NEW ZEALAND BREEDING CHAMPIONSHIPS FOR YOUNG HORSES Telex (Caroline Tombleson), winner of the Warmblood Breeders sponsored class for 4 year old show hunter champion. Pictures: Christine Cornege This show was held at the Taupo Equestrian Centre from Friday 30 March to Sunday 1 April 2007. In addition to the age group championship classes, the show was also the culmination of the various show jumping age group breeding series which have been running over the 2006 / 07 season. The change of date from the beginning of December to the end of the season did not meet with universal approval from all competitors, some being of the opinion that it prolonged the season and that Horse of the Year is the logical end of season event. On the other hand, it does give the 4 year olds a few more months of maturity and when it comes to things equestrian, there was never a truer saying "you can please some people some of the time, but not everyone all of the time". Having said that, the entries were good with around 200 horses on the grounds. It is interesting to note that of these, around 40 were warmblood descendants, with most being in the 4 and 5 year age groups. This augers well for the future, when purpose bred horses will be a force to be reckoned with. The main show sponsor was Mount View Sport Horses and NZWHA again sponsored the 4 year old champion show hunter class. In addition the Association presented rosettes to the highest-placed warmblood in each of the age group championships for 4, 5, 6 and 7 year old show jumpers and show hunters. The qualifying criteria were that horse were to be descended from European Warmblood breeds and registers, be by a NZ licensed stallion or from a recognised Australian warmblood registry. The show hunter entries were a little disappointing in comparison with last year but no "open" classes were held this time around and could account for this. Christabella – NZWHA rosette winner 5yo show hunter. (Lisa Coupe on mum Robin's dressage horse) Dunstan Daffodil – winner of NZWHA rosette for 6 year old show jumper (ridden by Katie McVean). Very heavy rain on Thursday night and Friday morning saw the cancellation of the 4 year old championship qualifying class on Thursday morning and a delayed start to the day. Fortunately it stayed dry from late Thursday morning and the ground conditions were good. In the show jumping classes, one round was jumped each day (3), (4 year olds 2) and a cumulative score decided jump offs on the final day. The show hunter rounds were not cumulative but held as separate competitions with the Sunday class being the Championship class. The warmblood results were as follows for Show Jumping: While Distelfink needs no introduction, Leo Caylon may do. He is a Holstein stallion that was brought into New Zealand for one year by Butch Thomas. He certainly has left his mark on this group of 5 year olds. The warmblood results were as follows for Show Hunter: WARMBLOOD BREEDERS 4 Year Old Show Hunter National Championship There was unfortunately no qualifier in the 6 year old show hunter class. Photographs by kind permission of Christine Cornege. We thank Christine for her assistance and support in supplying these photographs.