In yesteryears the compleat horse class drew large numbers of entrants and spectators. Who can forget the late Phillip Tucker jumping a sports car at derby or other competitors jumping over their grooms or riding into the ring on a blind-folded horse?

The compleat horse/pony competition is part of the showing discipline and tests the versatility of the equine. There are six phases involved (five for pony riders).

• Phase 1 judges the horse on conformation, movement and turnout with competitors showing their horses in hand.
• Phase 2 is a ride by the judge (this does not happen in Pony Rider classes).
• Phase 3 tests obedience and versatility with a typical working riding (utility) test.
• Phase 4 is a specially compiled dressage test, usually at elementary standard. This phase is restricted to the top 15 qualified horses from the first three phases, or the top 30% of the total entries.
• Phase 5 is a showjumping course of eight to ten fences restricted to the qualifiers from phase 4. Faults are deducted from the score and points are given for the horse/pony's style of jumping.
• The final phase is definitely a crowd pleaser. The overall top five horses/ponies from the previous phases, have two minutes to present a free test which highlights the best aspects of his/her horse. Jumps can be included and practically anything goes. However, safety of horse and rider is paramount and the likes of jumping over fire is not allowed. Marks are awarded for artistic interpretation, technical accuracy and schooling.

The winner of the compleat horse is the horse with the highest aggregate score in the six phases. The best score in the free test is the deciding factor in the result of a tie.

Congratulations to Waterside Twickers, owned and ridden by Danielle Nortjé and EBM Young Sailor, owned and ridden by Claire Martin, for winning the Pony Rider and Junior Compleat Horse Derby respectively.

The Avis South African Derby 2008 took place on 5 October at the Kyalami Equestrian Park. This particular compleat horse competition is considered the crème de la crème title to win. The competition was of an extremely high standard and was won in fine style by Maud Arts on Charmaine Watts' Connington Raja Baba.