As thousands descended on Hawke's Bay for the first day of Horse of the Year yesterday many riders were saddling their horses early in the morning for a big day of competing.
Waipukurau rider Kate Shaw, 15, was spotted on Peach De La Creme that afternoon in the pinto section.
After previously riding in several Horse of the Year she yesterday won the Ridden Pinto Novice 0-5 Wins and placed fourth in the Ridden Paced and Mannered Pinto Pony.
She said she was very pleased with her results and had been riding horses locally since she was a child.
"I just say all my life because I basically have. I think I got my first pony when I was about 2 and it sort of went from there," she said.