By KATH GANNAWAY
RIDERS came from as far away as Mansfield and Whittlesea to Macclesfield and Monbulk … and in between, for the Healesville 150th Anniversary Horse Show on Sunday.
Presented by Maroondah Adult Riding Club, and bringing to a close a year of 150th events to celebrate Healesville’s 150th birthday, the event saw riders from five years old in the pony club events, to novice riders, one in her 60s, giving the show scene a try for the first time.
Organisers, judges and competitors – two-legged and four-legged, braved the heat to work through a very full program of events over three rings – the Healesville Bendigo Bank Pony Club Ring, Okka Pies Fun Ring and the World’s Best Hoof Oil Open Ring, at the Healesville Racecourse.
MARC spokesperson Anne Moffat said the club was very pleased to host the event as part of the 150th celebrations.
“We chose to hold it as an open event so that everybody in the area could participate and we were very pleased with the day.
“The racecourse was an excellent venue. The racecourse committee couldn’t have been more helpful and it was great to see horses back there as part of a show after such a long time,” she said.
Maroondah Adult Riding Club, which has been operating for around 40 years, caters for recreational and competitive riders over 18 and is open to riders from any area.