Amanda Pottinger shows her class at the Horse of the Year show

Fourteen-year-old Tinui rider Amanda Pottinger staked her claim to be the new rising star of New Zealand show jumping at the annual Horse of the Year Show in Hastings over the weekend, while the Tararua team showed that Wairarapa riders are already masters of the fast growing sport of Mounted Games.
After the disappointment of failing to make the jump off in the FMG Pony Grand Prix in the premier arena on Friday-something of which she was clearly capable of doing - Pottinger and her hugely-talented mount, Tauhara Silver Fern, entered the No.1 arena for the Merial Pony Speed Championships over 1.20m jumps on Saturday morning clearly determined to make amends..
An enthusiastic contingent of Wairarapa supporters had no doubt she would put her stamp on this competition but even they-along with the time keepers- were to be left gasping by what they were to witness.,
Riding sixth Pottinger - daughter of Olympian Tink s- rode a controlled but lightning fast clear round which made the riders which had gone before look like they must have been in slow motion!
It was then up to the more than 50 riders who followed -among them the cream of pony showjumping in New Zealand - to attempt to emulate or better her mark. Many didn't even try, preferring instead to concede her dominance and ride simply for a minor placing, while many of those who did chance their hands crashed and burned.
There were a couple who did threaten her time but in the end it was never seriously challenged and the title was Pottinger's.
In winning this top speed event for ponies, Pottinger also gave notice she would not be intimidated by the more experienced competition (pony riders can be up to 17yrs of age) when it came to the premier event for ponies in the main arena on Sunday morning.
And how close Pottinger and Tauhara Silver Fern were to come to seizing the Holy Grail of New Zealand pony riding.
They were one of just a handful of combinations to succeed in negotiating a challenging course without bringing down a rail or incurring time faults in the first round.
In the second round Tauhara Silver Fern just brushed the final rail and the crowd stared unbelievingly as it fell to the ground.
Only one rider managed to complete the second round without penalties and thus took the coveted title with Pottinger sharing third place with a clutch of others, a huge achievement in itself for one so young. But there was no doubt in the minds of her supporters that had that pesky last rail stayed up and forced a jump off where speed becomes the essence then the Tinui combination would have been practically unbeatable.
However, be that as it may,there was not a showjumping afficiando in the audience who did not believe they had seen a superb young rider in action?one who may one day even eclipse the performances of her famous Mum.
Notable among other efforts by Wairarapa riders at the Horse of the Year Show was that of the Tararua Mounted Games team which blitzed the competition to take the premier open event on Sunday.
The team was led by international Rochelle O'Hara and included Nicky Barton and Eamoon Peerless, all of whom ride for the champion Carterton Pony Club team.