Local Crookwell horse breeders Headlands Clydesdale Stud have had a major victory at the Royal Easter Show.
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Their horse, Headlands Harriet, won the Annaburne Gold Perpetual Cup at the Show, one of the most prestigious awards.
Jan Pierce owns Headlands Clydesdale Stud and has been breeding Clydesdales for 30 years.
Her horses have won numerous awards, including at the Sydney Royal and many regional shows.
However, she said this year's win was particularly exciting.
"I'm ecstatic about it, it's very hard to win the Annaburne Gold Perpetual Cup," Ms Pierce said.
"I've won many other awards in various other classes but this one is the tops as far as I'm concerned.
"Especially for a young horse, she's just four years old and I'm very proud of her."
Ms Pierce's close friend Amanda Taylor showed the horse at the show.
"It's hard for me as there are some things I've been unable to do since my husband passed away," Ms Pierce said.
"But together with Amanda, we are a team, and a very successful one at that if I do say so."
While Headlands Harriet is a young horse, it was a long process to get her ready for the show.
"It's a long process of feeding and maintenance because Clydesdales are very high maintenance horses," Ms Pierce said.
"The feather around their feet has to be kept really soft and silky. Their shape and temperament is also really important which all comes down to breeding.
"Heavy horses like Clydesdales were bred for pulling carts, plowing and all sorts of farm work.
"They call Clydesdales the horses that originally built Australia in the early days, these days some still work on farms but mainly they do competitions.
"They have a very gentle temperament, which is good since they can be weigh up to 900 kilograms."
The Cup cannot not be won twice by the same animal, which means Headlands Harriet won't be eligible to enter again next year however, there's still plenty planned for her.
"She'll be shown for a few more years and then probably be put to a stallion," Ms Pierce said.
"Then she may be broken into harness as well, she's got quite a show career ahead of her.
"But right now she's just happy to be back in the paddock with her mates."
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