Whangarei to host eventing

The national pony club eventing championships will be held in Northland in April next year.

Top young equestrians from around New Zealand will converge on Whangarei's picturesque Barge Show Grounds to compete in the disciplines of dressage, cross-country and show jumping over three days from Friday, April 21.

The Northland Area Pony Club is currently raising funds to help cover the costs of hosting the event.

The champs are open to the public and will include equine trade stalls.

Dressage routines will be performed on the first day of the event; horse and rider polished and beautiful as they execute paces and manoeuvres within an arena.

Judges will be looking for obedience, flexibility and balance.

The thrilling sight of horses charging over a cross-country course can be experienced on the Saturday.

The same horses that exhibited the fine points of dressage the day before must now show endurance and courage.

Navigating hill and flat, forest, open country and water, horse and rider cover a course of two to three kilometres with up to 30 jumps.

On Sunday the same combinations of horse and rider will be asked to show athleticism and agility as they compete in the show jumping arena.

Riders aim to jump a complex course of colourful jumps without knocking a rail within an optimum time.

Horses need to be able to jump, turn sharply and take jumps at an angle in order to gain a clear round in the best time.

Northland last hosted the eventing championships in 2006.