1 Feb 2013

Stadium appearance to spur new horse sport

7:14 am on 1 February 2013

The founders of a new equestrian sport in New Zealand say its first stadium show on Friday night should spur on its spread.

Dunedin scurry driver Brian Shanks on Willowbank Thunder and Blues (nickname Spot).

Dunedin scurry driver Brian Shanks on Willowbank Thunder and Blues (nickname Spot). Photo: RNZ

Scurry, a form of horse and cart slalom popular in Britain, was introduced in Canterbury in 2011.

A 12-cart competition is being held as part of a combined equestrian and rock concert called Ride the Rhythm in Dunedin on Friday evening.

Drivers on horse-pulled carts are time trialed through a course of coned gates, and penalised if they bring down any cones.

Jill Stephenson, the woman who introduced the sport into New Zealand, said it has quickly grown from 20 competitors to more than 40, but Friday night's outing should put it on the map.