By Emma Williams

 

A crowd of horse enthusiasts braved the wet weather to attend the first ever Unbridled Festival held in Canberra on Saturday 15 November. There was something for everyone with the festival combining horses, food and live music.

 

Sir Darryl and Lady Sarah impressed the audience with a jousting and mounted archery display. If that wasn’t exhilarating enough for you, the horse-boarding demonstration fused skateboarding and horses, with a rider on horseback towing a mountain board rider through an obstacle course.

 

The heavy horses were well represented in dressage, side saddle and working displays, and on the other end of the scale the crowds loved the miniature horse showjumping and mini-trots. Additionally, spectators were able to obtain information on the other breeds on display and learn how to join new clubs or societies.

 

The expert seminars were well attended with a wide range of topics covered, from buying your first horse to retraining a racehorse and even equine massage, while younger horse lovers were kept entertained at the Kids Zone.

 

For those looking for relief from the rain, the Hitching Post was the place to relax and listen to music or Tim Cope’s interesting talk on the journey of Genghis Khan.

 

Overall the event was well organised, informative and showcased the versatility of horses.