Earlier this month, horse enthusiasts and equine competitors gathered at Paradise Exhibition Park, off Padgett Road, for the Powell River Working Equitation Classic, hosted by Powell River Trail Riders Club (PRTRC) and Vancouver Island Working Equitation (VIWE).
"There were 27 competitors, some travelling from as far as Victoria and the lower Sunshine Coast," said PRTRC committee chair for horse clinics/instruction Milan Jackson. "There was a good audience, but we encourage even more people to come out next year."
The competition, which took place on Saturday, July 5, and Sunday, July 7, had three phases of competition: dressage; ease of handling; and the speed round.
The first round, called dressage, showcases the animal’s ability to perform walks, trots and pacing, as well as animal/trainer communication; ease of handling is going around obstacles judged on style, then the final round is also going around obstacles but based on speed.
Jackson said the sport comes from a traditional style of riding in Spain and Portugal.
2025 Powell River Working Equitation Classic results:
Introductory, level one, rider/horse: First place, Alice Bourassa/Soda Pop; second place, Candice Woods/Gunner; third place, Sue Kosh/Eevi
Novice A, level two, rider/horse: First place, Nancy Garner/Extreme Whizdun; second place, Anne Muir/Flintstone; third place, Teresa McKinnon/Jonah
Novice B, level two, rider/horse: First place, Meredith Glidden/Adam; second place, Leanne Jones/El Cortez; third place, Jayenna Towell/Gunner
Intermediate A, level four, rider/horse: First place, Allison Decock/Ytzen; second place, Teg Harper/Fuego Del Mar; third place, Anna Whiten/Jonah
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