Event planning update

Activity on the course is full steam ahead, with every course now flagged and waiting to be decorated. The TD’s will be arriving on Wednesday to inspect it and then we will be able to publish the maps on the cross-country app.

Planning is underway for the layout of the trade village with the following exhibitors all locked in.

Draw for Sunday 18/6

The draw has been emailed to riders – it’s a complicated mission making a draw, and it’s usually done late at night – so there are bound to be a few mistakes! If so, drop Kate an email.
Draws have been updated at 8:14pm 16/6/23

Pairs and clear round day information

Now that the entries have all been accepted, we have started planning how the day will run.

The pairs will go on course first – at 9am . Over 35 pairs are competing – and don’t forget that fancy dress is encouraged! More information to come – there will be an email coming to everyone soon!

The course has been numbered with YELLOW discs.

Dr Tash’s Hot Tips for keeping horses cool when eventing

  1. Ensure adequate water intake in the days before and during competition – a resting 500kg
    horse needs to consume ~25 litres over 24 hours, but this can double to 50 Litres with
    increased temperatures and exercise. To increase water intake, provide electrolytes and salt, wet down feed and soak hay, and provide fresh, cool water at all times. Keeping your horse hydrated is also useful to avoid colic!
  2. Keep warm-ups to a minimum.
  3. After each phase, walk the horse for a few minutes to cool down and then commence
    active cooling with high volumes of cold water, (including iced water if available), and
    ensure to scrape off thoroughly. Also, apply ice boots. Key areas to cool are the jugular veins
    (underside of the neck), the femoral arteries (between hind legs) and the lower abdomen.
    Aggressive cooling measures should continue until the water is no longer heating up on the
    horse or until the horse’s temperature is 38°C or less.
  4. House your horse in the shade between phases. If your yard is in direct sunlight, ensure to
    keep the horse in the shade for at least 30 to 60 minutes after active cooling. Use a light
    weight and light-coloured cotton rug to reflect heat. If your horse is stabled, ensure
    adequate airflow or remove the horse from the box into the shade.
  5. Consider your individual horse’s fitness level and the conditions you have been training
    under. If your horse is not quite as fit as they could be and you have been training in cooler
    conditions, please take it especially easy.
    Please find Tash for a chat or call 0424 959 115 if you have any questions about managing
    your horse in the heat over the weekend.

Event timetable

ClassDressage Dressage TestSJ DayXC Day
Horseland Canberra CCN 2*PM CCN2* testSunSun
Bucas Australia CCN 1* PM CCN1* ASunSun
Assistance Dogs Australia EvA95PMEv95 Test ASatSun
Riverview Farm EvA95PMEv95 Test ASatSun
R&J Equestrian Supplies EvA95 JuniorPMEv95 Test ASunSun
Cammy Gray Farrier Services EvA80AMTest A (80)SatSat
Completely Equine EvA80AMTest A (80)SatSat
Parlanti Australia EvA80AMTest A (80)SatSat
Sandford Park Equestrian EvA80 JuniorAMTest A (80)SatSat
Lady Godiva EvA 65PMEv40/60 Test ASatSun
Webb Equine Veterinary Services EvA 65PMEv40/60 Test ASatSun
Funky Brew Ev65 Junior A AM Ev40/60 Test A*SatSun
Right Lead Equestrian Ev65 Junior BAM Ev40/60 Test A*SatSun
JUNIOR EV65 RIDERS – remember your arena is smaller! 40x20m and is in the Canberra Lakes Pony Club grounds

A map of the grounds showing where the arenas are will be posted shortly.

Working bee this weekend

We have to flag the XC course, and add greenery to jumps like this one. Ben and I will be at the park from 10am Saturday, Sunday and Monday. Please come along and help. RSVP to Kate so that enough food can be arranged.

How can I help?

Have you been wondering what you can do to help NCHTA run the upcoming CCN event? I bet you have!
Well – we’ve made it easier for you to put your hand up – Kerrie has put together a sign-up online registration page for the various phases. Of course, many of you will need to see the timetable before you commit – but feel free to dob in a parent or family member or friend.

Select a phase using the buttons below.

Life after racing

Winners of the fancy dress part of the competition was a pair of OTTTBs. Their story is what pushed them over the line in front of the Fire-peeps!

Gemma provided me with these details:

“The back story is that Trying (Stevie – my horse) and Le Cavalier (Louie – Dan’s horse) both raced for Norm Gardner racing here in Canberra. Between them they amassed 146 starts and over $400,000 in prize money. Both had long racing careers with Stevie retiring as an 8 year old and Louie as a 9 year old. They are testament to the versatility of the thoroughbred and proof old dogs can be taught new tricks 🙂 Their start in the pairs today was part of a wider reunion with lots of people coming to watch – Rachel (Dan’s wife) used to ride Stevie’s trackwork, Hayley (former stable foreman) and Lynne (who also worked for Gardner racing). 

The outfits were drawn from the horses’ past – I was wearing the first colours Stevie raced in (a nod to the fact that today was his first competitive start in his new career) and Dan wore the stable colours for Gardner racing. 

We had an awesome day today!”