Charlee and Ellavetta steal the show
PALMERSTON
CHARLEE Hazlett and Ellavetta are not your usual pair of best friends.
One is a 5yearold girl, and the other is a Southdown sheep.
But nothing will stand in the way of the bond these two share.
The pair were glued at the hip as they wandered through the Palmerston Waihemo A&P Show — where Ellavetta won first prize in the large pet section — on Saturday.
Charlee was over the moon with her prized sheep’s victory, and said her favourite thing about her pet was the way ‘‘she follows me around’’.
Her trick to getting Ellavetta into shape was simple.
‘‘I just give her some nuts,’’ Charlee said.
They travelled from Hokonui to take part in the show, and would venture around other Otago and Southland A&P shows in the coming months.
Mosgiel’s Tracy Docherty relished taking part in the led hack section, with her horse After Dark.
After Dark was a former Hong Kong racehorse, and Mrs Docherty said shows like Saturday’s were a great way to introduce him to his new lifestyle.
‘‘It’s about [rehabilitating] the horse and it’s about his new career, life after racing. We take it real slow and he lets us know if he’s too stressed,’’ she said.
‘‘He’s used to this atmosphere. He didn’t bat an eyelid.’’
Her daughter Janelle had recently returned from overseas and was now leading After Dark at shows for her.
‘‘It’s really awesome. We’ve done it for a long time together and I missed it when she was in Canada — I didn’t have my wingman.’’
She described the show as a great little country event, with a friendly, competitive but fair atmosphere.
Palmerston Waihemo A&P Show secretary Maria Barta said it was a picture perfect day.
‘‘The weather’s marvellous, the equestrian entries look splendid, the livestock entries are lovely, and the fleece, and the donkeys. We’ve got a nice selection of trades.’’
It was the first year the show offered free entry, and she believed there were more people present than previously as a result.
‘‘It’s been a hard year for people are we just thought we’d offer them free entry.’’
The show was a threeday event and finished yesterday with a car show.