Dean Rickman had been taking riding lessons with one of the organisers Noeline Jeffries to prepare for his role. Photo / Tom Rowland
Dean Rickman had been taking riding lessons with one of the organisers Noeline Jeffries to prepare for his role. Photo / Tom Rowland
Jousting, re-enactments and dance performances were all on show on Saturday as more than a thousand people packed into Claudelands showground for the Mane Event, a celebration of the horse.
Taupo Adult Riding Club presented a version of Staying Alive in honour of the endangered bees species. Photo / Tom Rowland
The event followed the unveiling of the War Horse statue at a special Armistice Day civic event to honour the thousand of horses that served in the wars overseas.
To open the event, the Anglican Dean of Waikato, Peter Rickman performed his lead role as Reverend Samuel Marsden, the Anglican cleric and missionary who is generally acknowledged as introducing both Christianity and the horse to New Zealand.
Dean Rickman with students from Endeavour Primary School who performed the story of Samuel Marsden and the first horse arriving to New Zealand. Photo / Tom Rowland
He was joined by students from Endeavour Primary School and Allen McLeod from Go Bus as they performed the story of the first horse arriving on New Zealand shores.
Margaret Evans had been working with the students from Endeavour Primary School and on the day of the event was impressed with how they performed.
For some of the students, it was the first time they had ever seen or touched a horse. Photo / Tom Rowland
"Chief Ruatara was six feet tall and the smallest child is playing him and he has done it well. They have all done very well," Ms Evans said.
"For some this is the first time they have seen or touched a horse."
Carriage rides pulled by Clydesdale were also on show at the Mane Event. Photo / Tom Rowland
After viewing the opening performance the crowd spread out over the arena to watch the different acts on show.
One of the biggest crowd pullers was put on by Waikato men John and Glenn King who performed a re-enactment 14th century Jousting demonstration dressed in authentic medieval armour. Their specially trained jousting horses Buck and Nugget are NZ Champions.
Glen King parades his armour before taking on his father John King in a jousting competition. Photo / Tom Rowland
The Taupo adult riding club were also in action dressed as bees in honour of the endangered species. They performed a special act of Stayin Alive.
One of the biggest acts on the day was Jody Hartsone and her Portuguese Lusitano stallion Ali Baba.
Waikato men John and Glenn King who put on a display of 14th century jousting.
Photo / Debbie Moore
Ali Baba was imported from his native Portugal five years ago and is a much-admired competition stallion in the sport of dressage.
The pair performed to a Portuguese Fado song Chuva by Mariza.
Multiple pony clubs and dressage schools took part in the day which received a positive response from audience members who took part in pony rides and carriage trips.
The New Zealand Side Saddle Association attended the Mane Event joining the grand parade. Photo / Tom Rowland
