Equestrian: Touch of English to Silver Ferns title

Helen McNaught-McFarlane and LT Holst Aunty Annette soak up the interest. PHOTO/Paul Taylor

As photographers got into the scrum for a shot of Helen McNaught-McFarlane someone remarked about the union jack on her mount, LT Holst Aunty Annette.

"Oh yes, I'm still English. Not British. I do have some Irish but let's not go there. Oh no, let's not," a grinning McNaught-McFarlane responded after winning the Silver Ferns Stakes class of the Horse of the Year Show in Hastings last night.

Not only was she and husband Duncan McFarlane, of Taupo, adept trainers but they also walked the talk, as it were, after their pupil, Drew Carson, had clinched the bragging rights to the Young Rider of the Year title earlier in the day.

No doubt a wicked sense of humour is just as important as her mental fortitude.

Riding the horse for her teenage protege, Brayden Aarts, McNaught-McFarlane eclipsed an elite field of 14 to claim the second richest class of the Hoy Show on a sticky, heavy underfoot surface of the main arena.

"Well, I just jumped clear. It's a German-designed course so it suits me because I'm a European rider," she said with a laugh of designer Werner Deeg even though she had spent a lot of time in the United States before arriving in New Zealand.

"She is a new horse so all I wanted to do was stay alive and do the best I could for her in the future," said McNaught-McFarlane, revealing she spent only a fortnight in finding a modicum of affinity with the mount.

A "catch rider" in America, she said building a rapport with horses came somewhat instinctively to her.

"I kind of rode 30 in a day so you kind of get to know them pretty quickly."

McNaught-McFarlane described LT Holst Aunty Annette as a mount that tried the best for riders provided they could get her on their side because she had a propensity to be stubborn.

"She's a bit like me but she couldn't have tried harder for me and she busted her guts to jump for me."

The remarkable thing is that she and the horse, affectionately known as Annie, were all clear in the opening round of the class but picked up a single time fault.

Nine combinations came back for the second round, where the eventual winner added nothing to her tally.

Olympian Katie Laurie (Mystery Creek) and Esteban MVNZ - a horse she is riding for the injured Carissa McCall - carried four faults from the opening round, and while clear in the second, had to settle for second place.

Mathew Dickey (Taranaki) and Quango were also clear in the second but were carrying four faults from the opening round, to come in for third, with Rio Olympic eventer Clarke Johnstone (Matangi) and Quainton Labyrinth, who were leading after the first round, filling fourth place.

McNaught-McFarlane was rapt with the efforts of her horse.

"She's a new horse so I didn't want to kill her to see hoe far she was going to go into Sunday," she said of the marquee Olympic Cup.

It was the mount's confidence that grabbed her most, getting better with each round.

She and husband Duncan McFarlane found the horse for Aarts and she is schooling her for the young rider.

She saluted the arena surface despite a little hole in front of the red-and-black fence but felt no one could be held at ransom because of inclement weather.

If the arena becomes treacherous with more rain today and tomorrow she may rethink competing in the Olympic Cup but she quickly dismissed such thoughts on the ground that the surface at the show always withstands most conditions.

Ideally the talented horsewoman wanted to spend three years with Annie but as luck would have it, the horse was brought for a rider but she wasn't ready, so McNaught-McFarlane found herself in the saddle and a sash to show for it.

"For the owners it's brilliant."

McNaught-McFarlane also started her 2016 Olympic Cup champion, Carnutelabryere, but grey Polish import retired in the second round.

Both Annie and Carnutelabryere are on tomorrow's Olympic Cup agenda.

McNaught-McFarlane said "her kid, Carson" deserved her Young Rider kudos yesterday as well.

"I taught her from the day since we arrived and her sister [Ally] is good, too. They are a great family."

A beaming McNaught-McFarlane hailed the Hoy Show "great" on account of "it's always great when you win".

DAY 4 RESULTS

■ Showjumping, Silver Fern Stakes: Helen McNaught-McFarlane (Taupo) LT Holst Aunty Annette 1, Katie Laurie (Mystery Creek) Esteban MVNZ 2, Mathew Dickey (Taranaki) Quango 3, Clarke Johnstone (Matangi) Quainton Labyrinth 4, Katie Laurie (Mystery Creek) Dunstan Casebrooke Lomond 5, Amanda Wilson (Hikurangi) Showtym Cassanova 6.

■ Dunstan Nutrition Young Rider of the Year (part of the FMG Young Rider Series): Drew Carson (Putaruru) Winston V Driene 1, Lily Tootill (Karaka) Ulysses NZPH 2, Briar Burnett-Grant (Taupo) Fiber Fresh Veroana 3, Elmo Jackson (Auckland) Next 4, Harry Feast (Canterbury) Double J Bouncer 5, Oliver Croucher (Rotorua) Waitangi Wi Fi 6.

■ Harney & Sons 5-year-old of the year (part of the East Coast Performance Horses Breeding Series): Logan Massie (Dannevirke) Double J Beyonce 1, Emily Hayward-Morgan (Te Awamutu) Delicious HM 2, Daniel Blundell (Ocean Beach) Charlie NZPH 3, Amanda Wilson (Hikurangi) Showtym Burrow 4, Helen Kippen (Ocean Beach) Commander NZPH 5, Monica Oakley (Waipukurau) Festival 6.

■ Show hunter, Show Hunter Horse of the Year: Abby Robinson (Ohaupo) Hillman Hunter. Reserve: Karen Riddle (Rotorua) LC Telepathy.

■ Virbac Equine junior show hunter of the year: Claudia Thomas (Rotorua) Kinnordy Go Girl. Reserve: Isobel Vokes (Helensville) Bizzie Beware.

■ Amateur show hunter of the year: Stephie Joustra-Smith (Kumeu) Disney. Reserve: Abby Robinson (Ohaupo) Lost in Translation.

■ Harrison Lane category B pony show hunter of the year: Maddie Smith (Tuakau) Starlight India. Reserve: Anna Nalder (Rangiora) Acclaim.

■ Category C pony show hunter of the year: Rebecca Williamson (Kumeu) He's Priceless. Reserve: Harriet Laing (Leeston) Triple Star Picture Puzzle.

■ Woodford House category a pony show hunter of the year: Maddi Davidson (Te Awamutu) Rhythm N Gold. Reserve: Bria Fitzgerald (Waikanae) My Scooter.

■ Dressage, level 1 pony of the year: Bella Small (Araimu) Kingslea Busy Bee. Reserve: Paris Masterson (Papakura) KS Rose D'Or.

■ Level 2 pony of the year: Isabella Chatfield (Tauranga) AD Dennache. Reserve: Antonia Verissimo (Pukekohe) Picture Me Painted.

■ Level 3 pony of the year: Mackenzie Sim (Pukekohe) North East. Reserve: Anna Wilson (Waipukurau) Pepee.

■ Level 4 dressage pony of the year: Alison Addis (Kaeo) Whistledown Kristopha. Reserve: Lilly Jefferies (Wellington) Prima Magneto.

■ Level 2 horse of the year: Lorraine Ward-Smith (Oamaru) Fernlea Diamond Day. Reserve: Alex Matheson (Cambridge) Furstango.

■ Level 3 horse of the year: Abbie Deken (Taranaki) Giuliani. Reserve: Rebecca Rowlands (Christchurch) Solo.

■ Level 4 horse of the year: Melissa Galloway (Blenheim) Windermere J'Obei W. Reserve: Vanessa Way (Taranaki) NSC Pronto.