New courses leap into future

HIGH STANDARD: Eventing Wairarapa's new international-standard eventing courses will feature a more challenging cross- country course, with "funky things" for the horses to jump.

Eventing Wairarapa is hoping to breed a new generation of Mark Todds and Andrew Nicholsons - with the help of its brand new course at Clareville Showgrounds.

The club, previously based at the Tauherenikau Racecourse, is relocating to the showgrounds, and is building two international-standard eventing courses on the premises.

The new courses are at CNC 1 Star and CNC 105 levels - the minimum levels for international equestrian events - catering for experienced riders and horses.

Eventing Wairarapa committee member Louisa Broughton said the Clareville courses would provide a solid training ground for the club's talented young riders - some of whom are in national high-performance eventing teams - to prepare for their equestrian career.

"Clareville has more space for us to build the longer, high-level courses," said Mrs Broughton, who also acts as the club's onsite veterinarian.

"We've done a lot of work at the grass roots with our beginners, but we wanted to offer more opportunities to our higher-level riders as well.

"This will give them and their horses more experience and exposure."

The club has begun construction of the two courses, with funding support from various organisations, including Trust House and the Eastern and Central Community Trust.

Mrs Broughton said she was particularly excited about the cross-country courses, which will be made up of challenging obstacles, including steep grass banks, dammed creeks, stone walls and a fence shaped like a truck: a nod to sponsor McAuley's Transport Ltd.

Builder Chris Lever is charged with building the fences, which will include carved representations of horses, birds and taniwha.

"He's super talented - very good with a chainsaw," said Mrs Broughton. "Basically, there'll be lots of funky, exciting things for the horses to jump."

She said the club is hopeful the new courses will attract a wider audience to its events - such as the annual Eventing Wairarapa Spring Horse Trial.

"New Zealand has very good riders and horses, but eventing doesn't always get the atmosphere, as it's held out the back of beyond on someone's farm.

"We want to build up the course so it gets the spectators - not just horsey people. "Hopefully, we'll make it exciting enough that people will want to come all the way from Wellington, even."

The club hopes to have the courses finished by September, in time for the spring trial.

More information on Eventing Wairarapa can be found online at http://www.eventingwairarapa.co.nz