There may be no thirst like Bathurst, but there certainly is no show like the Bathurst Agricultural Show. The popular show was held last week from Thursday 25 to Sunday 28 March.
There may be no thirst like Bathurst, but there certainly is no show like the Bathurst Agricultural Show. The popular show was held last week from Thursday 25 to Sunday 28 March.
With dizzying rides and slides, candy floss, mini doughnuts, dress-up doll shops, food stalls and the good ‘ol beer tent it isn’t hard to understand why this show is so anticipated and so popular.
It’s vast selection of goodies and entertainment makes it a great long weekend for just about everyone while the livestock make it a truly agricultural experience.
One aspect that makes this show so well known is the horse show. The show consists of three disciplines: jumping, showing and dressage.
This year an estimated 105 horses took part, some travelling from as far as Queenstown to show off their jumps, trots and tails.
The age groups range from children, to juniors to adults meaning a large amount of riders can take part competitively.
The showing class ranges from Best trotter to Working Riding Horse to, everyone’s favourite, Working Hunter Class where the horses have to complete a course of jumps as well as a gallop and a show of obedience in front of the judges.
Jumping differs in height from 60cm for children to 140cm for adults. Pamela Johnston, one of the judges of the horse show, says that there are a promising number of young riders coming up in the ranks.
The show, however, is not all about competing. Other competitions that lean towards the lighter side of life also play an important part in adding to the festivity.
These include barrel racing – a race where adults ride ponies around barrels and the fancy dress class for riders and their horses or ponies.
Amy Harris won the barrel racing this year while prizes awarded to participants in the fancy dress class include the Funniest, Most Creative and Most Original.
All in all, The Bathurst Agricultural Society have managed to organise and run another successful, competitive and fun-filled event one that will continue to bring people back year after year.
