Equestrian

Croydon is one of the state’s classic old agricultural shows. It has had three homes, first in the old Croydon sports ground, then for a while at the Royal Melbourne Showground and lately at the Yarra Glen Pony Club ground. After hearing the forecast for extremely hot weather for the weekend, the Croydon committee discussed how to proceed with the show.

One of Queensland’s most loved events in the Scenic Rim Clydesdale Spectacular, the richest Clydesdale Show in the Southern Hemisphere will this year be held in Beaudesert, taking over the showground on the weekend of June 14 and 15. The announcement was celebrated today by three magnificent harness horses – Billy, Bobbi and Bluey!

After a year of collecting qualifications, the Victorian Agricultural Shows Saddle Horse Championships at Bendigo were a celebration of equestrian excellence.

A group of Light Horse enthusiasts will head off on a 700km trek next month to commemorate the birth and death of General Sir Harry Chauvel, one of Australia’s most distinguished and decorated army generals. A leg of the Chauvel Border Trail Ride will be from Cudgewa, over Keelangie and on to Tallangatta, recognising the journey men and horses from the Upper Murray took to serve in WWI.

Donald and District Pony Club has been an important and prominent grassroots sporting club for a number of years. In this time, many equine enthusiasts have started at this club, learning the basics before heading on to further challenges within the horse community.

In February, 4BP Horses, based at East Greenmount’s Lauralla Lodge, is aiming to set new world records. In 2022, Joe Hughes and his wife Miranda bought Lauralla Lodge, a 152 acre horse property on the New England Highway at East Greenmount where he now uses his unique 4BP horse training methods (4 Brumby Protection) to transform wild brumbies for a life working with people.

Charlotte Williamson, an 18 year old from Hodgson Vale, will compete for her country at the World Youth Endurance Championships in Romania later this year. An incredible three out of the seven young and junior riders selected for Australia at the International Federation event are from the Toowoomba area.

The loss of a parent is devastating. Losing both is unimaginable, but photographer and horse lover Sarah Wheeler is turning her grief into hope for others suffering from liver, pancreatic, stomach, bile duct and oesophageal cancers.

Wilson McShane. If Minlaton’s Ivan McMahon is asked to pin down exactly what he does in his spare time, he might have a hard job answering. Ranging from being a school bus driver, former shoe shop owner (70 years), husband to Carlene and proud dad of three — Travis (Polocrosse Association of SA secretary), Scott (former North Melbourne footballer) and Layton — McMahon is a jack of all trades.

Communities from across the Riverina region are being urged to get behind their local volunteer finalists for the 2024 NSW Volunteer of the Year Awards to be held in Sydney on Tuesday December 10. They include the Riverina Volunteer Team of the Year the Barellan Working Clydesdales Committee.

Honor Auchinleck. Artist Simon White’s mural ‘The Men and their Mounts’ in Corryong tells the story of the bush horses or brumbies and the stockmen who mustered and brought them down from the High Country and the bush-covered hills surrounding the Upper Murray before the First World War. The breeders of the Remounts and Walers often turned the young horses out into the bush to toughen them up and then brought them back in as four-year-olds for sale to buyers for the British Army in India.

Erika Quinn has celebrated success at Equitana Melbourne 2024, which was held on November 14-17. Erika took out fifth place in a field of 30 competitors from across the country in the prestigious barrel racing event held over two days.

The RM Equestrian Centre at Hodgson Vale conducted its first 2 Star One Day Event during the long weekend, attracting riders from a wide area ... Previously the venue has hosted only 1 Star Eventing. Organiser Jo Williams said the event drew 140 riders to Hodgson Vale.

In an effort to raise much needed funds, the Guy Fawkes Heritage Association is opening its doors at the Ebor Sports and Recreation Grounds for their 20th anniversary on Saturday 12 October ... The Open Day will commence at 10am and see activities such as camp oven cooking by Ranger Nick, who will also facilitate a hands-on damper making workshop for the kids. There will be market stalls, whip cracking, Guy Fawkes Heritage Horse Challenge and conclude with a concert, featuring country music singer James Blundell.

Records tumbled at the 2024 Good Old Days Festival as teamsters from around the nation brought out the biggest horse, camel and bullock teams ever seen in modern Australia. The teamsters also excelled themselves with creating a world first – four bullocks, two camels and two horses harnessed together and pulling a wagon.

As the North Central Football League (NCFL) season has now officially drawn to a close, the energy and excitement across Mt. Wycheproof and Nullawil communities is shifting towards putting Buloke on show, one wonderful event at a time ... First-up, the highly anticipated Riordan King of the Mountain races and food and wine picnic ...

East Greenmount equestrian instructor Linda Shore, alongside her student Nicola Saunders from Toowoomba, have just returned from spending a week training and competing in Working Equitation in Canada at the 2024 Cross Nations Cup ... Working Equitation is currently one of the fastest growing new equestrian disciplines in Australia with one of the largest clubs in Queensland based in Toowoomba.

A fantastic one day horse archery clinic will be conducted in Narrandera this Sunday ... subject to there being sufficient entries. Enthusiasts are invited to come and learn in a safe and fun environment from one of the Australian World Championships Team members and top 100 ranked horse archers in the world.

The 8th Light Horse Indi Upper Murray Troop inaugural training day on Sunday at Tintaldra was a mixture of professional instruction and the sheer enjoyment and enthusiasm of participants. Professional tent pegging judge, Terry Phillips, provided tent pegging and skill at arms instruction while Keith Sheather from Adelong set the tone for the training day in his beautifully maintained great-uncle’s Light Horse uniform and his horse Clancy.

Madison Eastmond. A Berri equine charity is searching for volunteers so its therapy services for the wider Riverland community can continue ... Over the past three years, Miracle Park Stables have provided therapeutic avenues for those struggling with mental health and/or have a disability to build self-esteem, self-efficacy, resilience and emotional regulation skills through a variety of programs.

Joanna Tucker. Maitland 16-year-old equestrian Kate Mahar represented Australia on the world stage last month. She placed 12th from a field of 16 at the 2024 Youth World Reining Cup in Avare, Brazil ... Ms Mahar was Australia’s only representative, and said her favourite moments were making connections with other young riders in the competition lead-in.

Spring is in the air and with the Olympic dressage watched and rewatched, inspiration has flourished. New, young horses and ponies are out and about in the dressage arenas all around the country. Boneo Park’s August competition held over two days had it all.