Crabbet trio at first endurance ride

Three Aurora-bred Pure Crabbet mares were out in competition at the first time recently.

Kimberley trots out Reniah for the final vetting.

Three Aurora-bred Pure Crabbet mares were out in competition for the first time recently.

Aurora Raffeah and Aurora Reniah, six and five-year-old full sisters by Silver Omen and from Fenwick Regenta joined Aurora Clouded Moon, a five-year-old daughter of Boomori Finale out of Silver Crescent, at the Mt Linton Endurance Ride on October 19 at Sandy Point.

Lyn on Merlin, Janina on Raffeah, and Kimberly on Reniah.

All three are new to the sport, having been started under saddle only within the past few months.

It is the first time in many years that Kiwi-bred pure Crabbets have been seen out in endurance competition in the country.

Nearly 20mm of rain fell the day before the ride, at the popular beachside venue of Sandy Point, but the sun shone on the 16 horses and riders taking part at the Mt Linton endurance club ride on October 19. A variety of horses - from a large 17hh Gelding to anglo’s and purebred arabians - took part in rides from 25km to 40km, being early in the season "down south".

Lyn's trio - Raffeah, ridden by Janina Bremer, Reniah ridden by Lyn's granddaughter Kimberley, and Clouded Moon, with owner Marie Smith - were on their first outing in company, with Raffeah and Reniah taking part in the 25km training ride, and "Cloudy" and Marie tacking a 40km novice ride. Lyn rode alongside keeping an eye on her young charges, riding Mertz, an old hand at endurance.

All vetted though with no problems.

It was a pleasing start to the ridden careers of the Aurora girls. Raffeah and Reniah have two more full sisters and a brother at home waiting in the wings until they are old enough to be started, and Cloudy also has a half sister by Silver Omen who is now two.

The next ride is on November 19, with all three expected to take part, as well as Aurora Mystique, an arabian warmblood mare by Silver Omen.

* Thanks to Lisa Simpson for the pictures of Reniah and Reffiah on this page.

Marie and Cloudy, pictured at the finish of their 40km ride at Sandy Point in October, 2013.

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