NZAMHC
AMHA International Show Downunder the Volcano
All roads led to the sleepy little town of Hawera under the shadow of the stunning Mt Taranaki on December 8 2012 for the New Zealand American Miniature Horse Club ’ s annual International Show .
Exhibitors travelled the length and breadth of the North Island to attend the show with widely claimed senior AMHA Judge Mr Wayne Hipsley making the long haul from Kentucky to cast his vastly experienced professional eye over the cream of the American Miniature Horses downunder . The club , as always , appreciates the willingness of the AMHA judges ’ to travel so far from home to allow us to have an AMHA approved show in New Zealand .
With NZAMHC being the first club affiliated to AMHA outside of the USA and the first club to ever hold an AMHA International Show way back in 2003 the exhibitors have come to expect a well run and friendly show and this year did not disappoint . While numbers of horses presented were down on what was hoped for , it is symptomatic of shows in these times , the quality was present even if the quantity wasn ’ t . We know Judge Hipsley wasn ’ t disappointed in what he saw .
The stunning New Zealand bred Yearling Stallion , Bayview Customised Striker , owned by Robyn and Bill Bell from the far north took out Grand Champion Junior Stallion and went on to claim the Supreme title .
The winners of the other major titles were
Grand Champion Junior Mare , Bayview Bayonets Summa Rose , Robyn or Bill Bell Grand Champion Senior Mare , Arcadia Miss Serendipity , Michelle McIntosh & Pat Gaw Grand Champion Senior Stallion , Nirvanas Dolce Vita ( Imp . USA ), Susan Wheeler Grand Champion Junior Gelding , Bluegables Black Hawk , Judy & Monty Henderson Grand Champion Senior Gelding , Faylaurs Apaches Niyol , Sharon Neville Grand Champion Colour Horse , Rodencairn BTC Miss Maddison , Maggie McLeod Get of Sire , KNells Beyond Reality ( Imp . USA ) Garry Colquhoun Produce of Dam , KNells After All ( Imp . USA ) Garry Colquhoun
Following on from the show we enjoyed the lovely summer evening sun while enjoying a fantastic meal of NZ Lamb supplied , cooked and served by Robyn and Bill Bell from Bayview Miniatures and partaking of the hilarity that is our annual fundraising auction .
On Sunday our judge Wayne Hipsley presented his seminar titled " From a Judge ' s Point of View " in which he taught us “ it is " From a Judge ' s Point of View " that we must learn to understand , respect and appreciate horses in the show rings .” This was the same seminar presented by Wayne at Equitana in Melbourne in Australia a couple of months earlier .
As planning for the 2013 show gets underway the club can once again reflect on its success in having held another successful show and takes this opportunity to thank all its volunteers , exhibitors , international judge , Mr Wayne Hipsley , and AMHA for their support .
David Crow , Secretary , NZAMHC