THE Australian Pony Owners and Breeders Association hosted its first dressage event ago at Werribee Park 10 years ago.
It was probably the first of its kind and, like oaks that grow from acorns, it is now one of the most anticipated events on the pony dressage calendar.
At this year's event, the champion advanced/medium level pony was Malibu Park Moondust, a riding pony shown by Karri Anne Bilson, from Winchelsea, Victoria.
The champion elementary level pony was Scotsonfold Park Rum Tyme, a Welsh cob ridden by Natasha French, from Wangaratta.
The Welsh were to the fore in the novice section where the Welsh cob stallion, Westbury Spitfire, was champion. It was ridden by Kristy Sparks of Kilmore.
And in the junior preliminary sections, where riders were aged under 12, Isabelle Luxmore rode Rivington Sampson to win.
The New Forest pony Haberfield Hooray Henry won the champion novice for riders aged 13 to 21, ridden by Ben Cameron from Bolinda.
The senior champion novice pony was the national show pony hunter Langtree Opium, which sampled a new career ridden by Suanne Vale, of Goomalibee.
Preparatory classes for little riders were watched by a good crowd. They saw Abbey of Red Hill on champion Wyann Sonic.
Even more entertaining was the tiny tots-led dressage test, in which many riders younger than eight, and some just out of nappies, had their first test.
It was as fascinating to see the style of the leaders as it was the actions of the tiny jockeys. As everyone who competed got a showbag, the kids couldn't have cared who won.
However, Kaia Price emerged as the winner, riding Narangi Expozay, and just a fraction of a point ahead of Bindi Eye First Impression and Ava Branift on April.
While all girls in the class took things seriously, two tiny boys, Jonah Price and Christopher Milvain, had the audience in fits of laughter with their antics through the tests, waving to the crowd, to their parents and to the judge.
Organiser Gary Hartigan said that while the tiny tots class was entertaining, the original winner of that event 10 years ago is now doing well in open novice events.
Mr Hartigan said the event's 10th anniversary showed how much interest there was in pony dressage as a sport. He said the group took pride in having contributed to its present success.
