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The Night of Stars was certainly an evening
of equestrian entertainment with such a variety of displays and breeds of
horses to keep the large crowd clapping and cheering. As he had done at last year’s
event, Rob Dewar had the crowd standing while he sang the national anthem.
As usual the Liberty classes, both junior and
senior, thrilled the crowd and the junior group had a fun time getting the
best out of their ponies.
In the senior section, the size of horses ranged from the small pony
to the large Andalusian and this was in fact the result of this section and
we were treated to some very innovative presentation from both groups.
There were western riders who started the
evening going with their fast moving display and then provided a finale to
the night with some very quick barrel race times. A display by Mini horses proved that they also can
jump and on the end of a lead line displayed much enthusiasm for this
activity. Likewise the
Pony Trots group of drivers and ponies doing a number of laps of the arena
had everyone trying to pick the winner as the lead changed coming up to the
line.
The equine students from Narrogin
Agricultural College under co-ordinator Eloise Paust, a WAAHA member, gave
the spectators some insight into the equestrian activities of the
college. Another two of our
members, Chloe Radford and Leanne Willoughby displayed the versatility of
the Arabian horse in a number of disciplines throughout the evening.
Kristy Jarvis gave a delightful dressage
display on her 14.3-½ hh German bred stallion ‘Don Philino’. His bloodlines are a cross of
Hanovarian (warmblood) and Welsh and he is also an accomplished driving
pony and jumper. He sired 40
foals in Germany before his importation to Australia.
El Caballo Blanco with several of their
stallions, gave us a fine display of dressage and as well had Saltador No. 10 entered in the
Liberty where he was runner-up.
Another of our members, Jacinta Maurer, who
heads up a group called ‘Girls!
Girls! Girls!’ provided
a very exciting display of trick riding. These girls have made several trips to the Eastern
States to attend Heath Harris’s training complex and their prowess on the
night drew a very appreciative response from the crowd. Heath had made the trip to
Perth to see the girls in action and to guide, by voice, Jacinta’s great
ride around the arena blindfolded.
Dan James was another to have the crowd
spellbound with his activities without saddle or bridle on his quarter
horse stallion and stock horse mare.
Dan gave us three displays during the evening and the final display
was with his friend, Dan Steers who had the stallion on his back in the
arena and after placing his hat on the horses back hoof then had the job of
retrieving it as the horse
moved his leg away every time Dan reached for his hat. He then picked up one front
leg and using this as a microphone, proceeded to sing to the crowd. Both Dan’s have an amazing rapport
with these two superbly trained equine athletes.
The evening finished with a Grand Parade of
all Exhibitors back in the arena.
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