18 February 2009
Some of the country’s best riders and most talented equine acts are among a cast of about 350 in the spectacular show being mounted for the official opening celebrations for the Australian Equine and Livestock Events Centre in Tamworth next Saturday (Feb 21).
A Among them will be riders, dancers, singers and actors in a showcase of equine and cultural theatre. About 350 performers and equine identities are involved in the day/night show.
Among the creative and artistic equine acts are Olympic equestrians, horse trainers and trick riders, stuntmen, buckjumping heroes, retired mounted police, horse whisperers and pony clubbers.
The local injection is a huge hometown element to the celebrations planned for both a free day expo and showcase of the horse industry and the ticketed special show spectacular that night indoors in the arena.
Tickets are on sale through Tourism Tamworth for $30, $15, and $75 (family).
Organisers are hoping for a sell-out show to mark the opening.
Up to 160 students from schools in Tamworth will be part of an arena-style Australiana production that features Aussie icons like lamingtons and horses.
Ashleigh Dallas, treading in the footsteps of a famous Tamworth musical family, will provide a solo as part of the schools spectacular sequence.
And young riders from local pony clubs from Bendemeer, Nundle, Currabubula, and Kootingal are part of the 30 Zone 5 clubs who will present a musical show.
Among other young riders strutting their stuff in the saddle for the opening show are the new Tamworth country music queen Jacqui Marsden, who is riding with the Electric Horsemen segment, and the youngest rider in that troop of 12, Phoebe George.
Local riders will also add some polish to the star quality on the night with supporting roles to actor Colin Friels who will recite some classic heritage poetry.
And the Gomeroi Dance Company, now a 20-strong troupe of school mates and friends from Tamworth, will premiere their interpretation of history in a Dreamtime-like story of the Kamilaroi’s first introduction to the horse in their indigenous lands.
The night show includes 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. They will re-create the story of Beershba and the 12th’s ride into history.
The Open House part of the day will begin with a free equine expo and industry showcase outdoors at the AELEC from 9am. It runs until 4pm and includes lectures and seminars from a range of equine health professionals and experts. These include veterinary, health and dental, nutrition and management, education and judging.
Centre manager Mike Rowland says the day is designed to provide expert advice and information in one spot for all horse enthusiasts from young learners to old cowboys.
There is a packed program of seminars mixed with an outdoors action schedule that has a breed village, demonstrations of vaulting, whip cracking, fitness and training clinics. The day also features a mini horse spectacular and carriage driving competition.
Mr Rowland says the industry day is designed as a free community expo that provides value for owners and riders but also for regional visitors who don’t know the back end of a cow from a horse – but will get some entertainment from seeing horses in action.
Multi award winning singer songwriter Troy Cassar-Daley, this year’s Golden Guitar winner for bush ballad, Warren H Williams, and didgeridoo player Mark Atkins headline the musical lineup.
Detailed times for the expo lineup and information about the evening show are available at www.aelec.com.au.