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Equitana Asia Pacific 2008 - 20th Nov 2008

The much anticipated Freestyle ridden by Andreas Helgstrand aboard Dr Kerry Mack's Weltmeyer stallion, 'Whisper', lived up to expectations. Andreas rode a wonderful Freestyle designed by Melissa Widdis of Fortissimo Freestyles.

Equitana, An International Experience.

By Anna Sharpley.

The Dressage Spectacular on Saturday night was a sell out. And a sell out in the fabulous Grand Pavillion meant 4,500 spectators. They were treated to a great night of international standard dressage, with Danish Olympic Team Bronze Medallist, Andreas Helgstrand adding even more incentive for the dressage enthusiast to attend the Dressage World Cup Qualifier. Andreas has been the darling of dressage since his unforgettable World Championship Silver Kur performance with the beautiful mare, Blue Hors Matinee in 2006. Maree Tomkinson too added to the international flavour. The always elegant rider who has spent the best part of the last 12 months training in Germany gave us a glimpse of what she has learnt in her travels. She gave a thrilling display under trying circumstances to the live music of the Equitana Symphony and William Barton on didgeridoo. However, as good as the headliners were, many of the 4,500 came to see Heath Ryan with Dr Margaret Evan's imported Rubinstein stallion, Regardez Moi. And on Saturday night it was line ball as to who received the loudest cheer, Andreas riding Dr Kerry Mack's wonderful Weltmeyer stallion, Whisper, or Heath.

On Friday, Heath and Regardez Moi produced their career best Grand Prix for 68.25%, which is a seriously good percentage. On Saturday night in an atmosphere nothing short of electric, Heath and 'Fabio' produced their wonderful Pirates of the Carribean Freestyle for victory with 72.65%. Rachael Sanna, always beautiful to watch was second with Bev Edwards' ever improving stallion, Jaybee Alabaster with 68.85%. Charlotte Pederson spent time in Europe this year with Susanna Clarke's impressive Danish import Come to Me. They took third place in the Freestyle with 64.80% ahead of Kerry Mack and her super Jazz stallion, Mayfield Pzazz with 63.80%. There are a number of exciting horses on the domestic dressage scene, including Mary Hanna's eight year old Jazz gelding. Tango V (second in the Grand Prix with 65.87%) and Kate Taylor-Wheat typey gelding, Oscar B that show great promise for the future of Australian dressage internationally.

Although the Equitana atmosphere got to some of the horses, especially on Saturday night, all riders without exception were delighted to have the opportunity to compete in a really international environment. Equitana does bring the world to Australia.

Equitana Jumping World Cup Qualifier.

Experience counts for a lot when it comes to working with horses and jumping is no exception. The Equitana World Cup Qualifier, the 13th of the 15 for 2008 was dominated in the first round by two of the number of exciting young riders really making their presence felt at the top level of domestic competition. However at the end of the competition, experience held court once again. The World Cup class was conducted on the Bates Outdoor Arena, the Main Arena for the Royal Melbourne Show in September. John Valance set a 1.50m track that as well as being up to height involved technical lines, which really put pressure on the riders' decision making process. This was perhaps the toughest track seen this season and of the 30 to start, four were eliminated and one retired. The vertical, vertical, oxer combination at 12abc understandably caused most penalties, with 16 of those to arrive there, faulting. The line seven, a big oxer, six forward strides to the oxer/vertical double saw a variety of approaches, with fence seven clearly spooking a few of the riders. A bit surprisingly the first fence, a rising oxer came down six times and not so surprisingly the last fence, a 1.50m vertical did too.

