Equidays impresses industry

Mystery Creek Events Centre became the heart of the horse industry over the weekend with 12,619 horse enthusiasts from all sectors of the equine industry attending the inaugural Equidays event. Held 18-20 November, event organisers are delighted with the turnout and quality of visitors and are eager to build on the success. Due to the overwhelming response from the industry, it has been announced that Equidays will be an annual event with dates for 2012 yet to be confirmed.

Vanessa Richmond, Events Manager believes, “Equidays 2011 marks the first of many successful events. The number of visitors we have seen through the gate indicates that we have hit our mark with Equidays becoming a staple event on the equine calendar.”

Exhibitor expectations have also been surpassed with many exhibitors underestimating the volume of product they would sell, having to replenish stocks and exceeding sales targets on the very first day of the three day event.

Equidays aim is to be an educational showcase of the entire sector. Visitors were impressed with the calibre of the international and local clinician line-up, gaining valuable knowledge and new skills relating to any horse discipline. A highlight of the event for many visitors was The Three Horsemen. Ben Longwell, Dan Steers and Scott O’Malley were each given an unbroken horse in which they had to try to get under saddle. Each horse had a different issue and the crowds have found great value in watching and learning about their assorted techniques.

The Equidays Night Show’s were another high point of the event with visitors enthusiastically attending each show. ‘A Touch of the Classics’, focused on the dressage and jumping and was attended by those who appreciate the proficiency associated with the disciplines. The ‘Heroes of Horsemanship’ was an entertaining showcase with whip cracking, roman riding and relay races; all utilising natural horsemanship methods.

The infrastructure and facilities at Mystery Creek Events Centre made the venue the perfect location for Equidays. The Cambridge Stud Equestrian Performance Arena measuring 70m x 40m impressed the international trainers and riders with the sheer size and surface quality of the arena. Surface supplier, Onsite Development Solutions owner Roger Baldwin was pleased with the results; “We are proud to have been involved in the construction of Equidays indoor arena using the latest laser levelling technology to achieve a consistent even and level depth in the arena.”

The team at Mystery Creek Events Centre are highly skilled in developing and delivering large multiday events of all types. Equidays was no exception as the team delivered a world class horse event to the nation.

Full line up of clinicians; David & Karen O’Connor, Jan Ebeling, Josh Lyons, Andrew McLean, Double Dan Horsemanship, Ian Francis, Jackie Chant, Peggy Cummings, Tim Featherstone, Andrew McLean, Vaughn Jefferis, Grant Mackie, Kate Southcombe, Jacque Williams, The Three Horsemen – Scott O’Malley, Ben Longwell, Dan James, Andrea Raves, Jody Hartstone, Travis Morgan, Andrew Scott, Dressage NZ, Leigh Taylor, Maxine Te Moananui, National Saddle Fitting and Thorsten Kaiser.

Equidays is developed by not for profit, National Fieldays Society, owners of Mystery Creek Events Centre. Special thanks to Equidays sponsors; University of Waikato, Cambridge Stud, Ebbett Prestige, Classic Hits, ANZ, Hy Gain Feeds, Waipa District Council, Tip Top, Equine Trader and SBI Productions and the Total Presentations Solutions Group.