Country TV Pony Grand Prix Series, so should qualify for the Pony of the Year in March. Only the top 20 go through.

“He is still so young,” Bouzaid says of the seven-year-old.

“The plan is just to get him going well this season. I don’t want to tire him and have him not enjoy it.”

But she has that top title in her sights.

“I definitely want to win it — this year or next.”

Bouzaid says Bill is a big smoocher and loves to snuggle up to his rider.

“He always tries his heart out. Kaimanawas are very clever and Bill always helps me out.”

There every step of the way with Bouzaid and Bill is mum Kelly.

“She used to ride but now just takes me everywhere. She is amazing.”

Until recently it has been only Bill heading to shows, but hack Redcliffs B and W Pure Heart is a new addition to the family.

This is Bouzaid’s first visit for the showjumping champs. She got off to a cracking start with second place in the open pony 1.15-to-1.2-metre class.

The Bouzaid name is probably better known in New Zealand for yachting. Bouzaid’s grandfather Chris won the One Ton Cup on Rainbow II in 1969 and her father Richard is also a sailor.

Bouzaid says it’s not really her thing, although she did enjoy sailing from Tahiti to Tonga with her father last year.