On the 9th & 10th October 2009 Show Horse Council Queensland Inc proudly presented the Horse of the Year Show for 2009. 

The venue was once again the Gatton Showgrounds offering competitors excellent stabling and camping facilities along with an outdoor arena for Friday mornings Led and intermediate ridden classes and the huge indoor to cater for the grand national qualifying events. Under ideal weather conditions the show enjoyed record entries.

This year the judges were Robert Cockram (Vic), Fiona Mardling (Vic) and Geraldine Crocker (SA) who were kept busy with 2 full days of competition. 

Angus Lane our Show Announcer provided timely class calls, plenty of sponsor air space and kept competitors and spectators well informed.

The show started on the Friday morning with 3 rings catering for the Led classes on the outdoor arena followed by the Intermediate ridden.

These classes certainly set the tone for the weekend with quality exhibits being awarded and rugged.

The show then retreated to the shade of the indoor for the afternoon’s program of Leading Rein, 1st Ridden and Hunter classes which were well represented keeping the judges busy throughout the afternoon and early into the evening. 

A free BBQ, compliments of the SHCQ Committee and supplied by Kingsley Catering was provided to the exhibitors on the Friday night with 100 people taking advantage of a free feed.

The Saturday morning program commenced in the indoor with rider classes and the 1st class, the under 6 years to be led, had a record 10 entries. 

What a wonderful sight to see the future of the sport represented by these young riders. 

Lots of goodies were given away to all the young riders, soft toys, Horseland Nerang Show bags, trophies and medals.

The morning program completed at the end of the senior Rider. 

The afternoon program delivered the Open saddle horses. 

Classes were very well represented with as many as 26 in the small hack and 28 in the large pony.

The standard of exhibits very high with all classes well challenged. 

The trophy Table was very busy awarding rugs (for the first time having been awarded by tender) and beautifully made by Show Horse Design. 

Garlands were outstanding provided by Conception Garlands, vouchers for our Smartest on Parades, Medals for Riding Pony, Sashes for Saddle Pony, Rugs for the ANSA awards and Amateur Owner Champions.

A big thank you to the following sponsors, Equilibrium. Higgins Transport, Jacaranda View Stables, Saddlery By Design, Caroline Brace, SHCQ Measuring Scheme, Edwards Family, Sue Poultney’s Art Unique, Edwards Saddleworld, Equestrian Land Development, TJ Sears Racing, Horseland Nerang, Kim Durante Riding Academy, Cheryl’s Sheepskin, Karen George and Redlands Stables, DJ Westerners, Millawa Lodge, Douglas Family, Ancadia Design, Saddleworld Nerang, Rivenlee, Teys & Plunckett Family, Neralle Wockner Photography, Bedazzled Brow Bands, ANSA, Riding Pony  Stud Book,  Australian Saddle Pony Assoc and Conception Garlands. 

If you were one of the lucky ones to receive a trophy Rug or voucher, please remember to thank our sponsors for without them our show would not be so grand.

To the SHCQ Committee, measurers, stewards, marshals, caterers, photographers, Trade Stands, administration and volunteers a very big thank you for your contribution to the running of a very successful show. 

Photographs by Narelle Wockner can be viewed on www.horsdeals.com  Results can be viewed in the results section of the SHCQ website.

Congratulations to all exhibitors for taking part in our 2009 HOTY we hope you enjoyed your weekend and look forward to seeing you in 2010.