Northland riders clean up at Horse of the Year in Hastings

Northland horse trainer Chloe Phillips-Harris watches on as Olympic legend Blyth Tait rides her horse, Cor Jet. Photo / Jane Thompson

Northland riders have continued the region's long and successful record in the equestrian community, taking home great results at last week's Horse of the Year.

More than a dozen riders from Northland went down to Hastings for the annual, week-long event. Horse of the Year is regarded as one of the most prestigious competitions in the equestrian calendar.

Local riders who competed in the event included Gaia Aplin, Mandy Small, Samantha Peters, Kate Hewlett, Nakeysha Lammers, Liv Teixeira, Julie Flintoff, Taylor Finlayson and a three-member team from the local pony club.

Among other great results, Flintoff, riding Belladonna MH, cleaned up in the competition's level seven championship after some great recent form. Teixeira walked away the emerging rider 12 years and under title while Peters, on her horse Cadillac NZPH, won the seven-year-old show-jumping competition, announcing herself as one to watch.

Northland rider Julie Flintoff, with Belladonna MH, cleaned up in the Horse of the Year's level seven championship last week. Photo / Caitlyn Benzie Photography

Olympic Games legend and Northlander Blyth Tait was one of the headliners in the local group, riding his own horse Havanna and competing on a Northland-raised 13-year-old Holsteiner gelding named Cor Jet.

Despite having only a week to train with Cor Jet, Tait finished third in an extremely competitive four-star class as well as recording a fifth and an eighth in two show-jumping classes.

The horse was borrowed from Bay of Islands horse trainer Chloe Phillips-Harris, who travelled down to watch one of New Zealand's greatest riders compete on her horse.

"I was absolutely thrilled with their performance," Phillips-Harris said.

"It's always a really hard decision to give your horse over with the risks involved in that, but [Tait] deserves his reputation, he is still world-class to this day."

Phillips-Harris said Cor Jet started nervously in the dressage, but warmed to his new rider as the competition went on.

"It's a big atmosphere for dressage and the cues from different riders are subtle so it doesn't take much to unnerve them, but [Tait] did well managing that and keeping the horse calm."

She said she was really happy to see one of New Zealand's greatest riders on her horse, but would be glad to be back with reins in hand at the national three-day championships in Taupo in May.

"It'll be great to have my partner back. I love Blyth Tait, but I'll be glad to be back in the saddle," Phillips-Harris said.

The winning Northland pony club riders and horses from left: Alexandra Henry (Mischievous One), Sharon Klijn (Mizta Frosty) and Isabella Jameson (Pico Boo) beside two judges. Photo / Supplied

One of the other standout performances was from the Northland pony club show-jumping team who won the pony club championship team show-jumping competition.

The team of 12-year-old Alexandra Henry riding Mischievous One, 15-year-old Isabella Jameson riding Pico Boo and 18-year-old Sharon Klijn riding Mizta Frosty, didn't drop a rail as they went on to beat 10 other teams from regions across New Zealand.

The competition spanned two rounds where teams of four (two pony riders and two horse riders) rode a course containing 12 obstacles which had to be jumped within a certain time. The six teams who knocked over the least number of rails and finished within the time progressed to round two.

Teams could have three members, like Northland's team, but with the competition taking into account the top three scores from a team it meant the Northlanders needed to keep their composure and make no mistakes.

Team coach Jannette Klijn said the group could not contain their excitement when their final rider, Sharon, soared over her final jump to secure the win.

"The knew after Sharon's ride if they would win so there was a lot of excitement when she came all clear."

Northland's Liv Teixeira, riding Hollywood, won the title of 'Emerging rider 12 years and under' last week. Photo / Kerry Marshall, KAMPIC

Northland teams had done well in this event in the past, picking up a second and a top six finish in the past three years.

Klijn said she would have liked to have had a four-member team but that there was a shortage of riders who were riding at the required level.

"We struggle each year to form a team because it goes on interest and we have to look at results to see if they are good enough to be in team.

"There are not a lot of people who are jumping high enough and are members of the pony club."

Klijn said all three riders performed well above expectation and were calm under the pressure of being one team member down.

"All three were fantastic. Alex is only 12 and had a smaller pony and still managed to go really well, Sharon really handled the pressure really well in the last round, everything, and Isabella rode a really nice horse, very consistent."

Klijn hoped this team's success would spur other riders to join the club and give them the passion to compete for their region.

"As soon as the last riders went, there was already talk of who could be in the team next year so we want to find riders that want to do this.

"I hope this makes people aware of the possibilities and make them want to be involved in these team events and aim for a higher level."