If you were at the Benalla Sports and Equestrian Centre in recent days, you would have found yourself out of place without an Akubra on your head.
The Victorian Quarter Horse State Championships were held there from December 7 to 10.
Riders and horses from across the country converged on the event run by the Big Valley Quarter Horse Association.
Association secretary Annie Boyd said it was incredible to see so many people attending the event.
“We have our normal Australian quarter horses, and then we also have an American registered section in the show as well,” Boyd said.
“For our American quarter horses, our judge has been flown out from the United States to officiate for the four days of the show.
“We actually also have an American dignitary — the international American director is flying over to attend.
“We have sections for amateurs, we have sections for youth, we have open sections and professionals.
“We cover everybody, all different ages of horses, from lead events, from yearlings all the way through to senior horses that are six years and over.
“We’ve got competitors from Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia, Tasmania, all competing at the show this weekend.”
Not everyone is from far and wide, however.
Boyd herself is from Swanpool, and rider Matt Freiberg is from Warrenbayne.
That’s not to mention all the riders from Shepparton, Tatura and the local region who made the short trip to the excellent facilities in Benalla.
Boyd said the class of the Benalla Equestrian Centre was the reason major events such as the championships always came back to the Rose City.
“It’s the biggest event for Victorian quarter horses and the biggest event that we host here at Valley,” she said.
“Last year, it was at the Park Centre over at Tatura.
“We’ve done so much work here.
“It’s a statewide sought-after equestrian venue with all the work and everything we’ve done here at the equestrian centre.
“So we now have our covered arena, we have 110 yards for overnight housing for horses and over 30 power hookups for our visitors.”