THE 10th EQUITANA event will gallop into Melbourne with a star-studded line-up of attractions.
About 50,000 horse-lovers from across Australia and New Zealand are expected to descend on the Melbourne Showgrounds for the four-day equine festival, beginning today.
Among the highlights are equine behaviourists Josh Lyons and Richard Winters, an eventing masterclass with world-renowned British rider and London Olympics silver medallist Mary King and a clinic with Finnish dressage legend Kyra Kyrklund.
"We've got some amazing clinicians this year,'' Equitana entertainment manager Colleen Lethbridge said.
"These guys cover every discipline. They are just magic.''
The Equitana Australian Open Championships are a hot ticket, particularly the reining championships and the dressage freestyle.
"Reining is the most fun, with people hooting and hollering. There will be action, spins and slips,'' Ms Lethbridge said.
"Then (you can see) beautiful horses performing to music. It's a fantastic experience.''
About 300 equine businesses will exhibit their products at Equitana.
Horze Australia manager Sverre Risa is thrilled his riders' apparel company will be among them.
"Equitana has a fantastic atmosphere about it,'' Mr Risa said.
"It's well targeted towards horse-loving people. Whatever you're after, your needs are catered for."
