The Mount Gambier Show’s horse events attracted a host of local and interstate riders taking out various honours.

The horses are a hit at any agricultural show and this year was no exception, especially in the Hack Ring and Show Jumping events.

This year’s Mount Gambier Show Horses In Action Hack Ring organiser Teena Goodes comes from a wealth of experience within the horse industry, as she and her husband have recently become acknowledged off the track trainers with Racing SA.

Goodes said riders could enter Hack Rings at local shows to earn their qualification which allows them to compete in different rings throughout Australia.

“You do different classes per section and when you win a first prize during those different classes you then compete for the champion and the reserve champion of that section,” she said.

“This was my first year ever running the Hack Ring.

“I took on the role late and I usually compete, but I have been told the numbers were pretty good considering the conditions.

“Growing up it was always my dream to compete at the Mount Gambier Show in the ‘big ring’ and to actually be running it and receiving so much positive feedback is very humbling.

“Everyone had a good time and Keith Hamilton from Glencoe did a great job judging.”

A popular category amongst the Hack Ring was Fashions on the Field, sponsored by Brookman Park Racing, in which competitors dressed up in their finery and presented themselves with their horses.

Mount Gambier’s Lauren Oxlade and Rivington Gale Force won the Senior Fashions on the Field whilst local Sally Mitchell and her horse Mr Pinicchio came runner up, and third went to Michelle Campbell with Midnight Magic.

Goodes said it was rewarding to see exclusively locals win and place in the senior category of Fashions on the Field.

Meanwhile in the Junior Fashions on the Field Lyla Woolston placed first with Miss Mena, Indira Smith was runner up beside Indjamari Secret Whisper and Piper Gear took out third with Fontain Park Tri Dozen.

Goodes said she hoped to stay on next year and have another go at running the Hack Ring.

“I feel it was a success and my favourite thing was seeing the smiles on competitors’ faces and their laughter,” she said.

“Ag shows are suffering at the moment due to COVID and now wet weather, so a lot of the shows have been cancelled and not having helpers hurts too.

“Thank you to everyone that came and helped, agricultural shows value their stewards and helpers.

“I could not have run it without my two stewards Tammy Klitscher and Julie Baulder.”

Goodes also thank her sponsors – Horseland Mount Gambier, Horse Deals, Beeline Car and Truck Wash, Brookman Park Racing and Di Giorgio Family Wines.

Show Jumping was another must-watch event at this year’s show, run over three days.

The John Wilsher Memorial Senior Championship and the Shirley Wilson Memorial Championship were both won by South Australian up and coming rider Connor Reed, hailing from Adelaide.

At just 21 years old the young gun is stepping into the senior ranks with resounding success, jumping in the open section as well as the young rider category.

Libby Halliday also jumped for joy, placing first four times and runner up on three occasions.

Mount Gambier Show Horses in Action committee chairperson and Show Jumping organiser Kristy Bruhn said it was a very full three days of the event.

“Entries were really good this year, we were very well supported, and it was great being able to have people back from Victoria again,” she said.

“It was great to see so many people back and supporting us this year because we had half as many riders last year.

“We are looking forward to next year so hopefully we can grow a little bit more again.”

Bruhn said in 2023 she hoped to see continued improvement work on the Show Jumping surface.

“The show society actually put money in last year and put some sand out as a jumping surface, hopefully we could do that again and just keep improving it for the riders,” she said.

“We were really lucky that with the continuous rain we did not have to water the surface leading up to the show so that saved us a lot of work this year, but we can always make improvements.”