Equestrian

Anyone who banks with the Warwick Credit Union in Allora will know Rae as the friendly young lady who works behind the counter. But did you know that Rae-Louise Wright is also the 2024 Warwick Rodeo Queen?

On Sunday, 11th May, the Allora Showgrounds was a sea of purple as 58 riders and 76 beautifully presented horses gathered to support a truly meaningful cause. Across both Showjumping and Dressage, there was a total of 159 entries. Funds raised went to Protea Place.

There's an old saying, "he's got a good eye for a horse". It means someone is skilled at recognising all-round quality and that undefinable “something” that is a combination of conformation, temperament and suitability for a specific purpose, such as racing or riding. Greg Gerry and Darren Telford, who run Whitmere Stud, certainly know how to do that.

Jacki Baker. The 51st Naracoorte Horse Trials will be held this weekend ... Sylvia Williams-Roberts will design the course, helped by her right-hand man, husband Roger as builder ... She gained FEI level 3 course design accreditation in 2013 and is one of only two women in the world to attain this level.

The 2025 SA State Jumping Championships showcased the diverse showjumping talent in the region. Held across the ANZAC Day weekend at Talunga Park, Mount Pleasant, riders competed in two rings at the Equestrian SA event, culminating in a series of thrilling finales on the final day.

Just under 50 competitors from across Australia and New Zealand gathered at Longwood in Victoria over Easter for the 2025 Australian Combined Driving Championships. The event was hosted by the Longwood Carriage Driving Club on behalf of the Australian Carriage Driving Society and featured some of the best driving talent in the country.

The Riddells Creek Pony Club Easter Horse Trials, held at Candlebark in Victoria’s Macedon Ranges, is always one of the most popular events of the season. Established in January 1954, the club is one of the seven founding members of the Pony Club Association of Victoria and has a long history of running quality events for pony club and open riders that want to train young horses over good courses.

Honor Auchinleck. The days, weeks and months have been very full since I received an email from Pat Leary - the inspiration behind the plan to ride the General Sir Harry Chauvel Memorial Foundation's Border Light Horse Trail. Pat wrote "I am looking into the idea of riding in light horse uniform and saddlery along the Australian Light Horse trail starting from Shepparton to Harden and then from Harden back to Tallangatta.

Donald and District Pony Club has seen a much-needed boost in riding memberships this year, increasing almost double in number, with the introduction of four new members to the club ... At its April rally held at the pony club grounds in Donald on Sunday, April 6, the club welcomed new members...

Over 4,000 people poured into the Murrabit football netball ground on Saturday night for the Woodalls Ride Tuff Buckle series final. Attendees travelled from all over Australia for a chance to see the fast-paced rodeo action combined with live music and country clothing vendors.

Corryong was bursting at the seams after visitors began streaming into town from last Monday for the 30th edition of the Man From Snowy River Bush Festival, breaking all records for camping numbers and crowd attendances.

Through the Bendigo Showgrounds Master Plan, the biggest and most active user group that sits hand-in-glove with the Bendigo Agricultural Show Society’s primary reason for existence has been absolutely and unceremoniously shafted.

Grong Grong Horse Sports Pty Ltd has put a proposal to the Narrandera Shire Council for a five year lease of the old Grong Grong Rodeo Grounds. The committee considers it a great space with so much room for growth and opportunity for the town of Grong Grong.

Riverina Police District is appealing for information to locate a stolen historic rodeo award from a 94-year-old competitor in Cootamundra. Police are investigating the theft of a historic solid silver and gold belt buckle, won 65 years ago at a rodeo in the United States by a Cootamundra man described as the world's oldest rodeo competitor.

State Government Sports infrastructure funding is being used to build a shed that was always intended to house produce stall holders and retail market activities at the Bendigo showgrounds, a planning document from 2019 has confirmed. The market shed is being built instead of a proposed multi-purpose sports pavilion that was to include changerooms, a function room, umpire rooms, toilets and kiosk on the opposite side of the arena in the equestrian precinct.

Toowoomba Equestrian Centre to be developed at the Toowoomba Showgrounds will benefit the entire region during and post the Olympics. The Royal Agricultural Society of Queensland (RASQ) CEO Damon Phillips says the project will leave our region with an equestrian centre capable of delivering national and international level events...

The Jim Dunn Memorial Show continues to be a highlight of the South Australian equestrian calendar, embodying Jim's dedication to the sport and his belief in fostering talent within the community ... Jim’s contributions to the equestrian community have left an indelible mark, not only through his accomplishments as rider but also through his work in fostering and promoting show jumping and eventing alongside other equestrian disciplines.

When Greenmount resident and Clifton State High School's Year 11 student Ellie Stenzel stepped up to the microphone to make the opening address to the Equestrian Australia Board and the Olympic Committee in support of Toowoomba's bid to stage the Equestrian events she may not have realised the full importance of her speech to the future of equestrian events on the Downs.

Midland Zone Pony Club held a trials and combined training day at the Charlton Pony Club grounds on Sunday, March 30. With low rider numbers at the Charlton Pony Club, it was excellent to see the grounds and wonderful facilities being used by roughly sixty entrants from within the Midland catchment zone.

Who would have thought ping pong could get the Victorian Government into so much trouble. Amid developing controversy over plans to redevelop the Prince of Wales Showgrounds at Bendigo, damning testimony has come to light from a 2023 Federal Senate inquiry into the cancellation of the 2026 Commonwealth Games that was to be hosted by regional Victoria.

An exciting contest showcasing the mounted military skills of old such as tent pegging, skill-at-arms and stand-to-horse will get spectators’ blood racing when the 8th Light Horse Indi Upper Murray hosts the Lt Col Leslie Maygar Memorial Trophy at Walwa on Sunday, April 6th.

The Bendigo Showgrounds – home of the Victorian Agricultural Shows Saddle Horse Championships and many other state and national equestrian events – is to have the size of its arena cut significantly under a Victorian Government redevelopment of the site.