Wellington showjumper Adrian Bruce may have won the NZ Horse and Pony Magazine Puissance at the NZ 2011 Horse of the Year Show in Hastings on Saturday but Hukerenui's Vicki Wilson won the hearts of the crowd.
The puissance - high jump for horses - is always exciting and the thousandspacked into the Hawke's Bay Showgrounds were treated to a spectacle as Wilson opted to jump her liver chestnut Showtym Girl bareback.
"Riding bareback was a bit of a sensation, I didn't really want to compete in it because I didn't want to risk my horse but the organisers wanted me to ride in it for the crowd," Wilson said.
The Northland rider finally conceded the point on one condition.
"I told them that I'd be prepared to ride in it as long as I could ride bareback and they agreed."
Four started the class in which competitors jump a warm-up fence before facing the wall. They started at 1.35m and quickly progressed to 1.8m when Maurice Beatson (Dannevirke) and Wishing Warrior took out the top of the wall.
Bruce, Wilson and Tim Myers (Taranaki) and By Golly Olly all cleared it.
"Once she cleared 1.80 I retired, that was a pretty big jump and I was really happy with what she'd done and I didn't really see any point in continuing," Wilson said
The wall was raised to 1.92m, with Bruce and Witheze - a horse formerly owned by the Wilsons - clearing it by a whisker. Myers retired before facing the wall.
Wilson's sister Amanda was an impressive second in the Young Rider of the Year on Saturday behind Matthew Dicky.
"That was a fantastic competition and she did really well to come runner-up, so that was another highlight for her," Vicki said.
It added to her win in the Seven-year-old Horse of the Year championships. Vicki also came runner-up in the Saddlehunter of the Year.
NZ Horse and Pony Puissance: Adrian Bruce (Wellington) Witheze 1.97m 1, Tim Myers (Taranaki) By Golly Olly 2, Vicki Wilson (Northland) Showtym Girl 3, Maurice Beatson (Dannevirke) Wishing Warrior 4.
