Australians have always held a fascination and deep love for horses. From the track of the iconic race that stops a nation, to stories like The Silver Brumby, and poems by Banjo Patterson, the respect and love for these beautiful animals are deep-seated in our culture. Shows like Yellowstone have raised even more interest in high-value western events, while athletes like former AFL player Josh Gibson are competing actively in sports like Campdrafting, and Australia’s ongoing medal success at the Olympic level continues to shine a light on Equestrian disciplines.
Over the years, we’ve seen a convergence in accessibility to horses. Racing Victoria’s Off The Track program has incentivised recreational horse owners to come back to considering the Thoroughbred as a competition companion, and we’ve also seen the benefits of Equine Assisted Therapy amplified across different therapeutic modalities. Riding schools in medium-density areas such as Dingley, Warrandyte and Templestowe are once again booking up with horse-loving children, and a constant stream of ‘equestrian chic’ continues to infiltrate fashion circles, with brands such as RM Williams, Ralph Lauren, Hugo Boss and Gucci becoming synonymous with the trend.
While horses are an ‘all-consuming’ hobby, there’s no reason not to enjoy all things surrounding this great creature in doses, and you can get your fix at EQUITANA Melbourne, held 14-17 November at the Melbourne Showgrounds.
A wonderland for those curious about all things equine, EQUITANA Melbourne has delivered the largest all-encompassing horse spectacular in the southern hemisphere for over 23 years. Boasting 300 brands on show, 67 hours of competition across 34 different events and 160 education sessions facilitated by 80 educators.
Unlike other events, sport-specific competitions, races, or theme-park style experiences, EQUITANA is a deeply considered, immersive showcase that accessibly connects all things equine with Melbourne.
No equine knowledge is needed. Come in and enjoy the eye candy with breed displays, meet Olympians, shop country and technical fashion in the huge trade village, and sit back and enjoy everything from elite competitions across Olympic disciplines (Dressage, Eventing and Showjumping), ex-racehorses with Off The Track Features, Minitana (a spectacular of miniature horses and ponies), and the best in ‘cowboy life’ with cutting, campdrafting, reining and Barrel Racing.
There are displays of horsemanship- from liberty training to the best trainers showing you how they can turn an unhandled young horse into a saddle horse gently and kindly in days with The Way Of The Horse challenge as well as the Brumby Challenge where you will see how wild brumbies have been trained in 150 days to be saddle horses.
All walks of life will be enthralled by The Main Event – a special feature showcasing the best showman in a carefully choreographed evening spectacular, and world cup competitions. You’ll get to see Dan Steers and Dan James (Double Dans from USA), and the cast and crew from the Outback Spectacular.
Sunday is a family feature day, with a special kid-friendly program structured to entertain all ages – and with a discounted family ticket ($120 for two adults and two children).
All tickets include free public transport to and from the event.
Further information can be found at https://www.equitana.com.au/
