The Lowdown on the Showdown that was EQUITANA!!

Haylie, Georgia and Jo with The Way Of The Horse winner - Greg Powell (photo: Sally Tsoutas)

Stacy Westfall and Tell Me A Story (Blaze) after their freestyle reining display

Haylie with Edward Gal (right) and Hans Peter Minderhoud

Australian Stock Horse, Coolidowns Cream Surprise, sire of the young horses used in The Way Of The Horse competition.

Georgia trying the new Southern Stars Saddlery hybrid safety vest.

The Socialite - a superstar Appaloosa

Jo catching up with FEI Driving World Champion Boyd Exell in the Zilco stand

Equiline - Viva Italia!

Exhibition Eventing was heaps of fun!

Jenny and Georgia, who are now Cutting fans, with Jamie Inglis -                            winner of the Non-Pro Cutting

David Dobson and AS Akon on their way to winning the Equestrian Grand Final Showjumping (photo: Rachel Smith www.furdography.com.au/EA)

Haylie caught up with fellow Kiwi and winner of the Grand Prix Dressage,              Louisa Hill, at the Coprice stand

Louisa and Bates Antonello during the Equestrian Grand Final Grand Prix Dressage

After four huge days and nights at Equitana we're turning into horses!

The dust has settled on Equitana and all that remains are the echoes of cheering crowds and thundering hooves.

From the top class international stars to local heroes across all disciplines, this once in a lifetime experience was an outstanding event, that really did showcase everything related to our beloved equine friends. 

Whether you were being enthralled by the outstanding clinicians, cheering on your favourites in the competitions, wandering around the breed displays or simply indulging in some serious retail therapy, from 10  - 13 November, Equitana was the centre of the universe for all things horsey!

In the Dome arena alone there were 237 truck loads of dirt used to build the surface and 4850 sold out seats for many events.

Whatever your equine inclination you would find it at Equitana and more importantly, the event helped build bridges amongst disciplines and breeds.  It offered the opportunity for people to broaden their minds to the huge variety of horse events out there and maybe appreciate the different disciplines more. Also, when listening to the top trainers, from Edward Gal to Stacy Westfall, a lot of the priniciples of horsemanship came across very similar. The horses may go differently, however, they always reinforced getting the basics right and being consistent with your training. Another point made frequently was stepping outside the box - don't be happy with 80% from you or your horse, aim for 110% and then by competiton time you will feel really prepared.  Plus it takes time and hard, sometimes tedious work, to get to the top. Whether you're a reiner or an eventer, we're not all that different after all!

The Horsezone team were thrilled to be on the frontline for all the action at Equitana. Here are a few of our observations... 

 

Jenny: Edward Gal and Hans Peter Minderhoud Masterclass was my absolute favourite. I found Brett Parbery’s clinic really useful as his approach to training the dressage basics was so straightforward and clear. It was extremely helpful for me as I am training my green warmblood and will start competing next year in dressage. I had a chat to him and bought the first DVD in his series which will be a great reference tool that I can go back to time and time again.  I also enjoyed Heath Harris' long reining exhibition.

Georgia: Edward Gal and Hans Peter Minderhoud's Masterclass.

Jo: Stacy Westfall's Masterclass was amazing and I think that her reining training techniques will really help my western pleasure horse too.  Boyd Exell's Carriage Driving masterclass was very entertaining and it was excellent to see a world champion in action.  Bobby Ingersoll's cutting training was also very interesting.

Haylie: Even though it was a competition rather than a clinic, The Way Of The Horse was by far the most fascinating and informative for me. I'd love to see them use a different breed or different breeds next year just to mix it up a bit - winner Greg Powell communicated his methods really well. Then of course Edward Gal and Hans Peter. Tanja Mitton is also a fascinating person to listen to on theories of mindset and improving your riding.

Carla: Edward Gal and Hans Peter Minderhoud. It was a great idea to have horses of different levels used so a wide variety of spectators could connect with the ideas being presented. I enjoyed watching Brett Parbery have his lesson with Edward Gal. It was extremely entertaining and light – a lot of fun to watch and learn at the same time. I also went to a laminitis talk during the day which was a good quick guide to the importance of looking after your horse when they show signs of laminitis and taking it extremely seriously.

 

Which competitions did you enjoy most?

Jenny: The Way of the Horse and the Dressage Grand Final. I also really enjoyed the Cutting and would love to have a go!

Georgia: The Way of the Horse and Exhibition Eventing. 

Jo: Reining! It has everything - beautiful, educated horses, cowboys, loud music and a fantastic atmosphere; the Equestrian Grand Final Showjumping was great too - very European; and the Freestyle Dressage - the horses are so elegant and move like ballet dancers.

Haylie: Having never seen reining live before, I really enjoyed watching that for the first time.  It's hard to choose my favourite of Equestrian Australia's Grand Finals as they all had something different and equally as entertaining to offer. The Exhibition Eventing was brilliant though, funky music, big jumps and a bit of speed here and there made for great viewing.

Carla: The Grand Prix Dressage Freestyle Grand Final on Saturday night was awesome. I loved every minute of it. It was also good to hear from the riders after they completed their tests and know just how much they appreciate the efforts their horses put in. I thought the way of the horse was very interesting too. Seeing three different, very good horsemen, working with young stock in a kind and calm way shows everyone it is possible to train a horse and still allow them to keep their spirit.

 

Most outstanding horses?

Jenny: I liked Kate Taylor-Wheat’s World Star. I was very impressed with how well Denise Rogan’s young horse worked in the dressage clinics and how well he handled the atmosphere.

Georgia: Dom Ingvall's grey in the Eventing Exhibition, Danniella Dierks' stallion, Coolidowns Cascade - the gelding Greg Powell worked with - and Dan Maloney's bay filly from The Way Of The Horse.

