EQUITANA 2010 Simply Superb

The dust has settled on EQUITANA 2010, a superb four day equestrian extravaganza held in Melbourne from 18 – 21 November, which apart from the World Equestrian Games, was probably the most talked about horse event in Australia this year.

Featuring events, seminars and shopping even the most die-hard horse enthusiasts were weary at the end of it, thank goodness for the Horsezone coffee cups that kept people fuelled up throughout the days.

From the manic Shetland steeplechase to the reserved precision of top level dressage, the whole spectrum of the Australian equine industry was presented with an opportunity to shine, in what truly was a celebration of horses and their contribution to our society.


Event Director Rod Lockwood hailed this years’ event an enormous success.

“The strategies that we put in place in 2006 to bring EQUITANA to Melbourne Showgrounds and develop high level competition, has secured of EQUITANA and we’re now very excited about our strategy there will be an annual competition calendar.

“One of the aspects that we are most proud of is the ability to showcase the Australian Equine industry, and to build the profile of the sport in this country.”

For the first time ever a two hour show will be aired on One HD and feature all elements of this four day Equine spectacular.

The show will air on Saturday 4 December from 17:00 – 19:00 (AEDST) but check your local guides for correct times.

The show will feature highlights from the EQUITANA Australian Open Cutting, Reining, Dressage and Jumping competitions, which include some of the world’s best competitors and horses.

EQUITANA IMPRESSIONS:

Most impressive…
The Australian Stock Horse in the stallion parade. Jaytee Thunder, a quiet natured, true working stock horse, didn't flick an ear when his rider, Haylie Hinchcliffe, cracked stock whips from his back and dropped his head to graze while she stood directly behind him and did the same.

You learn something new every day…
Who’s heard of tolting..?!

Best trade stand
Barastoc/KER Stand. Spacious, light and airy, loads of computers, information, samples and people on hand to chat to. AND positioned right in front of the Barastoc Demonstration arena.

Goose bump material
Mary Hanna on Sancet, Maree Tomkinson on Diamontina, Chantal Wigan on Ferero, Georgia Connolly on Flowervale Maserati, Rodney Conolan on Mr Expensive and Warren Backhouse on Shiney and Nu.

Best sense of humour (and tallest man)
William Fox Pitt

Crowd Pleasers

• Proving they’re showmen and horsemen, Dan James and Dan Steers of Double Dan Horsemanship certainly had a way with the crowd and the horses.

• The games at Equitana, those kids are crazy!

Let’s hear it for the little guys..
Kiwi dressage rider Shiwon Green and her mixed breed gelding Gosh, who she purchased ‘to do a bit of Elementary dressage on’, really captured the crowd’s imagination in the Grand Prix dressage.

What’s in?

• Horsezone coffee cups – although next time we need them bigger!

• The amazing works of art in the shirts worn by the western pleasure competitors.

• Enthusiastic crowds!

What’s out?

• People who don’t appreciate quality horsemanship and performances – how hard is it to clap and show a bit of appreciation!!

• Missing out on tickets to some of the special events at EQUITANA!

Winners are grinners...

Australian Open Grand Prix CDI-W winners – Chantal Wigan and Ferero
Chantal Wigan has been competing on the European Circuit since 2006 and recently returned home to Australia, with her lovely horse Ferero, who she has owned for three years. EQUITANA was their first competition since arriving in Australia. Ferero didn’t have a good lead up to the event as he hadn’t long been out of quarantine, however, overall Chantal was very pleased with how he performed, considering the environment was totally unlike the shows he’s used to attending in Europe.

As EQUITANA’s goal is to showcase many different equestrian events Chantal compared the atmosphere in the warm up area to that of a Royal Show, laughing as she said, “there was everything from sporting ponies and carriage horses to cutting horses and reiners warming up with the dressage horses. It was very different and certainly a challenge, but we had fun!”

Of Saturday night’s Australian Open - Grand Prix CDI-W Freestyle, Chantal said, “the atmosphere was completely electric! It was like riding into a football stadium because the crowd were so ‘alive’ and enthusiastic. At times it was difficult for the horses to concentrate in this type of environment. I was very proud of Ferero and how well he behaved, especially after such a short preparation for the event. He was an angel!”

Chantal feels that Equitana was an excellent event for exposing the public to the many and varied events out there in the world of horses and is pleased the crowd were so thrilled to be there, saying “such an event, can only produce positive exposure for the horse industry.”

Open Western Pleasure winners – Rodney Conolan and Mr Expensive

When asked about competing in the prestigious Open Western Pleasure at EQUITANA, Rodney Conolan said “EQUITANA was certainly a different environment to most western shows, a lot noisier and some of the younger horses found this a little challenging. However, the Open Western Pleasure featured some of the country’s best horses and they performed well.

“Mr Expensive is an experienced, correct moving and well behaved horse and I was pleased with is performance”. Rodney added, “EQUITANA was a great opportunity to show horse-people from other disciplines, who might not normally get the opportunity to watch western pleasure, what the class is about and how well the horses perform. It was also informative for spectators when the judge explained why she placed the horses as she did, so people understand what is expected of a western pleasure horse.”

The organisers of EQUITANA, Definitive Events, have promised an exciting new development for 2011 to be announced soon, so stay tuned to Horsezone to find out the details!