The Traditional Way to Arrive at a Horse Show

Stephen Muggeridge took a step back in time when he set out for the 2011 New Zealand Horse of the Year Show – much to the delight of many.

The school bus driver opted trade his usual mode of transport for his team of Clydesdales. They left their Takapau Plains home on Sunday and will reach the Hawke's Bay Showgrounds on Wednesday afternoon.

Travellers along SH50 have loved seeing the team moseying their way along.

“It's just been brilliant,” says Muggeridge. “There has been so much interest along the way with people saying how beautiful the team look and just so many neat comments. It's a real bit of nostalgia.”

Muggeridge breeds the gentle giants – as well as the five he is driving to the show he has another eight at home. He picked up the mantle from his dad.

“I was born and bred in Taranaki and dad was the last one over there to have the old Clydies, so when he died in 1985 I just carried it on.”

The team will be competing at the show in the breed classes with the mares on Saturday as well as the working classes on Sunday.

It's nothing out of the ordinary for him either – ploughing and other agricultural work is the norm for this man.

“We did 11 acres for a mate just before Christmas,” he says. “When you are sitting on a three furrow ride on a plough with six horses in front of you well... it's hard to explain. It is something else. You can study the horses as they work.”

It's the 100^th year celebration of the Clydesdale Society so it seems fitting Muggeridge is heading to New Zealand's most prestigious show this way.

They've covered around 20kms a day – a far cry from the the hundreds of kilometres the 800-or-so trucks that have transported most of the remaining 2600-plus competitors to the show.

Many of the trucks are custom-built, with some shipped in from Europe..

And they are home to the competitors and supporters at the show.

The week long Horse of the Year Show got underway today (Tuesday), with the first of the premier classes tomorrow (Wednesday) with the historic Bomac Norwood Gold Cup. It's the pinnacle event for New Zealand and applauded the world over as a true celebration of all things equestrian.

The show is a valuable cog in the Hawke's Bay economy, and is worth around $11.52 million to the wider region.

Show director Kevin Hansen and his team work year-round to ensure every detail is seen to – with 18 disciplines competing over 28 arenas, there is no room for maybes. From showjumping to dressage, eventing to the newest discipline to join the show, para-equestrian – all is represented by the best in the land.

Highlights of this year's show include the trans Tasman test, which is being run as part of the Silver Fern Stakes during the Friday Night Extravaganza. The class alone has a prize purse of $50,000.

The event culminates next Sunday (March 20) when the winner of the Bell Tea Olympic Cup is presented to the New Zealand Showjumper of the Year. The class carries a prize purse of $200,000, with a $40,000 cheque for the winner.

It has attracted top Australian combinations, as well as the best in New Zealand, because it is also a qualifier for the 2012 London Olympics.

Olympic course designer Leopoldo Palacios (Venezuela) is once again heading Down Under to create challenges for horse and rider while entertaining the crowds.

It is the 59^th Horse of the Year Show, and the 18^th to be hosted in Hawke's Bay. It costs around $2.1 million to put on the show, which is as much a shopping hub as it is a horsey event, with in excess of 7000 square metres of trade.

More than 70,000 people are expected at the Hawke's Bay Showgrounds over the coming week.

Story: Diana Dobson