Horse trial attracts top competition

By Tania Martin
MACCLESFIELD equestrians Will Enzinger and his wife Emily Anker will go head-to-head in the first major competition of the year on the weekend.
Riders from across the country will join their United Kingdom and New Zealand counter parts at the annual Tonimbuk Horse Trials.
Now in its 10th year, the trials continue to attract some of Australia’s best riders and international competitors.
Enzinger will compete in four separate events while Anker will take on the three-star competition in an effort to qualify for the 2012 Olympic Games.
“The trials is a really good way to start the season,” Enzinger said
Trials secretary Helen Reid said that numbers were up at this year’s event on 7 and 8 March with nearly all of the riding categories having waiting lists.
“This year we have had an overwhelming response from riders as far away as Queensland, New South Wales, and South Australia as well as many local riders from Gippsland, West Gippsland, and the Dandenong Ranges.
Competition is once again set to be tough with former Olympians Amanda Howell, Olivia Bunn and Megan Jones entering into the weekend’s events.
The trials really cater for all levels of horse riding with the CIC-three star for the advanced riders and horses, and preliminary and introductory sections for the riders or horses just starting out.
Dressage and some show-jumping will be held during Saturday’s timetable with cross-country and the remaining show-jumping held on the Sunday.