Zone Champs ride into the Shire

Up for a challenge: Riders and their horses will be judged on their performances of elite pony club tests. Photo: FILE

PONY Club Victoria’s Barwon Zone Dressage Championships will be held at Teesdale’s Leighdale Equestrian Centre on Saturday, 19 December.

Barwon Zone committee member Jan Calaby said it’s the qualifying competition for riders who will represent the area in the State Championships.

“It’s all our top dressage riders; levels four, three, two, one and advanced, who come from all around the zone, from Princetown, to Little River, Smythesdale to Ballarat,” she said.

“The horses will be performing practiced elite pony club tests. There will be about 50 riders.”

Ms Calaby said the Championships are an opportunity to provide a competitive context for young riders who haven’t had much of a chance to come head-to-head in 2020.

As most riders are women, she said it’s also an opportunity to champion girls in sport. They are encouraged to immaculately present their horses, and are able to enjoy socialising with other like-minded athletes.

“It’s an avenue to the state-level competition for senior and young riders, many of which are in upper-primary school,” Ms Calaby said.

“The kids put a lot into their training and get a lot out of their training with the big animals, who are at their very best for this competition.”

Leighdale Equestrian Centre has been “well supported” by the Golden Plains Shire from her perspective, and there’s plenty of space and terrain there for varying competition events.

“We’ve got to set up four or six dressage arenas, but they’ve got four already set up and it’s great to use that to hold a competition like this.

“A fabulous equestrian facility has been created, with extensive sand arenas, and a new cross-country course that’s just been built to service grade two or one riders in that that area,” Ms Calaby said.

“There’s a lot of people out there with horses in the Shire, and lots of clubs use that ground including the Pony Club and an adult riders’ club.”

Visit nominate.com.au/EquestDn/nominate.aspx. The show jumping component of the championships took place last weekend in Ballarat.