Dry ground causes riders to withdraw from Hawke's Bay horse trials

Together Samantha Felton and Ricker Ridge Rui won the Red Snap'r C1C3*. Photo / Warren Buckland

Hard ground at a Silver Fern Farms property caused many top riders to withdraw from the Arran Station horse trials over the weekend.

There were 176 entries, although not everyone competed due to the hard ground.

Samantha Felton won the Red Snap'r CIC3* class riding Ricker Ridge Rui, despite amassing 25.2 time penalties during the cross country portion of the event.

Papakura rider Renee Faulkner was second on Rubinstar HH, having incurred 15.6 time penalties.

Matthew Grayling of New Plymouth won the 2* class on Winky Foley's NRM Trudeau ahead of overnight leader,Amanda Pottinger from Havelock North, riding Just Kidding.

Many of the competitors the event as a final run before heading to the Australian Three-Day Event in Adelaide.