WHANGANUI horses and riders continued to keep the River City on the equine map with success at the annual New Zealand National Horse and Pony Show at Manfield Park in Feilding last week.
Racehorse trainer JJ Rayner produced her thoroughbred To The Max to win the Supreme Champion Riding Horse national title with Paula Glasgow from Turakina aboard, while 14-year-old Ashlee Barlow claimed the Supreme National Junior Riding title on her pony Phoenician Poem as well as the runner-up Reserve Champion Newcomer with Raptures Unforgettable.
Rayner said To The Max had raced 16 times as Aladdin Prince both here and in Hong Kong for three wins and numerous placings for just over $70,000 in stake money.
The now 8-year-old had revealed his liking for show horse work when third in the Rising Stars class at last year's Horse of the Year Show in Hastings with Rayner in the saddle.
"Show horse is similar to a dog show in many ways, I guess," Rayner said yesterday.