Jo: Warren Backhouse's two reiners - Ruf Lil Renee and Shiney and Nu - they set the bar for excellence. I also loved Sharon Coldwell's The Socialite - a gorgeous Appaloosa gelding ridden in the Breed Display and Clairveaux Porcelain Doll, Pam Jones's beautiful palomino Quarter Horse, who featured in the Western Pleasure Demonstration.

Haylie: I have a soft spot for Gymstar One who was formerly owned by Julie Brougham in New Zealand, so it was awesome to see Hans Peter riding him. I loved Victoria Welch and her horse Brentanus as well, Victoria sits really well. In the reining I liked Whizz Peppy. There's something about his stride that made me really want to have a sit on him!

Carla: The black filly that Edward Gal rode in the dressage clinic was absolutely outstanding. It was brilliant to see what you can achieve when your horse waits for your every command. I tried it on the weekend but didn’t quite have the same results…

 

Biggest 'goosebump' moments?

Jenny: Hans Peter Minderhoud and Edward Gal riding their Freestyles at the end of the Dressage Grand Final; the liberty act where the beautiful grey trained by Heath Harris performed with the violinist; and Greg Powell working with Coolidowns Cascade.

Georgia: The Way of the Horse - at different times of their breaking in stages; Double Dans; and getting my photo with with Edward Gal and The Way Of The Horse cowboys!

Jo: Stacy Westfall's Freestyle Reining to 'My Heart Will Go On' riding Blaze (Tell Me A Story) - Shelley Peters' horse she'd only ridden briefly and yet they still did a beautiful bridleless run; hearing the emotion in the Freestyle Dressage competitors' voices during their post-test interviews; the Freestyle Dressage competitors performing pirouettes, passage and piaffe as a group following the presentation; and seeing the Friesian stallion, Hotse, in the flesh during the Stallion Parade - he is a magnificent animal!

Haylie: Too many goosebump moments to count in The Way of the Horse; watching Louisa Hill and Vanessa Way doing so well for New Zealand in the dressage; and the cute 'little Dans' with the pony doing tricks after the reining.

Carla: Edward Gal and Hans Peter Minderhoud giving us a taste of one of their freestyle tests. Hans Peter Minderhoud gave me goosebumps for sure. I have never seen such a beautiful rider perform like that before. His position is so beautiful it looked like he was one with the horse barely making a movement. I also thought Heath Harris’ grey horse performing with the String Angels was very beautiful. I don’t think anyone could say they didn’t feel anything during that.        

 

Favourite trade stands?

Jenny: That’s a hard one!!!  I showed great restraint as I do love to shop. Pemberley Equestrian had beautiful antique hacking canes and stock pins.

Georgia: RM Williams where they had $30 jeans, The Classic Safari Company, Home Valley Station and Southern Stars Saddlery - testing out their hybrid safety vest!

Jo: Supreme Horse Products - good products and friendly staff; Ivy Western Wear and Saddlery and Horsemans Trading Post - gorgeous blingy western tack and tops; Chinese Deep Muscle Massage - saved my aching shoulders; and Stacy Westfall Horsemanship - Stacy always had long lines of people wanting to meet her, she was so patient and more than happy to chat about all of our various horse issues and offer personalised training tips. All the Horse Breed Displays were great too!

Haylie: I visited Pemberley Equestrian and bought a lovely replacement stock pin for one I lost ages ago. They also have really neat antique hunting crops with antler handles. Once again, The Riders Shoppe had my favourite range of riding clothes, while Italian brand Equiline definitely had the slickest looking stand. Their riding shirts have made it onto my list for santa this year.

Carla: After the Way of the horse I went and checked out the Coolidowns stand outside and saw their stallion, Coolidowns Cream Surprise, who is a beautiful palomino Australian Stock Horse and sire of all the young stock used for The Way Of The Horse. They have some beautiful young horses and I think it is brilliant that their horses are such great all rounders. They compete in everything from hacking, working stock horse competitions, campdrafting and polocrosse etc. I also went to the Prydes stand and had a feed analysis done on my horse Phantom.

 

Personal highlights?

Jenny: Meeting Edward Gal and getting my photo taken with him, despite having my eyes closed!!

Georgia: Photo with David Manchon from The Way Of The Horse and Edward Gal. The Exhibition Eventing!

Jo: Interviewing Boyd Exell and talking training with Stacy Westfall.

Haylie: Meeting and having my photo taken with Edward Gal and Hans Peter Minderhoud.  Also, seeing Jamie Inglis win the Non Pro Cutting was a highlight.

Carla: It was exciting to see Stacy Westfall up close on horseback in the demo arena. She is an awesome horsewoman and looks so fit!

 

What was hot...

• Meeting so many wonderful horse people. How often do you see people wearing Wranglers and jodphurs all hanging out together?!

• Cowboys!

• International stars galore.

• Equine retail therapy of all kinds and also the not so equine including the 360 Boom Box which got a few of us!

• Antique hunting crops as accessories.

• Having Equitana in Sydney!

• Italian riding wear.

• Having your boots cleaned by retailers of leather care products.

• Bling! Not just on western gear - dressage browbands were all a-glitter!

• Rushing from carriage driving demos to cutting lessons to dressage competitions - where else can you do that?

• Cowboys with girlfriends...
• The cost - it would be great if Equitana was more affordable for all horse people.

Quick Links

• View all the stories, results and more photos from Equitana.
• Watch all the videos from Equitana - we have everything from Cutting, Reining, Dressage and Showjumping competitions through to snippets from Masterclasses with Stacy Westfall, Edward Gal and Hans Peter Minderhoud, Boyd Exell and Bobby Ingersoll, plus footage of stunning stallions.