Mt Gambier Horse Trials 2009 – review by S. Tainsh

Description:

Mt Gambier Horse Trails is held at the pony club ground next door to the
airport about 5 mins from the town centre.
The property is on slightly undulating sandy/loam country. In September 2009 it rained all week leading up to the event and all weekend but it drained excellently and there was no mud anywhere.  One of the better grounds around the XC surface is as good as anywhere else.

Showjumping is in a purpose built grass arena.  The surface for here is
better than most surfaces you would jump on at any other event.

A excellent competitions that was run very well.  Scores were quick and
everyone was really friendly and helpful.  I encourage anyone to take the
trip.
Entries were on nominate.com

Getting there:

There are a number of ways to come.  A simple way is Hamilton Hwy from Geelong to Hamilton, then continue on to Casterton and follow the signs to Mt Gambier.  There only a few hills from Casterton onwards but nothing you have to worry about in a truck.  Travel time from Geelong is about 5 hours straight through.

Facilities:

Same as any other PC.  No power but separate toilet and shower block.
Clubrooms and canteen.
A number of good size yards.  Bigger than most yards in Victoria.  Water
not far away from the yards.  There are no BYO yards but they have well
built yards.

Tips:

Courses (reviewed by Simon Tainsh 2009)

Intro & Prelim
A very encouraging coarse over undulating country.  Through clearing and
pine plantation land.  Nothing too scary but there are one or two
questions.

Pre Novice
The first half of the course is encouraging with gently undulating ground,
mainly single fences and an opportunity to move forward. The second half of the course provides some challenges with a water complex, a fence with
water misting upwards, downhill steps to a related fence that comes up
quite quickly and an apex with an option. Whilst the course is not overly
long, the track contains a number of changes of direction make it a little
harder to make the time, but not impossible.
Overall, an encouraging track with excellent going all year round, a couple
of questions that make for an interesting and enjoyable course.

One Star
For experienced combinations this course is not overally hard but with a
few combinations into the water and down a sleep hill off two large steps
on an offset line.  A couple of apex's and an option of a bounce bank.  Not
an overly long course but a few short hills.  A course in a small area with
a number of road crossings and turns make time quite tight.

Two Star
A very encouraging first four fencing over logs, houses and oxers but then
quickly into a few questions such as a bounce bank with no option, ditch
and brush, offset logs and apex.  The middle relaxes off a bit but is quite
windy with road crossings and doubling back on your self.  The course is in
a small area and there are a few distance fences to make the track a bit
longer.  The water fence was no easier than anywhere else with a roll top
to jump into the water with bank on the other side and a narrow rising box
on the way out.  There are bounce steps down a step hill.  Overall a good
course but time very hard to make with so many turns. The footing is
excellent with a few opportunities to have a good gallop.

Warm up areas:

Dressage warmed up on a part of the xc which was not flat but you were
then moved into the competition arena one full test before your time to
ride.
XC warmed where the dressage was the previous day so excellent flat ground with plenty of room to warm up.
Showjumping wasn't in the best of spots in 2009 considering the arena you
compete is was excellent.  There is flat ground in the lower part of the
showjumping arena through.