Fran Cleland, The Regional

It's easy to talk about the great success of the Adelaide Equestrian Festival and the record crowds of 37,000 at the finale of an amazing event ... Shane Rose has stood on top of the CCI5*podium three times at Adelaide, the first in 2004 then in 2015, but this time with Virgil it was so obviously special, with Shane having a very obvious love for a very brave and talented horse.

With big numbers in stud classes at this year’s Sydney Royal Easter Show, spectators had plenty to look at and could admire some of Australia’s finest livestock ... Champion stock horse hack Brandwood Orlando ridden by Cole Moxey with reserve champion Tahnee Sullivan’s Wundurra Impact and judge Sam Davidge ... The black stallion was not only Champion Stock Horse stallion but added the Champion Working ASH, Champion ASH Hack and the Most Versatile ASH Exhibit awards to his show collection.

Para dressage riders have their heads well and truly turned towards Paris next year. At the Dressage Spectacular at Boneo Park last weekend, both Dianne Barnes and Maddison Cooke gained the first of their necessary “minimum eligibility requirement” (MER) for a place on the team.

A two-star eventing class has been run for the first time in Tasmania since 2015. It came about as a result of a successful campaign by some promising young event riders on the Victorian circuit in May/June last year, when several riders qualified at two-star level.

When you think of emergency services, the average person thinks of police, fire and ambulance, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg. At least 20 organisations qualify for the title and make up those eligible to compete across 45 sporting disciplines at Police and Emergency Services Games held annually across Australia.

Lachie Allen is just four and his big sister Milla is six. When Mila led Lachie to a win on the little white pony Pixie at the recent Equestrian Festival at Warragul, there was hardly a dry eye in the house ... “On the day Milla kept saying how proud of Lachie she was and kept reminding him to sit straight like a soldier, point his toes to the stars and look up."

I haven't enjoyed a book more for ages. I am deep into Wild Ride, The story of the Australian Stock Saddle by Fiona Carruthers and have no hesitation in recommending that horse lovers or anyone interested in Australian history should go out and buy a copy today. Calling it magnificent doesn’t even come close.

Pony Club eventers from all over Tasmania headed to the Tasmanian Equestrian Centre at Lauderdale recently for the Pony Club Tasmania State Trials. The event was hosted by the Southern Zone of Pony Club Tasmania with 94 riders competing on 110 horses.

Campdrafting as a sport evolved naturally from young station hands competing around cattle yards and drovers' camps in NSW and Queensland in the 1880s. It’s generally been a sport dominated by men, but at Lockington in Northern Victoria earlier this month, the women took their fair share of the prizes.

In an event like the famous Garryowen, where every tiny detail is important – from the quality and cut of the coat and breeches, to the stock, gloves and even the position of the spurs – the leather top boots need to be immaculate. And it’s not an easy task. Well known show horse competitor and judge Claire Uren has always been meticulous in the appearance of her horses and in correct turnout wear, including boots.