Riding a four-year-old pony in its first season under saddle, Trey Cadwallader was crowned Saddle Hunter Pony of the Year, over 138cm and not exceeding 148cm, with Rosehill Park Sapphire. Showing is a real family affair for the Cadwalladers, with mum Nannette and aunty Fiona Honeyman working together to help the three children – Trey, Brooke and Mia - with the ponies. And they are a force to be reckoned with in the ring. All three children picked up titles today – as well as Trey, Mia won two in the First Ridden section, and Brooke won the Saddle Hunter Pony of the Year not exceeding 128cm with Nanteos Autumn Guardsman. Trey, 13, and Saffy, as the pony is known, also took out the Rising Star title earlier in the show. Despite this, he wasn’t confident of the win today, especially against older, more experienced ponies. “Everything was quiet, and I was hoping, sitting there thinking, is it me? I wasn’t that confident, just the fact she is young and green.” Though the pony may be young, Fiona says it is very biddable and has a nice personality. The Cadwalladers got Saffy in September last year. She was bred by Joanne Kloosterman and is by the stallion Burden dah the Wizard, out of the mare Lorken Park Applause, a former Pony of the Year winner. In the Saddle Hunter small pony section, Brooke, 11, carried on the winning ways with Nanteos Autumn Guardsman, or Tommy, as he is known. The 15-year-old pony has been with the family for eight years, and Fiona says he has a home for life. Tommy previously won the same title with Trey on board and has also won the Lead Rein title twice before, as well as the Welsh Purebred First Ridden and Open titles. “It’s cool for her (Brooke) to win an open title on him.” The family was buzzing after such a successful morning. “This afternoon almost doesn’t matter, we’ve had such a good morning,” Fiona said. Trey and Brooke both had ponies contesting the Show Pony of the Year title classes this afternoon. In the Saddle Hunter Pony of the Year over 128cm and not exceeding 138cm, first-time HOY competitor Danielle Peck was delighted to win, riding Tui’s Keepsake. Danielle, 10, comes from Orewa, Auckland, and picked up a title at her first HOY show, although the pony was runner-up in the class last year with a different rider. When asked if she had any expectation of winning Danielle shook her head. “No, not at all…I felt like I was going to cry,” she said of her reaction when her name was called out. “Tui is amazing. We do dressage as well, and a bit of jumping.”