Leanne Smith, with her horse Weerona Park Tequila, has traded in horse shows for displaying her ute at ute events.
By Callan Date
THE hub of the Spring Racing Carnival is set to start this Saturday but for many local horse lovers the four-day Flemington feast will not ease their pain.
But local horse enthusiast Leanne Smith has turned to a different kind of horsepower for fun.
Since not been able to take part in any of her much loved equestrian events since the outbreak of equine influenza (EI) in August, Ms Smith has turned to her trusty Holden Commodore Ute and started entering ute shows.
The decision by Victoria’s peak equestrian bodies to stop conducting horse rallies, shows, events, clinics and other activities involving the recreational gathering of horses has made Ms Smith come up with a novel way of passing her weekends.
The 19-year-old still works at a Clyde North riding school but she can now be found at ute shows on weekends.
A second and third placing at a recent ute event in Silvan has continued to whet her appetite for the fun that comes with ute shows.
“There is so much emphasis on (horse) racing and they are forgetting the little guys like me who want to compete in local events but can’t due to the ban,” Ms Smith said.
“It is really frustrating. There is so many people that are putting in their hard work and training and there is nowhere to go.”
Ms Smith said she has had the ute for only four months but decided to make some modifications and enter the show “just for fun”.
“I got second place for best Chicks Ute, which was good.”
Victoria’s chief veterinary officer Doctor Hugh Millar said the decision to stop equestrian activities and other similar events in the state would result in almost 30,000 horse not being able to move from their paddocks.
“Indeed, Victoria has suffered severe inconvenience and disruption as part of necessary and strict measures that have helped horse owners to keep Victoria horse flu free,” Dr Millar said.
Ms Smith said she would continue showing her ute until the ban was lifted.
“Horses are my true love and I can’t wait to get back to competing when we can,” she said.
