Kaimanawas star's show a sell-out

Angela Parkinson, PGG Wrightson, left, Kelly Wilson, Marlo with owner Tessa Carroll, Catriona Williams, Tinks Pottinger, and Gary Allan, of Eastwood Motor Group. PHOTO/LYNDA FERINGA

Kelly Wilson, of Keeping up with the Kaimanawas fame, was reunited with one of her earlier trained Kaimanawa horses yesterday at Little Avondale Stud.

The television star is in Masterton for two sold-out shows at Copthorne Solway Park -- one of which was last night. A second show was organised for tonight after the first show sold out in days.

Ms Wilson is one of three sisters featured in Keeping up with the Kaimanawas -- a television show where the sisters work with the wild horses to show they are trainable and talented. The Masterton event features Ms Wilson talking about her experiences with the Kaimanawa horses and wild American Mustangs.

It was Ms Wilson's first time back in Wairarapa since she "drove through it to get to Wellington about 15 years ago".

She said her sisters Vicki and Amanda had competed in the region more recently though.

Ms Wilson, who comes from Northland, said she was "loving it" in Wairarapa.

"It was a beautiful drive and the properties here are stunning."

She said it was "flattering" that so many people had been keen to come to her talks.

"I love the lower North Island and it's awesome to see the support with many people here interested in horses so we're going to try to come down here more often."

While in town, Ms Wilson was reunited with Marlo, a Kaimanawa she trained, who was bought by the Carroll family of Masterton. Tessa Carroll has had Marlo for a year. The 15-year-old said last year with Marlo had been "a bit of a rough season" but this year he had placed in all their classes.

Tessa, a member of the Wairarapa Pony Club, would be one of five volunteers collecting for charity at tonight's show.

In the event, Ms Wilson is joined by Olympic eventing bronze medallist Tinks Pottinger, who will be interviewed by The CatWalk Spinal Cord Injury Trust Founder Catriona Williams. Mrs Pottinger will be talking about her long experience with horses and how she ended up competing in the Olympics.

"But for me that's secondary for the night -- it's all about the Kaimanawas," Mrs Pottinger said. "Kaimanawas are just lovely and they deserve to have gorgeous homes and given opportunities. I think it's a wonderful cause and I'm full of admiration for Kelly and her sisters who bother to take on horses which would otherwise be put down."

Mrs Pottinger said the event had morphed into something bigger than initially anticipated.

Event organiser Angela Parkinson, customer service representative for PGG Wrightson, Masterton, said 250 tickets sold in four days. Then Eastwood Motor Group "got on board" to enable a second show.

Mrs Parkinson said when she joined PGG Wrightson a year ago she decided to concentrate on growing equestrian cliental. She had seen a good opportunity for a community event "in the spirit of Wairarapa" by bringing Ms Wilson to the district.

Gary Allan, general manager of Eastwood Motor Group, said becoming more involved with the horse fraternity had been on the company's horizon for a while.