Perhaps April is a better time of the year to be conducting Young Horse classes - particularly if the organisers are going to strictly adhere to the time of the Australian horse's birthday - August 1, as this date is based around the traditions of the TB industry!

Now that Young Performance Horse classes have become so popular and represent a permanent part of the horse's performance record which will stay with him for life, perhaps there is some sense in giving the rider's/owners/trainers of horses who's 'real' birthday may fall 6 months (or more) after the 1st of August, the opportunity of choosing the age class that they enter them in for their Young Hose debut. For instance a horse who would be considered to be 4 but was born in March or April the following year, could defer their 4 YO appearance until the year of their actual birthday. This is of particular relevance as more and more people import young horses from Europe.

I would envisage this being a once only decision and when a horse has been shown in a YH class at a certain age, he must go up the age classes in the sequence of this nomination.

This system would perhaps give the owners and trainers the opportunity to put the very immature or late 4 YO away for another year and present it when it is likely to be as ready. In Young Horse classes we un the risk of encouraging people to breed very precocious youngsters who look more mature than other horses of the same age - or even worse, overfeed them to try and make them into something they are not. It is pretty alarming to learn of the increased incidence of developmental problems such as OCD - could this be an explanation?

Never in a horse's life will 6 months training mean so much as is the first year of their work, following the breaking in process. I always feel for the enthusiasts with the super moving babies that are fine or under-developed, as they are very disadvantaged in the qualifying rounds when the direct comparisons are made from the three horses drawn at random to work together.

Back to this event ...

There was a real buzz in the Olympic arena as the 4 & 5 YO Young Horses classes got going - there were some beautiful youngsters with 'international movement' and they showed the benefit of good basic training to meet the requirements of tests for their respective age groups.

I spoke to a number of the visiting judges and they were unanimous in their praise of the standard that they saw at this event and the improvement in the riding. It was nice to hear this positive feedback and be in a position to pass it on to you all.

I felt that in many cases the marks did not reflect enough difference between the very good horses and the not so good. The top 4 YO's were gorgeous and so well behaved.

We all know that the horse with a hot and reactionary temperament will almost always have more of that "look at me" quality and yet they can be a little unruly until their training gives them the confidence to listen to their rider and not over-react to every little thing. The riders' handled their babies with tact and skill - well done.

Carolyn Henley rode her fantastic moving mare Patou and she proved that size does not matter if everything else is there. Patou is by Alberich from a Rocadero mare. Carolyn is a very capable rider and deserves credit for her outstanding results at this competition.

Glennis Barrey is very successful competitor and proves her excellent understanding of the importance of correct basic training with her second place in this qualifier and also with her other rides at almost every level held at this event. William is by Weltmeyer and is sure to progress quickly in Glennis' capable hands.

Waiiri is gorgeous and he demands attention when he comes into the ring. He is by Weltmeyer from a Zwion mare, APH Frauenberg. He was purchased by Emmanuelle de Denaro as a youngster. He still shows his youth and lack of balance in his sometimes trailing hind legs - but this is a small criticism and would account for the judges opinions. He is one to watch for sure.

Another by Weltmeyer and a different type to Waiiri. Winston seems to have a steadier temperament and nice movement without the flashy spark that comes from the hotter nature. I saw him a few years ago and he has matured nicely and has a great future ahead of him.

This is my 'pin up boy' of the moment. Yet another by the sensational stallion Weltmeyer, but a very different horse to the two above. TS Schyborne is from a mare by the TB stallion Meriville and he is the perfect dressage horse. He has lovely movement, a perfect temperament and super good looks. Melinda rode him well and gets a great deal of help from her partner, Carlos de Cleermaeker. Well done.

Wintakruesse was ridden by Lizzie Wilson-Fellows for her owner Bonnie Rosendaal. She was bred by Glenda Rooke who played a role in the early work of Northern Simba. It was a nice harmonic performance from a talented pair of girls!

Now ... this was a horse I was keen to see - Broadway Jitterbug by the 'sire of the moment' Jazz. This horse was set down to be ridden by his talented owner Di Jenkyn, but injury forced her to pull out and friend and fellow Qld. professional Glen Pearce stepped up to the mark. Jitterbug is lovely and we can expect big things of him in the future. AWHA Committee member Keith Smith bred this outstanding youngster and I am sure he would be feeling proud.

I have a huge 'soft spot' for horses with 4 white sox, so Heathmont Echo caught my eye. What a beautiful young stallion. He was bred by talented Victorian Dressage rider (and new mum) Jacinta Bennett and is by the Rubenstein sire Rotspon, who has a number of very good horses in Australia. He is from a Figaro mare and he shows the markings of his maternal grand sire Zeus. He is owned and ridden by Nichola Paff and he is sure to progress up the grades as Nichola has a 'can do' reputation. He took part in the Stallion show and I have more pictures of him there.

XXL (I think this refers to the dress size we are all trying to avoid) but certainly this huge gelding by Grand Kavalier needs the largest sizes in everything. He was bred by June Weir who's hubby Chris runs my local feed store (Bacchus Marsh) and her daughter Tori was Mary Hanna's groom for 5 years. Obviously Clemens saw the horse on one of his Melbourne visits as he is now owned by Daniella Dierks and ridden by her mum Judy.