Pop N Good Ponies’ big day out

[Wandering Eyes]

A life after racing for Standardbreds can include all manner of things – from trekking and back country adventures to eventing and the show ring.

And for one particular group of Canterbury-based Standardbreds and their NZSRA (NZ Standardbred Riding Association)  member riders it is all about doing what they enjoy.

“This is not the sort of competing we do often – it’s just about having fun and testing all the hard work we have put into our horses,” says one of the team members Melissa Whyte, a well-known owner and breeder.

Whyte is part of “Pop N Good Ponies”, a quartet of like-minded enthusiasts who walked away with a win and a fifth placing at this month’s Harris Pegasus Team Trophies Day at the Rangiora Showgrounds.

The team consisted of Whyte, Katrina Gosney, Lisa Wakefield and Tash Bol. All their horses are Standardbreds, with the “senior” team member being Bol’s unraced 26-year-old standardbred Master Jonty.

The day is organised by the Pegasus Riding Club, who was formed in 1982 after seeing a need for an adult alternative to Pony Club. It consists of two competitions, the Harris Trophy and the Pegasus Trophy.

“We don’t get coached or anything,” says Whyte, “it’s a social thing and getting our horses out more than anything else.”

Teams of three or four riders compete in low key dressage, jumping (10cm to 70cm) and/or obstacles.

The Harris Trophy is the dressage event with each rider completing two tests within their selected level.

The top six scores for each team are used for final team placings while in the Pegasus Trophy competitors compete in what is called a “gamblers stakes versatility round” and the top three placings are added to the top three from the Harris Trophy.

Gamblers Stakes is where riders jump over a stipulated number of fences, with points depending on their height and difficulty.

Riders pick and choose which of the 15 obstacles and jumps they will tackle.

“So you try and get the most points you can, but you have to be realistic because if you have refusals or stops you can have points taken off or be eliminated,” says Whyte.

Pop N Good Ponies were fifth of 15 teams in the dressage – “that’s pretty good, last year we were eighth” and then came out on top, ahead of 13 teams, in the Pegasus Trophy.

“And we won it by a lot,” beams Whyte.

While it’s not all about winning and losing that certainly adds to the enjoyment.

“It’s just a great day out and we love showing off our branded horses and showing how versatile and clever they are.”

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