Saturday morning in the Grand Pavilion was the much awaited "Dressage Masterclass" with Danish Champion, Andreas Helgstrand. Like most European visitors, Andreas did not focus on the tricks, he just looked at the basics - relaxation and softness. A clear rhythm and acceptance of the aids was the focal point with all horses. It was a big atmosphere and the younger horses felt the strain. Andreas loved Shiraz Black and commented on his great movement. Brett Parbery had a few problems to start, but his excellent seat and quiet control won through. I feel certain that Brett's horse Welthill will be much calmer and accepting following his 4 days at Equitana and I am sure Brett got a lot out of his session with Andreas.

Below - some moments from the Sunday morning cutting competition. This is a high excitement ... big action event ... and we saw some thrilling displays of horsemanship and marvelled at the gutsy performance of the powerfully built Quarter Horses which have earned fans all over the world.

As a spectator, not familiar with the sport, it would be great if the competitors wore numbers like they do in Dressage competitions, that way we could look up the program and know who is riding. Sorry I was not able to identify all of the people and horses in these pictures - thanks to a friend I was able to track down some info.

  Shane Crawford riding his gelding Tassas Gold Fever

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Above - On Saturday, the Pryde’s EasiFeed World Cup Showjumping Qualifier saw Tim Amitrano from Queensland take second place with his Athens mount Mr Innocent. He finished behind the current Australian Champions, Chris Chugg on his 'almost human' imported stallion Vivant

As a matter of interest and co-incidence ... the winner of the first day qualifier Vivant ... and the final day winner Ashleigh Drossel Dan are both fuelled by Prydes Feeds . Both riders were very proud to represent this very supportive company in the event that was also sponsored by Prydes - this was a win/win/win.

Below - On Sunday, the Pryde’s EasiFeed World Cup Final really hotted up and Australian Olympic Showjumping Team Members, Laurie Lever and Ashleigh Drossel Dan from Somerville in Victoria were jumping in top form to come out the eventual victors. The top fancies after Saturday's contest, Chris Chugg and Vivant, were held at bay and had to settle for second place after jumping a round with an uncharacteristic tally of eight penalties.

Adam Mellers riding the Animo Stallion, Animate took third place. This horse was a real crowd pleaser and his personality shone through, as he sailed over the huge obstacles with that "look at me" glint in his eye.
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Saturday evening was the "Dressage Spectacular" and the program was a fantastic mix of official competition, entertainment, awesome displays of riding and theatrical lighting. The mood for a special evening was set with the opening segment - the haunting sounds of a didgeridoo ... and then, from the darkness and under the spotlight came the imposing William Barton. William is an Australian Aboriginal didgeridoo player, born in Mount Isa, Queensland on June 4, 1981. He learned to play from his uncle, an elder of the Wannyi, Lardil and Kalkadunga tribes of Western Queensland. William is widely recognised as one of Australia's finest traditional didgeridoo players and a leading didgeridoo player in the classical world. William portrayed an awesome presence. When asked about taking his traditional music out into the mainstream? he says ... "I'm doing what I love, I want to take the oldest culture in the world and blend it with Europe's rich musical legacy."

The dressage got underway with a fine display from Maree Tomkinson who has recently returned to Australia after two years training and competing in Europe. Maree rode her elegant imported gelding Lanzaro (right) who worked beautifully until he got a glimpse of himself on the big screen and felt that the huge horse was a monster. When the "threat" was switched off, Maree showed us why she is one of the most promising stars on the horizon. It was a lovely way to meet Lanzaro.

At the half way mark in the competition we were treated to some amazing feats of horsemanship by Guy McLean who rode his gelding Spinabbey. What a combination. It should be noted that Guy's versatility saw him as a major part of every special performance at Equitana. He did his own "Evening with Guy McLean" (my special favourite at Equitana) on Thursday evening. On Friday night he starred in the Western Spectacular. Saturday night he turns his hand to some airs above the ground and high school dressage movements and on Sunday night he was part of the "All Stars Clinic"! Guy and Spinabbey gave us a demonstration of the perfect independent seat ... and a rider not using the reins against the horse ... or for balance. Guy did half passes, canter pirouettes, flying changes and even a canter backwards all with no saddle or bridle - what a man!

The competition accolades of the night belonged to NSW based Beijing Olympian Heath Ryan on the beautiful black stallion Regardez Moi. Heath is one of Australia's most charismatic and popular competitors and he is at the top of the rankings in two of the three Olympic disciplines - dressage and eventing and at Equitana he won both the CDI-W Grand Prix event and also the all important freestyle to music - the CDI W Grand Prix Kür.
Heath's Saturday night freestyle ride was full of expression and he delivered a sense of theatre with a haunting musical compilation which (ironically) had some overtones of the didgeridoo. Heath 'nailed' the technical elements and scored a whopping 72.650% making him a very decisive winner.

