With him is Sparky, his cheeky 10-year-old horse. Sparky nibbles at a post and then at Mr Mackay’s sweater. He is having none of that and gently pushes the horse’s head away. A second later, Sparky is back.
The bond between the two is strong and clear.
"They’re very sensitive animals," Mr Mackay said. "If you train them correctly they respond well."
Mr Mackay was first introduced to the Wanaka A&P Show in 1970. Twenty years later, he joined the show’s committee and is now the marshall for the president’s jumping ring.
He joined the committee in 1990 because he was asked to look after the hack ring, he said.
He performed this role for about two years before being shifted to the jumping ring, where he was a steward for a long time.
He then became assistant marshall to John "Tussock" Lucas in the president’s jumping ring.
In 2016, when Mr Tussock stepped down from that role, Mr Mackay was the clear choice to replace him.
"Tussock always tried to make it an atmosphere where people feel welcome and enjoy the weekend," Mr Mackay said. "We’ve tried to maintain that over the years."
Mr Mackay started farming in 1968 on his brother’s farm at Motatapu Station.
"It was a pretty interesting experience for me as a kid and I never really got over it," Mr Mackay recalled.
His love for horses began when he was about 7 years old.
Mr Mackay has owned a dozen different horses, his first being a pony named Silver.
"I don’t know how it came by that name, being a dun pony," he said with a laugh.
Breaking-in Sparky was a slow process because he was quite immature.
Mr Mackay plans to show Sparky at a future show, but does not believe the horse is ready yet.
"He looks better with a lady on his back."
Written by Milo Long
