CEO Update - April 2026

Adelaide Equestrian Festival was a significant highlight for Equestrian Australia in April, bringing together athletes, owners, officials, volunteers, supporters and members of the broader equestrian community across four days of sport, connection and conversation.

This was my first time attending Adelaide Equestrian Festival in my role as CEO, and it was a valuable opportunity to experience first-hand the strength of the event, the quality of the competition and the passion that sits behind our sport. Held in the heart of the Adelaide CBD at Victoria Park, the Festival attracted a record-breaking crowd of more than 40,000 people, providing an outstanding platform to showcase equestrian sport at a national and international level.

On behalf of EA, I congratulate all athletes who competed across the Festival, and acknowledge the dedication of the owners, coaches, grooms, families and support teams behind them. In particular, congratulations to Tahlia Pursell and Astro NZPH on winning the Racing SA CCI3*-L, Jess Somerfield and APH New Sensation on winning the Horseland CCI4*-S, and Oliver Barrett and Sandhills Briar on winning the Adelaide International CCI5*. It was also great to see Australia secure both the Oceania Championship Young Riders Team title and the Oceania Championship Senior Teams title. These results are a strong reflection of the talent and commitment within Australian Eventing.

The EA Trade Stand was staffed by the Sport Operations Team throughout the Festival and provided an important opportunity to speak directly with current members, former members and supporters. The team engaged with many people across the four days, with conversations focused on membership categories, pricing, coaching pathways, Canter Con and the recently launched supporter merchandise range.

I thank everyone involved in the delivery of Adelaide Equestrian Festival, including the organising committee, officials, volunteers, athletes, owners, support teams, sponsors, vendors and members. Events of this scale require a significant collective effort, and Adelaide once again demonstrated the strength of the equestrian community when people come together around great sport.

This month, I also met with the State CEOs to discuss membership retention and growth, and to continue building a shared understanding of the opportunities and challenges being experienced across the country. These regular discussions are an important part of strengthening the working relationship between EA and the State Branches, ensuring we remain focused on practical, member-focused initiatives that support participation, improve the member experience and help build a stronger future for the sport.

As we look ahead, there is plenty to be excited about across the equestrian community, with more events, opportunities and important work continuing throughout the month. I hope everyone enjoys the weeks ahead, whether you are competing, officiating, volunteering, supporting from the sidelines or simply staying connected with the sport. Thank you for your ongoing contribution to equestrian in Australia, and I look forward to sharing more updates next month.