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EQUITANA Opens With Aplomb - Day One Highlights

Equitana Melbourne

Today saw the opening of the 2014 EQUITANA Melbourne, with a jam packed exhibition space with hundreds of traders, the event kicked off with a bang as eager equine enthusiasts shopped until they dropped. Meanwhile the education sessions were off and running, popular star presenter Charlotte presented an informative and well attended dressage session, which was one of just 50 sessions from horse training to horse health that took place.

The Competition Arenas were off with aplomb hosting the Equestrian Grand Final Exhibition Eventing, the first round of Showjumping and The Way Of The Horse.

John Valance presented an exciting and challenging course for the warm up round of the Equestrian Grand Final. Three clear rounds saw David Cameron, Billy Raymont and Jessica Stalling in first, second and third place respectively.

  David Cameron
David Cameron		  

In an EQUITANA first the horse selections for this prestigious challenge were open for all to see. Ambassador Rebecca Stoneman facilitated the selections. Competitor Kane Lamperd said that the horses all presented well and had different traits that would pose some good challenges for all competitors.

In a popular showcase riders competed in a challenging and entertaining competition. The Dressage phase saw our star presenter Dirk Schrade from Germany take a very well positioned second place, behind popular Victorian Rob Palm. The jumping (a combination of XC and SJ fences) sorted out the field (separated by just 8% between 1st-11th place after the dressage) and saw Victorian Katja Weimann take top honours.

 

Katja Weimann
Katja Weimann

  

A pumping first day saw a huge crowd converge on the three shopping precincts in what traders described as one of the strongest days to date. A number of new and innovative products, together with star presenters signings with Charlotte Dujardin certainly made the exhibition a popular destination.

  Double Dans
Double Dans - always a highlight		  

The education program is in full swing. Today saw Charlotte Dujardin presenting a training session and then her sidekick Judy Harvey on how to train the Shoulder In. Dirk Schrade presented an informative session about relaxation in jumping training, whilst Lynn Palm showed how correct foundations apply to all disciplines and how the fusion of dressage and western works well for a supple horse.

  Charlotte Dujardin
Charlotte Dujardin and Judy Harvey		  

The evening concluded in spectacular form with the EQUITANA Australian Open Reining Championship buckle taken out in equal first and second place by Shaun Saunders and previous multi-champion Warren Backhouse in third place on Shiny And Nu.

Competition Results (follow link)
http://www.equitana.com.au/competition-results

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