Horse of Year calls in cavalry

A helicopter was called in as a blow dryer. Photo / Paul Taylor

Officials at Farmlands Horse of the Year have called in the big guns to dry the event's premier field after it was soaked in Monday's downpour.

A helicopter from Hawke's Bay Helicopters was used to dry the Land Rover Premier Arena at 5.10pm yesterday .

Kevin Hansen, HOY show director, said getting the field dry was essential for the show to go on.

"That rain really softened the ground up. The premier arena is where all the money is won and lost and where all the crowds are. It is the equestrian equivalent of Eden Park," he said.

"We need the best possible footing that we can provide for these horses.

"They are worth hundreds of thousands of dollars each and they need the best grounds."

Mr Hansen said the chopper was only used for half an hour to avoid the ground becoming too hard.

"We don't want to harden it up too much because it will get harder as the week goes on.

"It is just a little bit too soft right now, the horses would just find it a little heavy going and we can't afford for that to happen," he said.

"Because the show starts in the main arena today, we need it right for today and then we have a big class on Thursday and a big class on Friday, another major class on Saturday and then the big one, the Bostock International Olympic Cup on Sunday.

"We need this ground right the whole week and this is going to help it."

Mr Hansen said he was optimistic there would not be any more rain for the rest of the week.

"We have looked at the forecast and we are optimists here in Hawke's Bay.

"This is sunny Hawke's Bay and we are going to get sunshine right throughout the week," he said.

The decision to dry the field comes after all classes were postponed at the event on Monday. Registration was reopened, allowing horses which were moved to the Hawke's Bay Racecourse due to bad weather to return.