By Callum Ludwig
The Shirley Heights Equestrian Centre in Gladysdale hosted its first National Trials this weekend, welcoming riders from near and far to compete.
In a heartwarming tale of family history, Director Kylie Broxam has been back on the site where she spent many of her formative years organising the event.
Prior to the weekend, Ms Broxam said they were super excited about the event.
“This is our first EV (Equestrian Victoria) National Trials and the plan is by 2025 it will be international, we have been booked in to run it again this same weekend next year, ” she said.
“We’ve got lots of new faces coming that we haven’t met before, which is pretty cool and some of the best going to be here riding and competing, which is exciting.”
The trials included dressage, show jumping and cross-country events with 272 horses featured. Some riders competed in multiple events or with multiple horses.
Ms Broxam said it takes a huge amount of effort to run an event like this.
“It was very much a team effort and lots of, not only manual work, but a lot of admin work has gone into it. This is massive for me, it’s a dream to be able to give back to so many competitors even though I don’t jump myself,” she said.
“The thing I love most is seeing so many people out there happy and enjoying not only the competing side of it but enjoying making new friendships and the support that people give each other, which is really nice,”
“Hopefully it grows and grows, into an international event and not just for horse trials but hopefully it will end up being a first-class facility for dressage and show jumping.”
The Broxam family first purchased the Shirley Heights property in 1977, first building and opening an indoor arena in 1987, hosting 45 agistees and holding a number of events including FEI Dressage, Open Horse Trials, HRCAV and Derby Days.
In 2014 the family had to make the sad and difficult decision to sell the property to Pony Clubs Victoria, though they continued to lease the barn. That was until 2020 when Sandy and Michael Rutledge bought the farm and asked the Broxam family if they would like to move Shirley Heights back to its original location, with Kylie Broxam installed as the director of the centre.
Ms Broxam wanted to thank the Shirley Heights Eventing Committee for all of their help and support prior to and during the event.
