Skye Liikanen who this evening won the Mitavite TWOTH (The Way of The Horse) competition with Dylanglen Maya at EQUITANA Melbourne. Photo Stephen Mowbray Photography
The curtain came down on EQUITANA Melbourne in the best way possible this evening with Skye Liikanen crowned the winner of the Mitavite TWOTH (The Way of The Horse) competition.
It’s the iconic event that is all about horsemanship, and this year was an all-woman affair between Skye, Hayley Hinton and Steph Lancefield. Each is matched with an unhandled three-year-old filly, who they spend just an hour a day with over the four days of EQUITANA, culminating with a 15-minute showcase before three judges, showing just what they have achieved.
The three were mic’d up as they presented their final work to the judges, explaining each move to the crowd, many of whom had been on the four day journey with the trainers.
It came down to a two horse race between Hayley and Skye, with Steph’s Connemara cross filly, Dylanglen Maze, a tad challenging.
Hayley had her own challenges to deal with after her first horse, Dylanglen Snowflake received a knock at the barn and was switched out for Danouk Pastoral Clover, a Gypsy Cob Clydesdale cross. While she didn’t ride the horse, she did get a saddle on and led the horse through an obstacle course.
Next out was Skye and Dylanglen Maya who wowed the crowd and the judges with their progress. “This is every little girl’s horsey dream,” said an elated Skye.
Just yesterday she shared a Facebook photo of her with the Double Dans – Australia’s very celebrated horsemen – taken 11 years ago at EQUITANA. “I just wanted to do what they were doing – perform and work with horses for the rest of my life.”
Skye said the competition had been the hardest thing she had ever done. “You want to do justice to the filly each day so it is going out into the world the best possible way.”
She wanted to share the journey with the crowd so they understood her method of training. “She is quite a sensitive little horse and the environment really affected her. To win is just beyond what I imagined.”
Right from the start, Skye decided she wanted to buy the horse and bring her back to EQUITANA in 2024 to share their progress and despite a slight curve ball she has now secured the horse. The filly will shortly head to her southeast Queensland base along with Dylanglen Snowflake for one of Skye’s clients.
Judge Bruce O’Dell said it had been very close between the top two competitors. “They all did a good job with great technique,” he said.
Star presenter Guy McLean aboard his stallion Dreamer during the sell-out Mane Event at EQUITANA Melbourne. Photo by Stephen Mowbray Photography
The TWOTH competition was the last hurrah at EQUITANA Melbourne 2022, an event that had been four years in the making.
“I feel relief and joy,” said managing director Rod Lockwood. “The past four years have been a nightmare! What a trifecta – fires, floods and COVID. Who would have thought when we closed the doors on our 2018 EQUITANA that we would not be back for four years? What has happened in that time has changed lives.”
Rod said he had “desperately” missed his favourite event. “Our company is a diverse event company but EQUITANA is my baby and I was miserable when we cancelled two events.”
But he was overjoyed by the horse lovers’ response to this year’s event. “It is really gratifying to see our attendees’ response and excitement at EQUITANA Melbourne returning. I am both grateful and overjoyed to be back.”
More than 30,000 people flooded through the gates of the Melbourne Showgrounds over the four days. They were entertained with sell-out shows, top-notch competition, and mind-blowing education sessions from more than 70 presenters. Helping the EQUITANA team were 250 volunteers who had come from all over Australia to be part of the very special event.
Lana Kelderman and Nu Too Much who today were crowned 2022 reining masters champions at EQUITANA Melbourne. Photo by Stephen Mowbray Photography
Already the planning is underway for EQUITANA 2024 with new ideas on the table to innovate and change the programme and event.
Head to www.equitana.com.au for more information.
