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Writer's pictureFran Cleland

Three-phase equitation the discipline anyone can try


ABOVE: Erin Field and Irish Oliver showing a bit of flash. Picture: LISA GREEN of MANE MEMORIES

WHILE the main focus in horse sport remains in the glamour area of dressage, showjumping and eventing, those Olympic disciplines are specific, regimented and, in many cases, require a certain type of equine.


The growing participation in the likes of ranch riding and the HRCAV’s three-phase equitation (3PE) events is happening simply because anyone can do it on any size and shape of horse – and let’s face it – by any size, shape and age of rider.


You also don’t need a $500,000 truck and $8000 saddle, which is a big bonus.


An amenable, even-tempered mount, with a rider who wants to show the basic talents any good horse should have, are heading more and more towards these events, and hooray for them.


After the Colac and District Adult Riding Club’s last 3PE competition in January, organised were approached by members of surrounding clubs to find out when the next competition was as they were all very keen to have a go at this new discipline.


“We were only going to do one course and one dressage ring,” Lorrae Rigg explained. “But we were inundated with entries in the first three weeks of opening, so it was decided to run two rings of obstacles and dressage so we could accommodate riders that were keen to have a go.”


The courses were created by Lorrae and club members Jacquine Worden, Sue Tucker and Rachel Kealley.


Riders travelled from many regions of Victoria, including Portland, Balanarring, Gembrook and Berooke.


ABOVE: Roy Carson riding Rimini Park Lafferty. Picture: MANE MEMORIES

Margaret Anderson from Working Equitation Geelong and riding Animado Azul took out the advanced level class.


While Amy Silvester, of Cashmore Adult Riding Club, on Surry Park Supposition and Erin Field, of Working Equitation Geelong, on Irish Oliver both ran out of time in the timed section in level one, they were both happy with their efforts.


Megan Seen form Gembrook on Wombat Trading Post won level two and in level three, Erin Field, this time riding Lockington , was second in the dressage phase and first in the style and time sections to take the win.


The level four section was enormous, with the winner Katherine Davis from Bellerine Adult Riding Club, riding Pamtab Park, leading from the start, with first in the dressage and style and a third in the time section.


Another of the Colac club’s 3PE committee members, Jennifer Renouf, competed in her first level four competition riding an Australian Brumby, placing fifth and showing how versatile and adaptive these horses can be.


Aimee Conroy from Smythesdale Adult Riding Club and Custer were the one pair to complete the course in level five to take the win.


GALLERY

(Click any image to expand)

All images by LISA GREEN of MANE MEMORIES



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