Shepparton winner, 21 year old Jamie Winning, jumped a copybook clear with her Yandoo Vangelo and the feat was emulated by the not much older Amy Graham from South Australia riding Transatlantic, the winner at both Caboolture and Glenelg. Laurie Lever and Ashleigh Drossel Dan having their second start since returning from Hong Kong, had one down as did Queensland rider, Billy Raymont with the typey Thoroughbred, Stardom, by Grosvenor. The winner, it was thought would come from one of the above, and it did. The class was run under Article 273.3.3 with twelve returning to jump a second round, with time in that round to determine the winner and placegetters, if there were an equality of penalties. Four went clear in the second round, but alas not Jamie Winning or Amy Graham. Laurie Lever jumped clear, with just one anxious moment, more for the spectators than Laurie, as Drossel Dan did a double take behind at an oxer. Undeterred, Laurie kicked on to post a good time, but the two round total of four was enough to take the class without recourse to the clock. Chris Chugg and Vivant, winners last week at Wodonga, surprisingly faulted twice in the first round. They were to make no mistake in the second, to take second place on time with a two round total of eight. Adam Mellers jumped eight and clear for third place on time. Amy and Transatlantic faulted twice in the second round to be relegated to fourth. Billy and Stardom added another four for fifth place with Jamie and Yandoo Vangelo losing their grip on victory adding eight for sixth place. Becky Allen and Koyuna Ted made up for an uncharacteristic 12 penalty first round with a super clear in the second for seventh place.

Equitana Epilogue.

Equitana Asia Pacific 2008 was an amazing achievement and each day for four days crowds poured in by car, by train, by taxi and even by tram. And some spectators came back day after day after day after day, such was their enthusiasm and such was their delight with what was on offer. Certainly the shopping received a lot of attention, but any and every aspect of the horse, was discussed, demonstrated and dissected at Equitana. As an educational forum, Equitana is unequalled, with over 300 educational sessions. The broad range of competition, which also crossed over in to entertainment covered the spectrum of equestrian activity. If you were in doubt as to what horse riding activity you wanted to pursue, Equitana either made up you mind or perhaps made you more confused, as all the disciplines, from Pony Club Games, through, Carriage Driving, Reining, Cutting, Campdrafting, Dressage, Showjumping, Showing and Eventing etc. were presented superbly by world class riders and trainers. Once you had chosen what you wanted to do, there were 31 breeds of horse on display with which to do it.

The Grand Pavilion, Competition Arena, Breeders Village and four Exhibition Halls (15,000 sq m) were spread around the renovated Melbourne Showgrounds, just on the outskirts of the city centre. Despite Melbourne turning on it's most fickle Spring weather, with rain, hail and strong winds, the equestrian enthusiast remained undeterred and pressed on. The new venue gives much more scope for more competition and for Equitana to expand with its ever growing popularity. No doubt many are already planning their trip to Equitana 2010. Definitive Events again proved the impossible and produced the biggest and best Equitana so far, but they would not have been able to do that without Presenting Partner, The Weekly Times, Major Stakeholders, Tourism Victoria, Horse Deals and Horse Rush and the many Event Partners that contributed enormously to the success of Equitana Asia Pacific 2008.

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	Maree Tomkinson.wmv (3 MB)
	Maree Tomkinson and Lanzaro during the Equitana Symphony.

The Gallery

Huge crowds gathered early on the first day of Equitana Asia Pacific and well before the 9.30 opening time.

The new look Equitana logo over the entrance to the main exhibition hall. The trade stands and various demonstration arenas are spread over three big exhibition spaces. The Melbourne Showgrounds is proving to be a wonderful and roomy venue for the much anticipated bi annual equestrian extravaganza.

There was much interest in the traditional Equitana Art Exhibition.

Olympic Silver Team Medallists and 2008 World Cup Champion, Clayton Fredericks conducting an Eventing clinic on the Bates Outdoor Arena.

The very popular Sandi Simonds during her "Creating Confidence" demonstration.

Genevieve Burgun was delighted to win the Intermediate Rider class and be declared Runner Up Equitana Champion Rider.

Peter Horobin Saddlery has been a feature of Equitana Asia Pacific since its inception. If you look closely you can see Peter himself explaining the finer points of his work.

