Testing time as young riders battle it out

TOP DAY: From left, Brigid Gray, North Wairarapa Pony Club coach, and club members Lucy Griffith, 13, and Maggie White, 11, of Masterton. PHOTO/LYNDA FERINGA

Being part of a team is the best thing about competitive horse trials, according to one young captain.

The 15th annual Bruce Forbes Team Event was held at Solway Showgrounds this week.

Riders from 18 teams around the North Island competed in dressage, cross country and showjumping during the two-day event and gained points towards their region's score.

North Wairarapa captain Kate Nelson, 16, had just completed her cross-country run.

Ms Nelson said she and her horse Kharma, "went well" but she was already looking forward to the showjumping event.

Team spirit was the best part of the event and she enjoyed camping at the event with teammates.

Event convenor Deb Nelson said they focused on the team element of the competition by having teammates compete in the dressage and the showjumping at the same time.

She said there were six dressage arenas set up side-by-side so a whole team could compete at once.

They set up two showjumping courses for the same purpose.

The riders also follow each other in the cross country and are expected to wear their team colours throughout the event.

The event was split into training and pre-training classes which changed the height of jumps.

North Wairarapa Pony Club spokeswoman Christine Ames said the event was great for up-and-coming riders.

"This is where the riders of the future come from, it's grass roots."

Each team has a maximum of six and North Wairarapa riders ranged in age from 11 to 16.

Team co-coach Brigid Gray has been coaching North Wairarapa for three years and said the cross-country course would be among the toughest her riders would have experienced.

"It's a pretty brave sort of course," Ms Gray said.

North Wairarapa was seventh after the dressage and climbed to fourth overall.