RomariZ rules at Horse of the Year

Leon Gray-Lockhart | 8th April 2010

TO round off an already successful season, Eltham horse breeder Tracy Bublitz took first place in an important class at the 2010 Horse of the Year Show in Hastings a few weeks ago.
For everybody in New Zealand associated with horses, ‘Horse of the Year’ represents the height of training, breeding and riding achievement. Thus, Tracy was more than delighted with four-year-old RomariZ’s first place in the ‘performance-bred four-year-old most suitable for eventing class.’
“To even enter the class, RomariZ had to have already achieved an enormous amount,” says Tracy.
“As a breeder and trainer, you firstly have to have paperwork proving your entry has three generations of pedigree in the breeding.
“The horse also has to be a ‘warmblood’ – that is, performance-bred for the Olympic discipline – and they have to have a minimum reserve champion title, and a maximum supreme champion.”
Because of the strict entry criteria, only those horses and breeders with true grit and determination got to compete, making the pairing’s victory even sweeter.
“The classes were quite small, but that’s because the horses that entered were the best in the country.

I was so pleased as RomariZ is the first horse that I have bred and trained myself.”
For Tracy, winning the title was the culmination of good planning and being well prepared immediately before the event.
“Our classes were on Saturday, but we got to Hastings on Thursday and I took her for a little run on Friday morning, just to get used to the environment. By competition time, she was calm and settled, which gave both of us a lot more confidence.”
And while getting first place in the eventing suitability class was great, it wasn’t the only placing Tracy received at the show; taking second in the ‘mare 3-years-and older most suitable for breeding sport horses’ class, fourth in the ‘best presented led horse and handler’ class, and third in the ‘four-year-old most suitable for showjumping’ class.
“In the showjumping class, she was going so well but actually bucked on one of the turns. She was just having fun, but got a little carried away.
“I thought that was it, but she came back in the eventing, which was great.
“In these classes the judges look for a number of things: confirmation and type (how the horse looks and is built) and paces, obedience and jumping style (that the horse moves and reacts with discipline and elegance).”
Tracy is especially pleased with the win knowing her training regime is working and meeting these high standards.
With the season now closing, Tracy’s going to give RomariZ a little break from intensive training for a while and direct her attention onto another horse she has in training at Bublitz Estate.
“It’s a really great way to end the season, and I couldn’t have done it without the generous help of my sponsors. I’m extremely grateful,” says Tracy.