Equestrian extravaganza planned for Dunedin

Dunedin's novel indoor stadium.

Dunedin is to host a large equestrian final result at its novel stadium early on side yesteryear side year, planned yesteryear Horse of the Year Show manager Kevin Hansen.

Hansen of Event Pro has spent xviii months planning the inaugural Dunedin Equestrian Extravaganza at the Forsyth Barr Stadium on Feb 1, which is to be followed yesteryear the Otago Show Jumping Championships at the Taieri A&P Showgrounds.

“It is extremely exciting. I cause got a existent soft spot for Dunedin, too it’s wonderful to endure able to choose an final result of such magnitude to the people of Otago, Southland too beyond, fully utilising this magnificent all-purpose stadium,” Hansen said.

“It promises to endure an equestrian final result dissimilar anything previously available inwards New Zealand.”

Although at that topographic point cause got been indoor equestrian events inwards the solid reason before, Hansen says at that topographic point is no venue that compares to the novel 30,000 topographic point Forsyth Barr Stadium.

As the world’s entirely permanently covered stadium to boast a natural grass playing surface, the stadium volition render a ‘gladiator-type’ electrical atmosphere, where the crowd volition endure able to larn up-close-and-personal amongst the equestrian action, he says.

While the programme for the extravaganza is notwithstanding nether wraps, Hansen says it volition boot off inwards the early on afternoon amongst several exhibit jumping events, leading-up to an eventide celebration of all things equestrian, including a Equus caballus Grand Prix featuring Australasia’s leading exhibit jumping combinations vying for $50,000 inwards prizemoney.

“It volition endure a nighttime of solid unit of measurement fun too entertainment, from high-paced activity too world-class jumping to grace too beauty on horseback.”

The exhibit jumping activity volition non endure express to the extravaganza though, amongst ii farther days of high-end contest planned at the Taieri A&P Showgrounds inwards Mosgiel equally purpose of the Otago Show Jumping Championships rounding out the three-day amusement package. Leading combinations from throughout New Zealand are expected to attend, amongst the highlight beingness Sunday’s $50,000 Grand Prix.

Hansen plans to enlist an international course of pedagogy designer for the weekend, too is already inwards talks amongst many leading Australian combinations well-nigh the possibility of competing, ensuring an international flavour.

The exhibit grounds volition too play host to world-class mounted games activity amongst teams inwards the thick of preparations for the 2013 World Championships which are beingness held at the Horse of the Year Show inwards Hastings inwards March.

Hansen has been humbled yesteryear the initial response. “I can’t believe the back upward nosotros cause got received from the Dunedin City Council, the stadium, local businesses too equestrians alike. Everybody has got correct behind it. I am absolutely thrilled amongst the response.”

To choose an final result similar this to Dunedin is a huge risk, merely i Hansen was determined to accept too committed to making a success amongst the hope of it becoming an annual event.

“There are huge possibilities, merely this is entirely twelvemonth i too nosotros postulate to arrive feasible inwards the laid out year. Over fourth dimension it volition larn bigger too better.”

Hansen is best known equally the human behind New Zealand’s premier equestrian showcase, the Horse of the Year Show, held annually inwards Hastings. Hosted inwards Hawke’s Bay for the yesteryear xiv years, the Horse of the Year Show continues to grow inwards stature internationally equally i of ‘the’ events on the equestrian calendar. It attracts to a greater extent than than 75,000 people over vi days of contest too pumps $12.5 meg inwards the Hawke’s Bay economic scheme each year.

 

 

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