Australia’s festival of equestrian will ignite the Hawkesbury Showgrounds from the 30th of March to the 2nd of April. With competitions from amateur to elite in Showing, Dressage and Show Jumping, combined with a swag of complimentary entertainment – EquiFest is not to be missed by any equine enthusiast. This event will see the return of the Puissance Wall to Australia, where horse and rider will have to clear a massive 2.33m to claim the Australian record.
With EquiFest ambassadors Brett Parbury, Jess Stalling and Rhys Stones headlining the elite competitions everyone is invited to come down and be a part of Australia’s richest prize pool event.
Be sure to take note of the daily highlights below to make sure you don’t miss out on anything!
Thursday 30th March
EquiFest will jump in to action with a brand new competition for Australia, the Lady Rider Showjumping Championships! This event will see the top 30 female riders in Australia tackle the 1.40m course in a 2 round Grand Prix competition. An exciting, action-packed way to kick off our competition schedule.
In addition to the Lady Rider Showjumping Championships, Thursday will be reserved for the highly anticipated young and novice rider competitions. Make sure you come and see the future faces of the equine industry battle it out in their respective disciplines. Showing will feature EquiFest Child and youth rider classes, which will see the best young riders go head-to-head for Grand National Qualification.
Dressage will also see the best of the novice combinations with official youth competitions from Preliminary to Elementary taking centre stage. The highlight of the Thursday will be the Young Rider Dressage Masterclass run by some of Australia’s top dressage riders – not to be missed by any young budding Dressage rider or enthusiast.
Friday 31st March
Friday sees the EquiFest Grand Prix Showjumping take centre stage. Riders will have to negotiate the course with heights ranging from 1.40m to 1.50m to take out the $15,000 prize money. The trans-tasman rivalry will begin to heat up as following the EquiFest Grand Prix sees the first Australia vs New Zealand Test Match. The best from New Zealand will take on the best from Australia for ultimate bragging rights in the team showjumping spectacular.
Showing continues on Friday with the Galloway Championships and Saddle Pony classes. Champions being crowned as the best rider and horses in the showing fraternity go head-to-head in the Grand National qualifying events.
Friday will also see all levels of Dressage on show, from Novice to Grand Prix. The day will culminate with a Show Off Competition Best of the Best where top riders will target a specific movement from extended trot to piaffe, pirouette to passage and flying changes to be judged best movement. Masterclass for Novice, Medium and Small Tour combinations will also be showcased for the next tier of skilled dressage riders to learn from the best in the business.
Finally, the Arabian Showcase will be taking place across Friday and Saturday. These beautiful horses will strut their stuff in front of the judges in an attempt to be crowned EquiFest Champion. The costume parade is also a feast for the eyes as these horse adorn traditional attire – a crowd favourite not to be missed!
Saturday 1st April
Amateur and Junior rider championships will take place on Saturday along with the Centuria Capitol Hawkesbury Championship featuring some of Australia’s best Grand Prix combinations. The New South Wales Mounted Police will also be putting on a display along with their police band before the Puissace wall takes place in the heart of the Premier Arena – An event not to be missed! The Puissance will see riders attempt heights never before witnessed in Australia as they aim to break the Australian Record and win the huge prizemoney on offer.
Showing will culminate with the Saddle Hack and Show Hunter Championships. This competition will see riders from across Australia and 12 horse and rider combinations from New Zealand go head-to-head as they a judged by a special guest and event organiser Kevin Hansen.
The miniature horses will get their chance to parade themselves in front of the judges and their adoring fans on Saturday and Sunday. Celebrity Miniature Horse ‘It’s Crunchtime’ will be competing and afterwards will be available for meet and greets and photos.
The Grand Prix Freestyle to Music will also be on display on Saturday as well as a continuation of the Show off Competitions Best of the Best. Official Dressage competitions for Saturday will range from Novice right through to Grand Prix Freestyle as well as the Masterclass for Novice, Medium and Small Tour combinations.
Unique to EquiFest will also see the inclusion of an action-packed 6-Bar competition. Watch as riders attack a grid of 6 jumps, each one higher than the last finishing with a maximum height 6 bar obstacle. The winner is decided by the combination that can achieve a clean round. It’s a fast paced, cut throat competition not to be missed!
Sunday 2nd April
The Final day of the Showjumping program will finish with a bang as the Young Rider Championships will be held ahead of the Mitavite Sydney Open, boasting a total prize of $40,000 for the winner of this Grand Prix Showjumping event.
For showing, the ANSA (Australian National Saddlehorse Association) Championships will be taking place alongside the Saddle Horse Championship, to wrap up the showing competition program.
Sunday will also see the completion of the Dressage with the highly anticipated Grand Prix Special taking centre stage at the conclusion of the preliminary through to Intermediate classes. Sunday afternoon will also see a Masterclass featuring Prelim, Medium and Small Tour level riders, a must-see for all dressage enthusiasts.
TICKETS ON SALE NOW, Visit: www.equifest.com.au
