The husband-and-wife team’s Clydesdale gelding ‘Hamish’ took out first in the S.E. Jorgensen Novice Clydesdale Exhibitor competition last month.

It was the first time the Blights had competed at the Royal Melbourne Show and the S.E. Jorgensen competition is for debut Clydesdale entrants. 

Hamish, under the show name ‘Talbena Jimiedean’ was judged ahead of a mare by the name of ‘Kyabram Lady Clancee’.

The blights are just starting a Clydesdale stud at their DASH Park property at Armstrong and hope that the high-profile win will help the new business.

“We went out for the led Clydesdale senior gelding aged over seven years, which we placed fourth, and then we  went for the S.E. Jorgensen, which is what we won,” Ashlee said.

“It’s for newcomers. being our first Royal, we were eligible for it.

“Being our first Royal Melbourne, we went into it just hoping for the experience.

“We had finally made it to this elite level of showing. To walk away with what we did was incredible.

“Not many people can say they were winners at their first Royal Melbourne. Many people try for years before they can place at that level.”

Dan, dressed in a traditional tweed jacket and flat cap, led Hamish for the judges.

“It takes months. Lots and lots of hard work and time and money,” Dan said.

“Obviously, the biggest part of showing a horse is presentation.”

Dan and Ashlee spent many hours on the night before and morning of the competition brushing Hamish’s coat and preparing his bridle.

Even Hamish’s ‘feathers’, the long coat over its hooves which is a signature of the Clydesdale breed, had to be immaculate.

“You have got to perform in the ring as well,” Dan said.

“The horses have to go out and walk when you want them to and trot when you want them to.

“It’s meant to show the power of the working animal in the early days.

“You want to show that they are a well put together horse,” Dan told Fairfax Media this week.