ASPR Victorian Pony Challenge 2008
(Australian Sports Pony Registry) Werribee NEC
New Forest ponies were also well represented at this event on the Action Day weekend with some riders moving on to Werribee after the Action Day from nearby Elcho Park Lara. A $150 APSB / ASPR combined dressage jackpot encouraged riders to make the most of the weekend at both venues.
The ASPR ran an innovative competitive program on the Saturday designed to showcase future dressage and showjumping potential in youngstock, particularly worthwhile for the sports pony breeders.
Youngstock to 3 years were judged in age and sex as sport ponies being given 4 minutes of liberty on the indoor to show their prospects. The Hipwell Brothers New Forest filly River Valley Red Shoes was Reserve Champion Weanling and their 2 year old colt River Valley Sultan claimed Champion 2 year old. Sandra Barry’s colt Bain Park Shiraz took the 3 year old colt suitable for dressage class and the title of overall youngstock Champion.
The next section was “Material” classes for 3 – 5yo where youngsters were judged under saddle at a level appropriate to their age and then stripped for judging of conformation in hand. Kapeta ponies had two firsts in this section with Kapeta Honesty and Kapeta Wilverley. Six New Forest ponies competed in these classes.
The Six bar pony jump off was the excitement of the Saturday night program, the winner Monahan Harrison, a Connemara jumping 1.2m. New Forests were not far behind with Ellen Sherwood and Kapeta Kip taking equal second place with Talkn All That Jazz who had competed at the Action Day as well. Forestway’s “Forestway Manhattan” now leased and ridden by Narelle McPhee placed equal fourth in this as her first competition.
Associate and Official Dressage was the program for Sunday and unfortunately took place on some very waterlogged arenas which had not received the diligent preparation one would like to expect from our National Equestrian Centre! But the show must go on and one New Forest , one ANF and one partbred New Forest competed in Associate Prelim and one New Forest in Associate Novice. Forestway Manhattan on loan from Forestway stud to Narelle McPhee, made her debut in Dressage in the Associate tests and looks like she’ll have great potential to be developed. Another three New Forests competed in official Prelim and two New Forests in official Novice. Congratulations to Habafield Pick a Beau and Jaklan Watts from Bairnsdale for 1st in the Associate Novice 2.2 with a very creditable 72%, and 3rd in Associate Novice 2.4 earning her Reserve Champion Associate Novice. Ellen Sherwoods placing of 2nd in Official Novice 2.4 with Kapeta Kip was the best placing by a New Forest in official tests.
Congratulations to all who took part representing the New Forest breed at the cutting edge of Pony Dressage. The APSB, as our breed society, support our breed in all activities and purposes across the board generally but the ASPR aims to promote Pony Dressage in a more direct and intensive manner taking it to greater heights and we certainly want to see New Forests up there. We welcome the achievements of the ASPR.
Carol Hibbert
Pictures of the above available for viewing on the following websites:
www.eques.com.au/ponydressage menu on left, click 2008 Vic Pony Challenge
www.horsedeals.com.au/gallery - by month see 2/8/08, click on ASPR Pony Challenge 2008
www.derekoleary.com click on left menu –equestrian, click on Australian Sports Pony Registry Challenge (photos in folders under competitors name or horses name)