Katikati’s Heleina Jones has been riding high since taking the show hunter high points top award at the 100th Katikati A&P Show.

The 16-year-old excelled against about 40 seasoned show hunter riders in her debut performance at the annual show.

Show hunter is the technical art of jumping where horse and rider have a superior, smooth, natural jumping style. The sport showcases the relationship between horse and rider.

Jones described the show hunter division as more “technical”.

“With show hunter you are being judged throughout your performance. It helps so much for showjumping – it’s such a good foundation for basics in jumping.”

And there was much more to it than met the eye, she said.

“You’re concentrating on getting the strides in, getting your correct leads and keeping a nice rhythm and making it look nice, all at the same time.”

The Katikati Pony Club member attained the highest score of all the show hunter categories at the Katikati A&P Show.

There were 10 show hunter classes open to horse and pony competitors. She competed in three classes – 80cm, 90cm and 1m.

Heleina Jones and Finding Nemo (Archie) take the show hunter high points award. Photo / Rachel Stringfellow - Pet Photography

She won with her horse Finding Nemo (or Archie) who is the least experienced of her three horses. She took home ribbons and prizemoney of $1200, which goes towards buying her first car.

Her mother, seasoned showjumper Lori Clarke, was also one of the competitors in the 80cm class alongside her daughter. Lori came out of retirement to be part of the 100th-year show.

Jones has been riding horses since she was young and has competed nationally for the past two years.

She plans to swap the reins for a control stick and attain a pilot’s licence some time in the future.