Report & Pictures by Berni Saunders - Page 2

For anyone who  has not attended a 3 Day Event, it is a wonderful experience and the Melbourne venue could  hardly be bettered.  Having attended the best in other parts of the world, this competition is a favourite for me.  Parks Victoria open up the grounds of the picturesque and stately Werribee Park mansion, the manicured lawns and garden beds with a superb selection of beautiful ornamental trees are something to behold.  The sport of eventing is in crisis all over the world and Australia's only 4 Star event (The Adelaide International) is struggling for survival.  

The costs of staging 4 days of competition is extraordinarily high and requires a huge team of helpers - over and above the year on year organising committee - to monitor each jump, take around refreshments, transport the portable toilets along with the special expertise to provide the live coverage and media communication to ensure that everyone is kept informed.  There were 4 vets and 4 doctors on course for cross country day and a horse ambulance in each jumping sector.  Visit the Adelaide International web site to check on the progress of Gill Rolton's (right walking the course) fund raising endeavours - she told me that the public support had been overwhelming and gratifying and that prospects were looking pretty good.

Every effort was made to ensure that people had a great time at the Melbourne 3 Day  and it is hoped that they tell their friends to pencil the Queen's birthday weekend into their diaries for next year.

Above - While the pace was brisk and competition fierce, the cross country course designer Ewan Kellet must be congratulated for the safe track that he presented for the riders.  Above is Breanna Turner who came adrift from her horse, The Kings Domain at the Shark Net Splash - they both emerged safely.

Above - The sport relies on a strong sense of community and goodwill ...  a special moment was the spectacular bravery of horse and rider when they appeared doomed at the Shark Net Splash.  This was a special recovery as the horse was Wild Oats ridden by popular participant Seamus Marwood - who sponsored the jump - the gods were smiling!

Above - A very special horse with a very special history.  This handsome black gelding is Grand Armee - a once famous racehorse and the pride of the Gai Waterhouse stable.  He won $5,000,000.00 (yes that is 5 million) dollars on the track and has found a life after racing with top NSW 'jockey' Tim Boland.  While Melbourne 2009 was not a huge success for this combination, Tim said, "it is early days and he is a very good horse."

Cyberhorse is very committed to their "Racehorse Outplacement Program" which creates a system for racehorse trainers to tap into the equestrian riders who will give our wonderful thoroughbreds the chance to have a life after racing.  This is a non-profit gesture, for the love of horses!

RIO LOBO

A special moment from the Beijing Olympic Games  ...
Megan and her team mates are presented their silver medals
by Princess Haya, the President of the FEI.

Megan showed us that success is not just good luck, it is a good horse,
good riding, hard work and a lot of  "the luck of the Irish" at each competition.
Well done Megan Jones & Kirby Park Allofasudden, the 3 Star champions. 

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Berni has lots of great pictures if you would like proofs and prices, e-mail.