Morgan fans set to gather for state show
IT WOULD be hard to find a horse breed as calmly adventurous and versatile as the morgan, which is just one of many reasons the breed has been growing steadily in popularity in Australia.
Rhonda Menzies-Moreland loved the breed so much she not only owns her own stud, but throws her spare time into helping out the Morgan Horse Association Australia.
She, along with other Queensland owners and breeders, has been gearing up for the group’s third annual Total Equine Queensland Morgan Horse State Show, coming up in Toowoomba next weekend.
Mrs Menzies-Moreland said they just managed to squeeze the bumper program into a single day, which will be held at the Toowoomba Showgrounds in the indoor arena next Sunday.
Not only would there be the full array of in-hand and ridden classes, but also plenty of opportunities for riders and horses of all abilities to learn something new.
❝want We don’t the show to be just about the saddle
— Rhonda Menzies-Moreland
She said there would even be a specific class for horses broken since July 1.
“We want to create interest and help handlers and owners develop their skills on the
ground,” she said.
“It’s to give those that have horses that are very new a chance to start exposing them to the show environment.
“It allows them to test their skills on the ground and demonstrate their calmness.
“We don’t want the show to be just about the saddle because there are so many stages.”
Despite the focus on inexperienced horses, there would also be plenty of opportunities for old hands to learn something new.
“The show is in its third year after the Queensland owners and members put the idea to the board in order to give our competitors somewhere else to go,” Mrs Menzies-Moreland said.
“Because of Queensland’s rural environment, sometimes we don’t get together at the various agricultural shows to develop our skills.
“So we’re now into our third show and getting a lot more professional in it.”
She said the eight member-strong committee had worked really hard this year to put on a varied offering
for morgans and part-morgans, with events kicking off at 8am.
Mrs Menzies-Moreland said spectators were more than welcome to come along and see what the breed could do and entry to the event was free for onlookers.
To find out more about the event head to morganhorse.com.au.