2012 HORSELAND CANBERRA CLASSIC, PONY DRESSAGE AT ITS BEST

 The ACT Dressage Association is one of NSW’s strongest supporters of pony dressage at a club level. The club has separate pony associate and official classes at its five official annual fixtures, offers an annual High Point ACT Pony of the Year Award and provides individual pony championships across all levels at his annual championships, the Canberra Classic.

This year’s Canberra Classic was held under perfect weather conditions at Equestrian Park, Canberra on the weekend of 17/18 March. Equestrian Park currently offers two top quality sand competition arenas and a spacious sand warm up. While the grass arenas ride very well, accommodating the Preliminary and Novice classes at this year’s Championships, construction of additional sand arenas is already underway. It will not be long now before the club enjoys full sand arenas for all events.

‘The Classic’ grows every year, underpinned by the very generous sponsorship of the clubs principal sponsor Horseland Canberra.  The number of competitors in the higher grades was strong this year, no doubt due to the quality arenas and safe temporary stabling that is installed for the event.

The pony numbers had increased significantly since the 2011 Classic, particularly in the lower grades. The quality of ponies was very impressive, with many “placing” very high among the horse fields under the same judges. The Preliminary, Elementary and Advanced grades were contested on the Saturday, with the Novice and Medium ponies strutting their stuff on Sunday.

Click here for the full story.