Greg Powell has been involved with Equitana since 2003. Greg conducted a demonstration relating to "Understanding Your Horse's Body Language" and will be conducting similar clinics on each day of Equitana.

There was much interest in the attractive Mitavite stand. There was no need to go home from Equitana in any doubt about feeding your horse.

Adelaide 2008 Champion Lady Rider, Jacqui Librio, won the strong Senior Rider Over 18 class and went on to be declared Equitana Champion Rider.

Colleen Kelly is sought after the world over as a speaker on the rider's seat and balance. A dressage judge and President of Vaulting Australia, Colleen was conducting a clinic on "The Rider's Seat, Posture and Balance".

Victorian rider, Rene Hoefchen rode his 'OP Whizzel Do' to third place in the Equitana Non Pro Reining competition with 139 1/2 .

Grace Hill rode the McMahon and McCormick families' very well performed 'Silkwood Angel Wings' to win the Small Pony class. Grace also won the class for Junior Riders Under 12 years.

Popular showing identity, Dale Plumb won the Hack class with his eye catching, 'DP Mayfair' and went on to claim the Runner Up Supreme Saddle Horse award.

The McMahon's and the McCormick's love Equitana. And well they should, as they won the Small Pony and won the Large Pony class with 'Leanda Hello Dolly' (pictured). The Melbourne Royal Large Pony Champion, by Kirreway For All Occasions was ridden by Chanel Hunter and was declared Equitana Champion Saddle Horse

Glenn Browitt rode his 'Yulgilbar Requestamelody' to second place in the Equitana Open Reining competition with 143 points.

Thirty one breeds are paraded every day in the Bates Outdoor Arena Breed Parade. The Shire Horse, Pictured is 'Noddy,' the "tallest horse in the world.

'RTP Casino', a Peruvian Paso stallion is an example of one of the 31 Breeds on display at Equitana. "The world's smoothest riding horse" is pictured ridden by Dale Downey in the daily Breed Parade in the Bates Outdoor Arena.

The popular Pat Parelli always draws a crowd. Pat and Linda conduct their main Equitana Clinic tomorrow.

"What recession"? There was plenty of retail therapy being had on the first day of Equitana Asia Pacific 2008. You name it, if it was remotely associated with a horse, it was on show or for sale at Equitana.

Leonie Huber was sitting pretty on 'OP Apatchie Whiz' to win both the Equitana Non Pro and Open Reining competition with 145 1/2 points..

Caroline Wagner was second in the entertaining "The Rider's Shoppe" Intermediate 1 Freestyle riding her 'WS Nevada' with 66.02%.

A section of the Equitana Interactive Area, situated in Hall 2 where there are a multitude of interesting horsey activities.

Former World Reining Champion, Martin Larcombe rode Robyn and Warwick Schiller's 'Smart Like Smart' to second place in the Equitana Open Reining competition with 143 points.

Sam Williams from Tonimbuk won the Future Stars Victorian Young Rider Championship, jumping the only double clear of the class with his 'Isle of Rahn'.

There was great interest in all the demonstrations on the first day of Equitana Asia Pacific. For many it was standing room only.

It's all action in the ACE Group Jump and Drive competition. Jamie Winning's Team takes a corner on the Drive section. Jamie has completed a jumping round and now acts as ballast.

Brett Parberry with the Turner's 'Welthill' that was fourth in the "The Riders Shoppe" Intermediate 1 Freestyle.

Rozzie Ryan and 'Jive Magic' put their best foot forward. They look pleased and so they should with a 71.08% score to win "The Riders Shoppe" Intermediate 1 Freestyle.

Guy McLean has been a fixture at Equitana and it was not surprising that "An Evening With Guy McLean" was a sell out. Guy is a super horseman and poet.

	Photographs Supplied By
Julie Wilson Equestrian Photography PO Box 167 Warburton Victoria 3799 Phone 03 59 662668 Mobile 0408 547 378 juliewilson@bigpond.com http://www.jwep.net

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