Dateline: South Australia and Victoria, Australia

As quickly as EI seemed to appear, decimating the Australian Performance Horse Industry, it seems to have disappeared!

With Racing throughout Australia having been "back in business" for quite some time now, the Performance Horses, Pony Clubs, Riding Clubs, and Riding Schools to name a few areas, have been holding back from shows and "public gatherings, as per the request of the DPI (Department of Primary Industries) and now they are asking themselves "why"???

Many of the allied industries have gone to the wall since EI hit the country in August 2007 and there are those who suggest that the industry will take years to recover - hopefully that is not going to be the case!

Victoria and South Australia have both been fortunate in that somehow they escaped the dreaded disease crossing their borders and now confidence is returning in the Olympic disciplines as showjumping and dressage get underway again to see horses and riders out competing.

The Agricultural Show circuit has taken a battering and it will be interesting to see whether the jumpers return to these shows in the latter part of 2008 - but in the meantime many of the dedicated shows are reorganising themselves to get up and running again.

It has been announced that the Mt Gambier Easter Showjumping Festival is on - and it will be held at its traditional venue, the Blue Lakes Sports Park Velodrome, which has arguably the best jumping surface in the country!

2008 will be the 26th time this festival has been run and it grows in excellence and stature each year as more and more people discover the venue and show.

At this stage it will see the entries restricted to non New South Wales and Queensland horses but with New South Wales and Queensland shows also restricted by the movement issues out of their area this will no doubt see an increase in the numbers at Mt Gambier from 21st March to 24th March.

Shows such as the Sydney Easter Show traditionally have many entries from all over Australia but with the restrictions caused by EI no doubt many will opt to head to the South Australian/Victoria border.

The entry forms and protocol forms will be online at the Mt Gambier website shortly - please ensure that all forms are sent as required to avoid the disappointment of traveling only to be turned away.

Caramut Riding Club have also informed us that the Buskers Festival Showjumping traditionally held in January in Mortlake will go ahead this year - albeit a different date and a different venue - it will be held!

The event will be held over the weekend immediately following the Mt Gambier Easter Festival of Jumping and will located at Emu Creek Pony Club ground in Terang, which has a good surface and nice facilities to keep everyone happy for a great weekend of jumping.

Three rings will be in place with classes for everyone including a Pony Club ring - so keep a look out for the program and entry protocol for what promises to be another great event.

Contrary to some of the misinformed tales circulating in showjumping, the venue change is for this year only as the Mortlake Council was concerned about being able to fulfill the bio-security requirements in case of a lock down which would require fencing etc. to be erected around the grounds and 2009 will see the Buskers Festival return to its home in Mortlake on its January weekend, according to Club official, Mr Tim Clarke.