Bublitz-bred brilliance | Taranaki Sport | Surfing, Rugby, Soccer, Football, Cricket in Taranaki

By Leon Gray-Lockhart

TRACY Bublitz has every reason to be beaming at the moment, after one of the horses she has bred and reared scored top ribbons at the New Zealand Horse and Pony Show earlier this month.

Her three-year-old filly horse, Romariz was purpose-bred for what is described as the 'Olympic discipline' and it was in the 'leading' competition that she began to show her true form.

"Leading is the competition where the horse is given a short workout by the judges," said Tracy, "and the horses are judged on their confirmation their build how well they move and the temperament they display."

Judged by an Australian judge, Romariz was named as the New Zealand National Reserve Champion as a Youngstock Led Horse as well as the Three-year-old Filly or Colt Most Suitable for Sporthorse Breeding.

"I was over the moon. I'd bred her and I was just hoping for a ribbon."

Winning the title has been the culmination of a great deal of time and effort for both trainer and horse.

According to Tracy, "to be successful at leading, you really need to be a team. You need to understand each other and be 'into' each other," and it this need to build a strong partnership that sees Tracy working with Romariz at least twice a day

"Having contact with her is really important. Walking her round, or just cuddling her is important. All sorts of things can change the time you spend together, though like the weather or whatever mood she's in, so you have to be flexible too."

The three-day competition was held in Dannevirke, from January 9-11, and there were a huge number of classes being run, with a wide range of horses, breeders, trainers, owners and riders present.

"In preparing for the actual competition rounds, I didn't think about it too much and just tried to stay in tune with her. I was very busy and there was a lot going on."

Tracy and Romariz competed in a range of events, and won further ribbons in other suitability classes Dressage, Show-hacking and Show jumping.

Training in being led is seen as the first important step in a horse's career, building up their skills and confidence before they begin the rigours of training for show jumping when trust and communication between horse and human is absolutely crucial.

"Romariz is under saddle now and is doing really well. She's a pretty special horse, she has a big heart and is eager to please."

After the excitement of the competition, Romariz is resting for a few weeks before Tracy takes her to the nationwide Horse of the Year Competition, March 16-22.

"The events are similar, but there's a bigger competitive field and quite a different atmosphere, as you have to qualify by achieving a minimum of 'reserve' to 'supreme', We have two supremes and two reserve champions."

"There is one German judge and one Englisg judge coming over, and it really is a big thing. Hopefully, we'll come away with a ribbon if she behaves."

Because of her first successes as a breeder, Tracy has every reason to feel optimistic about Romariz's future, and her breeding and training programme, but she admits that involvement in equestrian sport is expensive.

"There's always something to pay for worming, vets, feeding, travelling and the day-to-day costs."

Tracy is fortunate in that she has local sponsors and she is extremely grateful to them for all that they do the kind of help that she believes has made a real difference in what she's doing.

"When it comes to training horses, you really do get out what you put in," she said.