National show horse competition to leave Victoria

Riders from around the country will compete in the prestigious event for the last time before it moves to NSW.

On the move: The prestigious nationals event is moving to NSW. Picture: Angie RIckard

VICTORIA is set to lose its biggest drawcard on the Showhorse calendar.

The Equestrian Australia National Show Horse championships have been held at Werribee Park in Victoria each December for many years.

A very prestigious event, riders from each state and territory strive to qualify for some of the many sections available and to be called the National champion.

Riders have to win champion or reserve at their state event to be eligible for the Nationals. Some competitors then make the very long journey from Western Australia and Darwin to Werribee Park for an opportunity to compete against the best horses Australia has to offer.

However, the contract to run the event has been up for tender and despite Victoria running a hugely successful and well patronised event the tender was awarded to NSW from 2022.

The Victorian Show horse committee has declared, with this in mind, they intend to ensure that the Nationals 2021 will be an event to remember.

The National Showhorse Committee unfortunately decided to provide a format by which the event is to be run in 2020-21, thwarting some of Show Horse Victoria’s plans.

Victoria previously submitted a proposal of how they would like to structure the event, being mindful to include everyone who had been disappointed after qualifying for the COVID-19 cancelled 2020 event and ensure they were still given the opportunity to represent their state at the 2021 event.

National Showhorse Committee confirmed that the 2020-21 Nationals will be conducted as one event with both years’ qualifiers being combined into one major show.

This will be a huge event effectively doubling the usual number of competitors and will require a lot of adjustment to the existing rules and conditions to allow this to happen.

The amended rules and conditions are expected to be finalised by February 2021.

Meanwhile Show Horse Victoria already has plans in the works to hold an exciting new event to take the Nationals’ place on the equestrian calendar.

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