Adelaide Horse Trials
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Adelaide Horse Trials — or to give it its official name, the Australian International 3 Day Event — is the only four-star horse trials in the southern hemisphere. The event takes place in the very centre of the leafy South Australia city of Adelaide, with the cross-country traversing roads (see picture) as it winds through Adelaide’s spectacular East Parklands.
The Adelaide International Horse Trials started in 1997, replacing the Gawler Horse Trials, which had been held north of Adelaide since 1954. The event began as a three-star, but upgraded to four-star in 2002. In 2007, the event relaunched and was renamed the Australian International 3 Day Event in 2007 to celebrate the event’s 10th anniversary and reflect the competition’s international focus.
Adelaide joined the FEI Classics, a series linking the world’s four-stars, in 2011. The fixture offers the largest prize-fund in eventing in the Southern Hemisphere, with $120,000 (£65,150) up for grabs in 2014.
The event director is Gillian Rolton, a dual Olympic gold medallist for Australia and the president of the ground jury at the 2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games (WEG) in Normandy, France.
Wendy Schaeffer was the first winner of the four-star at Adelaide, taking the class in 2002 on Koyuna Sun-Glo. She also took top honours with Koyuna Sun Dancer in 2010. Two other riders have been double victors here, Stuart Tinney (2009 on Vettori and 2011 on Panamera) and Christopher Burton (2008 on Newsprint and 2013 on TS Jamaimo).
Christopher’s 2013 victory was particularly notable as he first rode TS Jamaimo less than a week before the event after his regular jockey, Will Enzinger, broke his leg in a fall from a novice horse. Afterwards their triumph a syndicate bought TS Jamaimo with the intention of Christopher campaigning him towards the 2014 WEG — they were successful in their quest for selection, but the horse had to be withdrawn after coming down with colic before the cross-country.
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Covid lockdowns force further five-star event cancellation
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Two more five-stars cancelled owing to Covid-19
Two more top-level competitions have fallen by the wayside today as the coronavirus pandemic continues to take its toll on the equestrian calendar
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Debate rages over 50pen flag rule at Adelaide Horse Trials
The penalties were given under the flag rule but removed after the ground jury had reviewed footage of the incident
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Oliver Townend wins Adelaide CIC3* on catch ride: 'I've never ridden in a place like that'
The British rider sat on his winning ride just three times before the event
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Alice Dunsdon's Adelaide blog: One event away from making history
Alice pens an emotional final blog after returning from Adelaide Horse Trials
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Alice Dunsdon's Adelaide blog: we've done it!
Alice is back in hospital — but she's also achieved her dream
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Alice Dunsdon's Adelaide blog: I was in hospital just 12 hours before my cross-country
The British rider competing in Australia contends with crippling stomach pains on the most important day of her epic trip
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Alice Dunsdon determined to complete Adelaide CCI4* despite being hospitalised
A stomach bug has forced the British rider, who is in Australia as part of her epic quest to complete the world's six four-stars, into hospital the night before the cross-country
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Alice Dunsdon's Adelaide blog: 'Fernhill Present is accepted'
Adelaide four-star has officially started for our blogger after passing the first horse inspection
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Alice Dunsdon's Adelaide blog: 'We only regret the chances we didn't take'
Alice is trying not to let herself get too excited and nervous as the four-star competition is just two days away from commencing
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Alice Dunsdon's Adelaide blog: Some of the toughest days of my life
Alice has endured a tough few days in preparation for Adelaide Horse Trials next week
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Alice Dunsdon's Adelaide blog: time flies when you're having fun!
Our guest blogger is starting to count down the days until she reaches her goal of competing in the Australian International Three-Day Event in Adelaide
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Alice Dunsdon's Adelaide blog: Buckaroo
There has been much excitement for Alice as she has finally been able to ride Hilly once more, plus there has been socialising and TV fame
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Alice Dunsdon's Adelaide blog: We're free at last!
Alice, Hilly and her team have finally arrived at the horse trials site in Adelaide
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Alice Dunsdon's Adelaide blog: Am I going mad?
Alice is feeling the pressure of her mammoth trip to compete in the Australian four-star event with her beloved horse Hilly
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Alice Dunsdon's Adelaide blog: quarantine's not a prison camp – it's quite nice really!
Our intrepid traveller is four days into 14 days of quarantine and shares a sticky moment when she found herself rather short of clothes
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Alice Dunsdon's Adelaide blog: We've made it!
Hilly has finally arrived in Australia, but Alice is wondering whether this is all too much for her beloved horse
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Alice Dunsdon’s Adelaide blog: an update from 35,000ft
Alice is more than 24hrs into her journey around the globe with her Adelaide Horse Trials-bound event horse
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Alice Dunsdon's Adelaide blog: Hilly has wings!
Alice and her Adelaide Horse Trials-bound eventer are preparing for take off