All credit to Rachel Sanna on the wonderful young stallion Jaybee Alabaster. He is in his first season at this top level and Rachael expressed her concern about how the sensitive horse would cope with this big atmosphere ... the answer was, very well! Alabaster was 3rd in Friday's Grand Prix test and a very suitable and catchy musical arrangement saw her come in second with 68.850%.for the freestyle event.

Mary Hanna's up and coming yourng Grand Prix horse Tango V performed very well in the Grand Prix test for second place on 65.575% but was not so settled in the different and challenging night time atmosphere and this is difficult for a sensitive and hot horse. Mary would be very pleased to have given him this experience and they achieved a pretty good score 63.200%. It was great to see Charlotte Pedersen and Come to Me right on track following their trip to Europe earlier this year. Charlotte took the horse OS for some competition experience and to train with the best Eruopean instuctors who would help to give her a riding 'tune-up"! This combination were 3rd in the Kür on 64.800%.

Dr Kerry Mack rode her very special stallion Mayfield Pzazz and obviously needed the run on Friday to be well prepared for Saturday night. The Grand Prix result was a little disappointing but Kerry put together a great Kür and they finished in 4th place on 63.800%. Mayfield Pzazz was out of action for a couple of years with an injury that seemed set to end his promising career. However, the fantastic advances in Veterinary procedures have seen him respond well to 'stem cell' treatment and he is now sound and up for a second coming. ... great to see him again.

The evening came to an end with an inspiring demonstration of Dressage - as performed by one of the most respected and talented riders in the world - Andreas Helgstrand from Denmark. He looked a picture of elegance on the beautiful black imported stallion Whisper. Only illuminated by the spotlight, the mood was electric and Whisper danced in total harmony with the "Fred Astaire" on his back. It was a special demonstration of the Grand Prix movements and ended a wonderful evening of pure enjoyment that made an indelible imprint in the minds of the 4,500 people who witnessed the Equitana 2008 Dressage Spectacular.

Vaulting - a great youth activity to
develop horsemanship and team work.

Vaulting has a huge uptake of paarticipants in Germany and is part of many school's sports curriculum.

Below - The internal roof line of the "big top" like, Grand Pavilion

The All Star Clinic’; designed by Richard Weis, "a leading authority on the influence of the rider on the horse" saw seven professional and talented horsemen, Chris Chugg (showjumping), Clayton Fredericks (eventing), Sam Gairdner (polo), Brett Parbery (dressage), Alan Hannaford (cutting/campdrafting), Warwick Schiller (reining) and Guy McLean (hard to categorise), all come together "under the one umbrella" (right) to explain and demonstrate their particular brand of horsemanship, training system and key objectives.

The special highlight of this format was when this illustrious group of high achiever horsemen swapped horses and experimented with feel, response and their own balance and influence. Chris Chugg rode Sam Gairdner's Polo pony and Gairdner rode the expressive Australian Champion showjumper Vivant who was full of his own importance having just placed second in the World Cup Qualifier. Chris did a super job on the Polo pony and very interestingly, Sam rode Vivant well and put him through a few Polo moves and then jumped a tall vertical in fine style.

Clayton Fredericks looked comparatively "under-mounted" on Alan Hannaford's beautifully balanced and well educated campdrafting and cutting horse. Alan took his position on the huge grey War Wizard and commenced to test his skills over the obstacles. War Wizard got a bit ahead of his rider and there was a momentary loss of balance over the brush fence - Alan was a great sport and stuck at it til the horse listened and waited for the aids.

FEI Dressage rider Brett Parbery is no slouch when it comes to diversification - he was once an Australian Buckjump Champion and has twice represented Australia at the Calgary Stampede in Canada. Brett is a great sport and he had a ball on Warwick Schiller's beautifully educated reining horse. I guess that it was not so different for Brett as I have heard reining described (humorously) as "dressage on steroids" It is all spins (fast pirouettes) sliding stops (very obedient halts) flying changes and a nice balanced canter work. Brett loved his ride and equally Warwick Schiller sat and rode like a dressage rider - except for the cowboy hat. Warwick could not conceal his pleasure as he jockeyed Welthill into some pretty good half passes, canter pirouettes and flying changes on Brett's beautifully educated FEI Dressage horse - what fun!

The All Star Clinic proved that sound riding and horsemanship makes a good and successful horse ... I guess we all knew that ... but this was a fun way to have the concept confirmed.

Until November 2010 we say goodbye to Guy McLean, Spinabbey and all of the fantastic personalities and horses that made the very diverse mix of fun and entertainment that was Equitana Asia Pacific 2008. I know that we will all meet up again with the expectation of having the best 4 days of pure pleasure.