In the mare class Minoru Chatterbox headed the line up a most attractive mare exhibited by Miss Heaver.

I was surprised to see only three entered in the gelding class, one also being a late entry, as there are some really superb geldings around. The winner, Abbas Tribal Dance owned by Miss C Fallows, was still a well deserved.
Sadly only one stallion was entered in his class, a most attractive chap Mettlewood Jubilee Tribute owned and bred by Mrs N Hutton McKenzie, he moved like a dream and well deserved the Red Rosette.

The in hand Championship was won by Wolvers Acquaintance

The Crabbet Organisation sponsored the next class for horse 75% and over of pure Crabbet breeding these horses are in great demand especially in the ridden classes; it is encouraging to see them also catered for in hand. First place went to Rizaari bred by Mrs S Conner and owned by Ms V Angier.

Amateur owner /handler was very popular as many novice handlers decided to have a go and they all did very well. Ninfield Windsor Girl owned and handler by Miss Wallace won this competitive class.
Three lovely old veterans made this class memorable. Their breeding is part of the history of our horses and they certainly wear well. Placed first was Nazaan.

The pure bred in hand classes started at midday with the yearling fillies. Lyght of Orange, by one of my personal favourites The Frosted Orange, stood at the top of the line a very pleasing overall picture and a great mover. Blanche, another grey by Harwood Arabians Saker, was second, a well grown youngster with a lovely length of neck. Sadly there were absentee’s in the colt class and Milo stood alone also from Harwood and Saker.
2 to 3 yr old colts was won by El Mahaal , he moved well and conformation was excellent, bred and owned by Mrs V M Wood.

2 to 3 yr old fillies looked very promising and if all goes well they should grow into promising rides or future breeding stock. Lakkana by Hakka was placed first.

The last young stock class was for the geldings 1 to 3 yr olds won by Galant exhibited by Mrs S Carman. The pure bred young stock champion was the yearling filly Lyght of Orange and the colt Milo in Reserve
The next four classes were for the more mature animals. Geldings were first and it was won by Taher, the son of the famous Queens Topaz, a worthy successor for that super line. A lovely mare class followed, the winner, Rizaari, was a very charismatic looking mare and an excellent mover. Second in the class was Agonia, bred at the Tersk Stud in Russia.

The two rings of this show were kept busy all day apart from the first hour in the morning as the ridden classes start before the in hand classes so I was able to indulge myself and watch a couple of ridden classes. I hope that the majority of the in hand contestants will graduate through to maturity and be ridden, as arab horses are a delight to have as a mount.

This was a happy show with a good atmosphere, many thanks to our committee who worked so hard to organise it and to the in hand judge Pauline Field who spent all day sorting out lots of superb horses.

Would someone please tell me how to watch both in hand and ridden classes at the same time – I wanted to do both?