Equitana Asia Pacific 2008

Special trains from the city to the Showgrounds station brought visitors to Equitana. Equestrian personalities, Beryl and Harry Stanton made the trip in from Tynong North in Gippsland to watch the Pryde's Easi Feeds World Cup Qualifier.

Sydney Myer rode the home bred, 'Yulgilbar Ima Little Scottie' to score 139 points in the Equitana Open Cutting masters.

Paul Beath from Victoria rode 'Go For Spinning Oak' to score 131 in the Equitana Open Cutting Masters.

Victorian rider, Corey Holden rode 'Doves Date With Destiny' to win the Equitana Open Cutting Masters with a score of 147.

Gemma Creighton from Queensland jumped a 1.95m fence in a Pony Club competition on her 15th birthday. The effort set a new World Wide Pony Club record. Gemma was awarded a Stubben Edelweiss Deluxe saddle to mark the occasion and is pictured with Frank Stubben, the great grandson of the founder of the Stubben company.

Tom Coen from Victoria rode 'Winderadeen Get Shorty' to score an impressive 147.5 in the Equitana Non Pro Cutting Masters

Stuart Laurie and 'Smokin N Style' earned 128 in the Equitana Non Pro Cutting Masters.

David Merygold and 'Winderadeen Scotabasco' are paying plenty of attention to the unseen beast. They earned 133 in the Equitana Non Pro Cutting Masters.

The beautiful pencil drawing of 'Zabeel' by Ray Le Busque was part of the Turf Monthly Equine Art Exhibition.

Penilla Hogg with her as always super elegant display of Catago Riding Wear.

Rachael Kennedy was the lucky winner of the over 70,000 entry draw for the Equitana, Australian Equestrian Life and Stallion Floats magnificent Stallion Hi Liner Float. Rachael is pictured with L-R Rod Lockwood from Definitive Events and Australian Equestrian Life editor, Annie Lever.

Shepparton World Cup winner, Jamie Winning jumped a super clear first round, one of just two, in the first round of the Pryde's Easi Feeds Equitana World Cup Qualifier riding her imported Alcatraz gelding, 'Yandoo Vangelo'. The addition of eight penalties in the second round saw them finish in sixth place on time.

Even after four busy days and nights of Equitana Asia Pacific, L-R presenter, Guy McLean and co MC (with Roger Fitzhardinge) Hamish McLachlan have plenty to say.

Young Queenslander, Dan James was one of three trainers involved in the Way of the Horse competition. He achieved most with his chosen unbroken horse after two days of work and was named 2008 Champion of Australian Horsemanship.

Shane Ransley, one of the three trainers involved in The Way of the Horse competition.

Way of the Horse judges; International Dressage judge Susie Hoevenars, "Horse Master" Bill Willoughby and Paralympic team member Anne Skinner.

"A pretty face and a nice star" did not help Warwick McLean much in The Way of The Horse. The fact that the unbroken and almost untouched horses did not have a headcollar on to begin posed the major problem for all three trainers. By the last session, after two and a half hours work, broken up into four sessions, Warwick managed to get the headcollar on his horse. With that done he was able to do a lot more with it. Warwick did not attempt to ride the horse, as it was not ready and there would be no point to the exercise. Warwick will take the horse home and put six more weeks work into it, by which time it will be a useful member of society.

Queensland rider, Clem Smith with Neville Rose's beautiful Thoroughbred, 'Benaloo Dark Ages' by Dusky Hunter out of a Souvenir mare during the first round of the Pryde's Easi Feeds Equitana World Cup Qualifier. They were just out of the money in eleventh place.

Queensland rider, Adam Mellers rode the Animo Stallion, 'Animate' to take third place in the Pryde's Easi Feeds Equitana World Cup Qualifier. Adam and 'Animate', putting in a big effort over this oxer jumped eight and clear. Interestingly this combination won the World Cup Qualifier at Equitana Asia Pacific in 2005.

Starting favourite, Chris Chugg and Wodonga World Cup winner, 'Vivant' had to settle for second place in the Pryde's Easi Feeds Equitana World Cup Qualifier. They jumped an uncharacteristic eight and then clear in a fast time to secure second place on time.

Queensland rider Billy Raymont kept the Thoroughbred hopes alive by taking fifth place in the Pryde's Easi Feeds Equitana World Cup Qualifier riding the typey and scopey Grosvenor gelding, 'Stardom'. They jumped four and four to be relegated on time in the second round.

Olympic Showjumping Team Members, Laurie Lever and 'Ashleigh Drossel Dan' jumped four and clear to win the Pryde's Easi Feeds Equitana World Cup Qualifier. Equitana was only Laurie and Dan's second show since returning from Hong Kong.

Amy Graham rode a sensational first round aboard her imported Dutch gelding, 'Transatlantic'. Amy really gave meaning to "a positive ride" from this big oxer six strides down to an oxer vertical double. They posted the second of the two first round clears, but two down in the second round saw this capable pair slip to fourth place on time.

The weary head home from from four wonderful days of Education, Entertainment, Competition and of course shopping.

Five goal Polo Player, Sam Gairdner, divides his time between England and Australia. The talented professional was one of the seven horsemen to participate in the fabulous All Star Clinic, the last exhibition of the 2008 Equitana Asia Pacific.

Richard Weis, "a leading authority on the influence of the rider on the horse" was the mastermind behind the All Star Clinic on the final day of Equitana Asia Pacific. Seven professional and talented horsemen, Chris Chugg (showjumping), Clayton Fredericks (eventing),Sam Gairdner (polo), Brett Parberry (dressage), Alan Hannaford (cutting/campdrafting), Warwick Schiller (reining)and Guy McLean (hard to categorise), all demonstrated and explained their particular horse sport. However, it became fascinating when they swapped horses. For instance you had Chris Chugg on Sam's polo pony and Sam riding 'Vivant' that had just placed second in the World Cup Qualifier. It was no surprise that Chris rode the polo pony well and rather more interestingly, Sam rode Vivant well, jumping a tall vertical in the process. It demonstrated that a good horseman is just that and all seven were certainly very good.

With all the cattle gone from the venue, Guy McLean (is there no end to his talents?) stepped in to act as the beast for Allan Hannaford's Cutting display!