Australia's Premier BYO Horse
Travel Site
Australia's Premier BYO Horse
Travel Site
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the way of the horse Equitana's
Inaugural Horsemanship Challenge
(click here to read the poem) |
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The Inaugural Australian Horsemanship Challenge was held at Equitana on Monday 7 November in the Competition Arena at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre in Victoria.
When three competitors of this calibre are brought together to pitch their skill against one another, the audience is bound to be enthralled. No-one could have left this competition feeling less than awe-inspired. THE 'TRAINING'
David Simons' choice, later to be named Random by the audience, seemed less phased than the other two (but still phased non the less).
Guys McLean's little black gelding, who the audience tried to name Guy II showed it's lack of confidence in what was to come until Guy advised the crowd that he had already named him The Champ (those who know Guy are fortunate enough to realise that his showmanship in no way inhibits his phenomenal horsemanship skills)!
Janette Wilson's choice was the most unsettled, deciding that the audience's enthusiasm was a threat to his survival and was appropriately named by Janette as Mover.
The competitors had two hours in which to 'work their magic' after which time they were to be judged on what they had achieved. Guy worked with his signature stock whips and blue tarp to develop the trust of his mount while Janette wisely resorted to audience participation to earn her horses trust (she had the audience clapping loudly until the horse settled for her). David, the quiet achiever, gained his horses trust with gentle handling and reassurance. Within half an hour Guy was on his mounts back, David had his horse bridled and saddled, and Janette decided that, as they had been given no instruction on what discipline to train in, her best shot was to harness her horses area of expertise which, at this point, appeared to be buckjumping!
After the break the competitors continued to gain and maintain their horses trust and respect with Guy playing to the audience at every opportunity. Janette was having trouble keeping the saddle on her horse (it was the saddle she uses on Noble Comrade - her Waler stallion - and it just simply didn't fit). This resulted in a couple of involuntary dismounts which were handled with grace and humour - at one stage indicating to Guy McLean that her somersault dismount could perhaps beat some of his antics! Before the two hour mark Guy left his horse as he felt it had given him enough of what he was asking. David, still the quiet achiever, had sat an amazing buck/rear combination which seemed to come from nowhere and Janette had sat several bouts of buckjumping and, had this been the end criteria would certainly have won the competition. When the two hours was up the competitors, and their horses, left the arena to prepare for the challenge. During this break Guy, who had seen Janette's saddle problems, organised a saddle from one of the Equitana exhibitors for her use in the competition - Australian comradeship at its best! THE COMPETITION First, the competitors had to walk, trot and canter the horse. Halt, backup and turn the horse 360 degrees. Second, they had to take their horse through an obstacle course - tunnel (through poles on the ground), around three barrels, over 4 trot poles, and pick up a bag on a rope and drag it with the horse. Third was 'free choice' - just show off (yes, Guy - show off your other achievements with your horse).
David Simons was next and almost rode a dressage test. His horse did all elements calmly and Random wasn't phased by his last two hours of education.
Despite the showmanship, it was clear to the judges who had taken their mount the furthest, and Guy was declared the winner (does that make him The Champ II)? Congratulations must go to each of the competitors who each did an astounding job! Reported by You've read the story - now read the poem Copyright© 2005 Have Horse … Will Travel |
At the 1 hour
mark (when the horses were given a well earned "what on earth is
going on here" break for 15 minutes) all competitors had been in the
saddle - Guy had even stood on The Champs back and cracked his stockwhip
(was this before or after he had covered him with a blue tarp - head and
all?)! (yes - the
blue tarp in the photo to the left is The Champ 'undercover')
Janette was
first up and did a very respectable display of the first
requirement. The second element went smoothly through the tunnel and
around the barrels however, the ground poles didn't sit comfortably with
Mover so Janette didn't force the issue, and the 'drag bag' resulted in
Janette's third element containing a very spectacular involuntary
dismount.
Guy
McLean,
the eternal show pony (his own description) came out and worked The
Champ (now appearing to have been aptly named) as if he was a seasoned
stock horse, fulfilling all elements in Guy fashion with whip cracking,
standing on his back (more whip cracking), headstands, dragging the 'drag bag' around,
through, over and under the horse, blue tarp work, crawling under the
horse - the only things missing were laying the horse down and a Bush Poem
(which would have only taken a couple more minutes we're sure)!