Club keen to showcase quarter horse sports

HORSE-riding novices, amateurs, and everyone in between are being invited to test their equestrian skills as part of Ballarat and District Quarter Horse Association’s, or BDQHA’s, B class show next weekend.

Aimed at beginner, improver, amateur, and all age classes, group secretary Sandy Gardiner said the event is all about getting participants comfortable with quarter horsing sporting.

“We’re focusing on getting people introduced to the Western industry, to have a look, have a go and see if it’s right for them,” she said.

“We have all these different classes for the event to encourage more people to come along because there seems to be a demand for this in the Ballarat area so we want to promote it.”

Taking place at the Ballarat Equestrian Centre in Mount Rowan, the competitive event will see contestants tested across 48 categories including haltering, showmanship, ranch riding, and trail patterns.

Ms Gardiner said the association’s B class show is a more relaxed environment than the higher-skilled A class shows.

“It’s a much more laidback show,” she said.

“Participants don’t necessarily have to have registered horses for this if they’re in beginner and improver classes.

“Even if someone doesn’t own a horse, they can still use someone else’s if they know anyone, or they can ask us personally to see if we can work something out.”

The B class show will run from 8.30am on Sunday 11 February with registrations closing the Wednesday prior.

Entry is $8 per class, and competitors will either need to be financial members of BDQHA or the Australian Quarter Horse Association, or pay an event membership of $15.

The entry form for the event can be found at the BDQHA Facebook page.

The competition will be followed up with another B class show in late April as well as an accompanying clinic the day after.