Harden Horse Trials Celebrates 40th

Harden Horse Trials will run a two day adult riders clinic from Saturday, December 7 to 8.

They will also host a celebration dinner for their 40th anniversary from 7 pm on Saturday night, for just $25 per person at Harden Showgrounds, with bar facilities available.

RSVP by Friday, November 22.

Along with guest speakers, organising committee member Belinda O’Reilly said they had invited lifetime members to the special event. “We’re trying to get as much of the old crew back to celebrate as we can,” Ms O’Reilly said.

Ms O’Reilly said she was a fairly newcomer to the committee, moving to Harden in 2020, but she was familiar with the course having competed in Harden before.

“It’s just a ripper of a course and very unique,” she said. “It’s very hilly, it’s got bridges; it’s a bit challenging. You don’t get courses like that anywhere else. We’ve been doing the hard yards, trying to fundraise so we can provide a better course. We’re a grassroots trial and we cater for all levels.”

The Harden Horse Trials course caters for all levels from Pony Club to international competitions. From one star - national height 1.5 m and starting at 50 cm for newcomers.

Other heights include 65 cm, 80 cm and 95 cm. Ms O’Reilly said they try to run a junior section or judge a junior category at each trial and they share the ground with the Pony Club.

They are trying to get some funding for the show jumping and are improving the competitions all the time.

Ms O’Reilly said that over the last couple of years, the event has brought about $30,000 into the Harden community, with judges’ accommodation, officials’ accommodation, local shops, horse feed, etc.

“The Showground Trust gets all the money from the camping on site,” Ms O’Reilly said.

“It is quite a considerable spend over our events. It’s a nice regional event, with people travelling from within our area as well as Canberra, Central West and Wagga. Some also come from the South Coast and Sydney. We still have people travelling more than 500 kms to participate. It’s a positive regional event that is really gaining some momentum at the moment. There are a lot of new people coming in. We couldn’t do it without the people who have been here long-term.”

Next year, they are hoping to run a second event.

“Most of the other horse trials miss the lower couple of levels, so beginner competitors don’t get the opportunity to practice,” Ms O’Reilly said.

“We can fill that void. We get 200 horses each time; competitors. That’s about all we can handle with the available space. We have lots of national competitors. Our own president, Nat Blundell, has competed both nationally and internationally and is still competing at a high level. She has also been the course designer for the last few years.”

The Harden Pony Club runs a canteen, allowing them an opportunity to fundraise. Ms O’Reilly said whatever the Harden Horse Trials or Harden Pony Club did, they both benefited.

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