AHHA NSW/ACT State Championships Review

AHHA NSW/ACT STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS

Photos available at: [URL="http://www.horsezone.com.au/forum/www.aliciabirch.com.au"]www.aliciabirch.com.au[/URL]


On 21st March 2010 the Australian Hunter Horse Association held their inaugural NSW/ACT State Championships at Castle Hill Showground.
Blessed with brilliant sunshine, over 120 competitors entered the show hunter, working hunter, side saddle and open hack classes. The quality of exhibits was outstanding. It was incredible to see the showground filled with such strong, bold and true examples of hunter horses, some of which had traveled interstate to attend.

Overall Supreme Champion Ridden Hunter Horse went to the stunning black gelding Madison King, ridden by Martin Geunther and Belinda Lane-Weate on Encounter took out the Smartest on Parade Class, which was judged to the same strict standards as one would expect in a turnout class for hunter horses.

The working hunter classes were also extremely popular. Working hunter classes are a great opportunity for riders to show the suitability of their mounts for the hunting field and while they are only a relatively new concept in Australia, they received very strong support at the State Championships. These classes require riders to emulate the requirements of a day’s hunting (albeit in a very condensed form) by demonstrating their ability both over a jump course, on the flat and for a final assessment based on conformation.

Commentator, Carol Heuchan did a terrific job of bringing the show together and stall holders, Bespoke Horseware, KO Rugs, Three Bags Full Sheepskin and Vanity Fair provided made sure that everyone went out into the ring beautifully presented and attired.

A big thank you goes out to all sponsors who together helped make the show a huge success. Together they culminated over $10,000.00 worth of sponsorship, including rugs, garlands, prize money, products and vouchers and the day would not have been the same without their support. The major sponsor of the event was the new equine website:
www.HORSEZONE.com.au who provided vouchers to every champion and reserve champion title of the show and $500.00 cash to the Highest Scoring Working Hunter of the Day.

The Australian Hunter Horse Association was launched in early 2009 and was formed to raise the profile of hunter disciplines in Australia.
For more information on the AHHA, show or working hunter classes generally, visit their website at www.hunterhorses.com.au or email:
info@hunterhorses.com.au

The AHHA will be running their National Show in the later part of 2010. If you are interested in sponsoring this show, or being involved in its organization, please email the AHHA on info@hunterhorses.com.au. The program will be published on their website in coming months.