Tania Hay, The Regional
Equestrian Tasmania’s Horse of the Year show for 2022 has finally been held.
The event is usually in January but due to Covid and flood waters it was postponed four times before it was staged at the magnificent Coal Valley Equestrian Centre at Cambridge.
Numbers were lower than normal, but this seems to be the trend Australia-wide. Nevertheless, the quality of the horses presented was top class.
Anne and Jess Campbell’s medium show pony Melody Park Kingdom of Heaven went from the win in the newcomer pony class to taking out the state award for medium pony of the year. Ridden by Dani Zeiser for the Campbell family, she then backed it up winning large pony of the year with Thorwood Toy Story.
Not to be outdone, Anne Campbell capably piloted her galloway KT Celebration around for the newcomer and open wins. The fourth exhibit shown by the Campbell family over the weekend, Harry of Potter Park, went runner up to his stable mate in the small galloway class.
Large galloway of the year was Bernadette Warren riding Ann Paterson’s nomination Home Vale Victory. A striking chestnut, he glided his way around the beautiful indoor facility pipping Expressions FF and Tracey Gangell.
The small hack of the year was London Copy Cat ridden by Josh Clarke, who immediately jumped from the elegant bay to his other two nominations in the large hack class, El Casco and Royal Fairs.
It was Royal Fairs who trumped the chestnut El Casco giving Josh the newcomer wins and the open large hack win. El Casco was runner up. Josh further cemented his successful weekend with the win in the Penny Woods Memorial Open Show Horse class on Royal Fairs, runner up with London Copy Cat and El Casco placing third.
On the show hunter day, the dapper Shetland Marbet Wallace ridden by a tiny Darcy Watkins swept around the arena for the win in the leading rein.
Small hunter pony of the year was Carter Rybarczyk Bubbles CC ridden by Maggie Blight and the medium hunter pony was Midsomer London Town, who also took the newcomer hunter pony award with Jodie Baker in the saddle. Runner up was the bright chestnut Wynton Solitaire ridden by Melissa Sweeney.
The large hunter pony class was a strong field with all ponies showing true hunter attributes. The winner was Jan Swiggs and Sivarra Masterpiece who just pipped Tamara Smith and Fairfield Cadence.
The small hunter galloway winner was Astral High Society, a strong-moving bay who gave his rider, Jess Elphinstone, a great ride. Runner up was Carlingford Park Truman ridden by Peta McMinn.
Jess then swung onto her second nomination, the big hunter galloway Beaufort Sunshine, who trumped Magic Show ridden by Fiona Clark for the win.
The show hunter small hacks was an emotional win for Jody Rybarczyk with Oscar De La Renta BD, a liver chestnut gelding who worked well to take the win from Rhiannon R with Tammy Cunningham.
The large hunter hacks are always an exciting class and this one was no different. The leggy chestnut Debussy ridden by Amy Griffiths took the honours with previous winner Heartwood Titanium second with Melissa Sweeney.
The Penny Woods Memorial Hunter Class winner was the liver chestnut galloway Magic Show with Fiona Clark. The large hunter winner Debussy was runner up with the small hunter hack Oscar De La Renta BD sliding into third place.
The show moves back to its original date in January so only nine weeks to go before it’s all done again.
Click here for more images from Yaleena Bridges Photography
This article appeared on The Regional on 23 November 2022.
Stories on The Regional’s website are free to read and always will be.
If you enjoyed this article you can show your support by joining our mailing list
(either by filling out the form on our Home page or sending us an email or message).
We’d also get very excited if you put a “like” on our Facebook page.
