Local Equestrian Expo Leads Horse Industry Into The Future

There’s a lot to be said for local events like the West Gippsland Equestrian Expo because they offer great value for both visitors and traders alike while also allowing both sides to connect with their local community, something that seems to have gone astray from larger events.

The 2012 Inaugural West Gippsland Equestrian Expo is a huge celebration of the region’s equestrian talents, with competitions, exciting demonstrations and lectures from local riders, breeders and equine professionals. A large crowd is expected to embrace the event, which organisers hope will be a boost for local businesses who have, particularly in recent times, been doing it tough competing with online stores and the high Aussie dollar, as well as weather dampening riders' spirits. The WGEE Trade Hall offers visitors a good variety of stands to check out including Horseland, Fat Pony, Brink Boots, Edgy Jeans, several breed stands, riding associations, trainers, NMIT, vets, farriers, dentists, feed companies, local saddleries and horse supplies. It’s a great opportunity to find local businesses and services and connect with local customers. For the Trade Hall Exhibitor, the expo offers a cost friendly way to connect with their most valuable market – local customers. Basic trade spaces cost just $120 (add another hundred or so if you want a marquee) – great for the small business and easily affordable, a welcome alternative to big events which are often financially out of reach for smaller businesses. For the visitor, $10 gets you an adult entry for the day (concession $5, family $25 (2 adults, 2 children) and the entry price includes everything - all the competition, all the demos and all the Trades Hall, there is nothing extra to outlay, save for food and drinks ... and of course the all important shopping! Competition for the day includes Horseland Sponsored Showjumping, HiForm and Johnson’s Natural Formula Sponsored Showing Classes, and the one I am really looking forward to the Equisage Sponsored Miniature Horse Fault and Out - They may be small but some of these miniature horses can really jump! Fault and out is just how it sounds... If your horse knocks a rail, they are out of the competition and the height goes up with each clear jump! So, if you have ever wanted to see the cutest little horses jumping fences you never thought possible, this is the competition to watch! The demos & education side of WGEE is where things really happen – it is the opportunity to see and learn something new. As well as the breed parade (11am and 3.30pm) there is a Western Riding Class, Dressage Masterclass with Nicole Magoffin, Stock horse demo, a demo with trainer Dan Maloney, Novelty Racing, the Happy Horse Trail and education presentations from Paul Owens (Dental Vet ), Victorian Master Farriers Association, Antoinette Foster (Equine Nutritionist), Andrea Schaede (Equine Massage), Georgia Bates (Brumby Training), Equissage, Victorian Arabian Horse Association, Australian Stock Horse Society West Gippsland Branch, Marlanoc Minature Horses (Caring for a Miniature the right way) ... and all of this included in the $10 entry fee! There is no doubt that events like the West Gippsland Equestrian Expo are the future for the horse industry because they allow local businesses and community to come together, connect and interact. Where personal service and being able to touch, test and inspect products gets completely lost in the online market, it can more than adequately be made up for by choosing to support local business. A great day out for the whole family and a phenomenon I hope to see more of across Australia. West Gippsland Equestrian Expo
Tonimbuk Equestrian Centre
Sunday 09 September
Doors open 9am
$10 Entry Visit West Gippsland Equestrian Expo for further information. Get the latest WGEE updates on Facebook.