AWHA Ltd. (Vic Branch)
 Warmblood Weekend
8th & 9th October 2005
Report and Pictures Berni Saunders
Event Overview & Index

As always, Warmblood Shows seem to be a huge effort for the few dedicated committee members who have the vision to provide a 'showcase' for members' horses and help to promote the breed.  Events like the Gala Weekend and other dedicated Warmblood classes were hugely popular about a decade ago - everyone went along and new owners and 'wanna bees' were attracted by the vibrant enthusiasm for the Warmblood horse!  It is difficult to find reasons why - with many more horses registered and a greater number of owners - the show numbers have gone down rather than increasing in popularity.

We have witnessed many show societies dropping Warmblood classes and sadly I think these special breed shows will cease to exist in the near future if the owners and breeders do not show an interest...and quickly!  Showing horses is a great angle to marketing them and should be valued as a PR exercise rather than a day of hard work. 

Mostly, the people who conduct the show do not get the chance to participate, they do all the work for the benefit of others. 

AWHA Vic President Kim Thurling (top)  Silvia Ahamer the National Registrar
International Animal Health Products. The arena was a colourful display with many generous sponsors helping to make the day happen - thanks to them all. This is the Horseland Poster and International Horse Breeders Mary McBurnie the Branch Secretary ran about all weekend and was never still enough for me to get her picture.  Mary particularly asked me to thank all sponsors who helped to make the prizes well worth winning.  "Everyone just loved the beautiful things that were on offer, and this helped to make our day very memorable, we could not do it without our sponsors" Prize Schedule Young Dressage Horse Classes Young Horse Dressage 4YO and 5YO- Peter Horobin Headcollar and bandages 6YO Tuk Tuk Jacket AWHA Show 3 Junior classes 1st-3rd Livermol bags, 1st place TukTuk Tshirt or cap Junior Champion Sash, trophy and Tuk Tuk Jacket 4 senior horse classes Livermol bags 1st -3rd and 1st Tuk Tuk Caps Senior Champion Sash, trophy and Rug from Rug-Up Horseware Material classes 1st-$100, 2nd-$75 and 3rd $50 3 & 4 YO Material  Oakwood Riding lesson Voucher 5 & 6 YO Material The Horse Magazine Subscriptions Highest Scoring Horse in Material Class - Trophy Hollingrove Stud and Tuk Tuk Jacket Raffle   TukTuk Jacket, Tshirt, Cap and Gaiters. AWHA Cap and polo shirt, Bottle of champagne
Raynee Lindsay and Kim Thurling kept the competition flowing	Damian Martin - just one of the many people who made the weekend possible

Right up until a matter of days before this weekend show, the Victorian Committee of the AWHA were seriously considering canceling the event due to the poor numbers.  Fortunately they were able to rally enough support - but I am sure that future shows are in jeopardy.

Winner of the 6YO Young Dressage Horse Class - Mornington Peninsula Vet Sue West, was delighted with her beautiful Tuk Tuk jacket.  She decided to wear it as the day was much colder than she had expected. Congratulations to Sue and Aubaine Jamaica	Matthew Archibald (above) made a serious fashion statement with his unique footwear - plastic shopping bags.  I did not have the heart to tell him that I did not think they will 'catch on' for their look.  Maybe as a way to keep the dust off boots, there could have something going for the idea!!!

When taking pictures at the Melbourne Summer Royal Show, I sat next to a lovely lady who asked me where all the Warmbloods were?  She had come to the show from up near Albury,  just so that she see a big number of Warmblood horses in order to get a feel for the types and bloodlines that would suit her.  She was planning to buy a new Dressage horse and considered this exercise part of her essential research.  She was bitterly disappointed to have found such a poor showing of nice Warmbloods at what could be considered the most important event in Victoria.

Dr Barbara Burrow from Silverdene Stud almost single handedly puts together the Dressage program.  It is a huge job and she is often frustrated by the huge time commitment required to secure the large number of specialist judges that are needed to conduct young horse classes.  Well done Barbara and her husband Graham ... who chips in to act as a back-up.

The 2005 Warmblood Weekend ensured that the top people were brought in to officiate and the very experienced judging panel were looking for sound performance potential.  They favoured the horses which moved well and demonstrated natural balance and ease in their work.

Judges - Dianne Bennit from Western Australia, Charlie Moffat from
Victoria and Lesley Archer from New South Wales