Kapiti horses turn heads at Horse of the Year

Ngaire Crockett, left, Brandon East, centre, and Lynaire Cottle with Welsh Partbred Youngstock Exhibit of the Year, Ngalaire Final Light.

Kapiti horse riders and trainers turned heads at the Horse of the Year 2017 in Hastings recently, taking home a series of titles from New Zealand's biggest premier equestrian event.

The competition welcomed more than 1800 horses and ponies and 1400 riders and handlers, who competed in a range of horse and rider combinations from multiple disciplines.

Kapiti pony Ngalaire Final Light, also known to her family as Misty, won the Welsh Partbred Youngstock Exhibit of the Year for her second consecutive year.

A three-year-old Welsh Partbred filly, Ngalaire Final Light is owned and bred by Ngaire Crockett and her daughter Lynaire Cottle, who began breeding and riding ponies together 20 years ago.

"Our stud name is Ngalaire, which is part of our names put together," said Lynaire, who started riding at around 11 years old, competing in showing and showjumping.

"Misty's mother Ngalaire Mai Light also won a title class at Horse of the Year in 2011, while her half-brother, Ngalaire Flashlight, was a title winner as a purebred in the same year.

"This year's win means so much to Mum and me as this is the last pony we've bred."

Lynaire's son Brandon East flew over from Sydney for this year's event, to lead Ngalaire Final Light in the competition.

"He's been a big part of our stud in handling our youngstock, and also won a title class himself in 2012, with a pony he purchased and then took her over to Australia, where she has won, too."

Lynaire said Horse of the Year had grown considerably since she first entered about 20 years ago.

"You used to be able to get a park for your truck or car and float quite comfortably, and you could take your dog with you, whereas now the showgrounds are packed and they've had to add temporary yarding to accommodate extra horses.

"The event is the last major show for the season on the showing calendar and to get there to compete and catch up with family and friends is an amazing experience."

Kapiti woman and horse trainer Louisa Ayres' hard work was also recognised, with horse Playmate having received the fourth Advanced Dressage Horse of the Year title.

Owned by New Zealand World Equestrian Games rep Cindy Kent, 12-year-old Playmate, otherwise known as Dash, is an old chestnut warmblood, bred by Stoneyleigh Stud in Pukekohe.

Louisa had trained Playmate from six years old, along with an eight-year-old black warmblood Summerstone Hit, also known as Sonny.

Owned by local couple Judy and Mike Page of Otaki, Summerstone Hit received Horse of the Year 2017's fourth in test 3B.

"This year's Horse of the Year show was the first time Sonny had competed in the huge atmosphere of the main dressage oval, which he performed beautifully in," Louisa said.

She said Horse of the Year was the biggest and most prestigious equestrian event on the southern hemisphere, with competitors bringing truckloads of horses from the South Island and Australia for their chance to compete.