Olympic rider Heath Ryan, pictured above, was one of the standout stars of the show at the Opening Spectacular at the Australian Equine and Livestock Events Centre on Saturday February 21.
To view a gallery of images from the Opening Spectacular, click on the AELEC logo icon above. You can view the images in a larger format by clicking on each thumbnail.
On the opening night, Ryan thrilled a huge crowd of 3,500 in the stadium with a stunning ride on his Grand Prix horse Darcy working in harmony with movie horse trainer Heath Harris's top liberty horse Spike.
The spectacular show headlined some of the country's top riders and equine stock in daring, funny, poignant and purely stunning sequences featuring bare back, trick riding from the Girls, Girls, Girls team, Light Horse, heritage and historic storylines and exquisite dressage displays.
The show brought the house down - and captured the imagination and pride of the audience.
The Governor of NSW, Her Excellency Professor Marie Bashir officially opened AELEC earlier in the evening.
Over 600 people and horses were part of the star cast for the big industry expo and the stadium show spectacular. The celebrations involved riders from all over NSW and Queensland, and even New Zealand.
Actor Colin Friels was the narrator, with Golden Guitar Bush Balladeer award winner Warren H Williams and international didgeridoo player Mark Atkins adding some special musical moments, along with multi award winning Troy Cassar-Daley. Olympic rider Heath Ryan and his World Cup riding wife Rozzie provided magic moments, as did Sandy Black and her ponies.
A huge slice of the show was the work of international movie horse trainer Heath Harris, from Mount White, who worked on such films as Legend of Zorro, Black Stallion and the Aussie classics, Phar Lap and The Man From Snowy River. Harris also helped choreograph a stunning story that celebrated the charge of the light brigade from World War 1, and was the guiding hand for a set of six trick riding women. Another 160 school students also strutted their stuff.
The spectacular included 52 members of Light Horse troops from Murrurundi, Cumberland, Trundle, Quirindi, Queanbeyan, Warialda, Toowoomba and Mudgeeraba in Queesland, as well as six from the Tamworth Tentpegging Troop.
The show featured an Electric Horsemen segment, a terrrific demonstration of riding disciplines from 30 Zone pony club riders, and the haunting enactment of the arrival of the first of the white explorers into the indigenous lands of the Kamilaroi nation nearly 200 years ago, by the Gomeroi Dance Company. The 2008 Horseman of the Year Dan James was a great success with his stunts and superb horse skills. AAnother 160 students from Tamworth schools thrilled the house with their Kids From the Country segment, including some iconic puppets.
Earlier in the day, an outdoor expo kicked all things equine off at the centre and was judged a standout success.
The equine expo and industry showcase outdoors included lectures and seminars from a range of equine health professionals and experts from veterinary, health and dental, nutrition and management, education and judging, circles.
Centre manager Mike Rowland said the day was designed to provide expert advice and information in one spot for all horse enthusiasts from young colts to old cowboys – and the crowds who flocked there voted it informative, interesting and educational. There were some stunning displays that captivated the attention of horse purists and equine novices.
It was a packed program with a breed village, demonstrations of vaulting, whip cracking, fitness and training clinics. The day also featured a mini horse spectacular and carriage driving competition.
