Impressive horse and rider skills are on show when competitors from toddlers to seniors take part in the Opotiki Town and Country Horse Sports at the Opotiki Rodeo Grounds each month.

Organised by Bill and Tina Peters and Peggy McDonald, the monthly event attracts riders from as far away as Edgecumbe and Gisborne, all keen to try their hand at the range of skills events.

Photos by Jean Rogers

The programme begins with events for the youngest riders, who are led around the course and gently introduced to riding.
'Some of them are as young as three and today some of our adult riders learnt to ride as little ones here,”
Peggy says.
Events for riders under 12 years are next. 'We have one boy who began as a three-year-old tied onto the saddle and led around by his parents. Now he is eight and a really great rider.”
Next are events for 12 to 16 year olds, then the adults compete in contests for men and women.
The events are designed to develop the skills of both rider and horse.
'It's a great family day out with people of all ages getting together to watch or take part. It's great for both rider and horse as they both develop skills through taking part.”
Peggy, now a grandmother, was taught to ride by her grandfather, mustering in the hills around the coast.
'We rode without saddles because if you fell, there wasn't a risk of you being caught up and dragged by the horse. I like to teach young ones to ride bare-back because I think it develops their riding skills and balance.”
Every year teams of riders from throughout the North Island compete for the Peggy McDonald Cup at a special event which this year attracted 23 teams.