Equi Fest - Australia's Festival of Equestrian

Sarah Louise McMillan makes the most of her, 'Queen of Hearts' spectacular jump over this oxer on their way to sixth place in the Welcome Stakes on the Horseland Premier Arena.

So nice to see Tom McDermott back on Australia soil, if only for a short time. Tom is pictured aboard, 'Elegance de la Charmille' during the jump off of the Welcome Stakes.

Representing New Zealand at Equifest, Natasha Brooks is pictured aboard her, 'Kapattack' during the 1.30m Welcome Stakes on day one of the four day Equifest at Hawkesbury Showgrounds.

A serious and soaked, Tyler Sams is pictured aboard 'Owendale Honeycomb' during the class for Rider 6 AU 9 Years. There are a full 3 days of Grand National Qualifing Hacking at Equifest followed by a day of ANSA classes.

Equifest co event manager Kevin Hansen does not look happy and who would blame him. 15 months ago at this venue he ran the Equestrian Lifestyle Festival and they had five inches of rain. Today for day one of Equefest it rained all day. However the forecast for the next three days is better and Kevin does have a long term vision for equine sports in Australia, he just might need a better long range forecaster.

Sharon Slater has bigger fish to fry and jumped a beautiful clear jumping round in the Welcome Stakes, but incured two time penalties. Sharon will definitely have a game plan for Equifest.

Sydney Evans and F1 Julius Caesar finish their Preliminary 1.2 Young Rider test. Classes from the new main dressage arena were moved to the older permanent arenas to save the footing for Saturday. There is a full dressage program of Equifest with some fun class on Friday called Dancing with the Stars.

Stephanie Dijkstra (Mrs. Critta) can still manage to smile after coming all the way from Melbourne with her Anky range of clothing and for Day 1 of Equifest to be called off early due to the rain.

The new main arena for Equifest looks amazing and after the ladies walked the course this afternoon for the J and R Equestrian Lady Rider Championship, it was decided that the event would be postponed until tomorrow due to the rain.

Early this morning the main arenas at Equifest looked wonderful. From the covered grandstand spectators have a full view of both the main jumping and dressage arenas.

The always competitive, James Arkins is pictured aboard, 'Bellhaven Sanskrit' during the jump of the Welcome Stakes. They finished just out of the money.

Ageless Paula Hamood jumped a lovely round aboard her, 'Lady Jane GHP' to finish just out of the money in the Welcome Stakes on day one of the 2017 Equifest at Hawkesbury Showgrounds.

Chris Chugg is pictured aboard one of his talented imports, 'PSS Chantilly' during the jump off of the 1.30m Welcome Stakes. They jumped a super round, but literally finished just out of the money.

Talented young jumping rider, Nic Sheehan was another to jump a good, fast round in the Welcome stakes jump off, but just not fast enough riding, 'Warraleigh Park Cortez'.

Nineteen year old Jamie Priestley has progressed from the showhorse ring to the jumping arena and is now one of a talented group of young riders really making their presence felt in open company. Jamie is pictured aboard, 'Courage' during the Welcome Stakes jump off.

Back home and not enjoying the European weather. Equifest is after all like a wonderful European Show, but it would be nice to have some Australian weather. But what's a little rain. Don your wet weather gear and head to Hawkesbury and there is plenty to see and do and yes there is a covered grandstand. Jamie is pictured aboard her, 'Yandoo Zenzel HBC' during the 1.30 Welcome Stakes conducted on the Horseland premier arena.

Few riders know the word competitive like Becky Jenkins. She gave it a gallant try today riding, 'Our Kohinur', but just failed to make it happen and finished just out of the money in the Welcome Stakes.

Kelly Slater and her, 'Silverton' make a super jump on their way to a clear jump off round in the 1.30m Welcome Stakes on day one of the four day Equifest at Hawkesbury Showgrounds.

Christine Bates and 'Adelaide Hill' were in the running for Rio Eventing Team selection until injury scuppered the horse's chances. After today however, it looks as if he might have had a career change. They jumped a super slick clear to take third place behind two very fast riders in the 1.30m Welcome Stakes.

Experienced and successful international rider and coach, David Dobson from Western Australia rode his, 'Point Break' to post an uncatchable time and win the 1.30m Welcome Stakes on day one of the 2017 Equifest.

Stephanie Tucker is another successful rider from WA and today rode her, 'Oaks Redwood' to fifth place in the 1.30m Welcome Stakes.

Shannon Breen and 'Oaks Sharko' float over the Butterfly fence during their four penalty Welcome Stakes jump off round.

Always a threat whatever the class, Andrew Inglis rode, 'Agloria' to second place in the 1.30 Welcome Stakes.

Did popular Queensland rider, Clem Smith bring the rain with him? Whatever the case , he did not let it worry him and rode, 'Alite' to fourth place in the 1.30m Welcome Stakes on day one of Equifest.