Website by Bob Peirce rg.peirce@bigpond.com

Grand Opening of AELEC at Tamworth

More than 600 participants were present for  Saturday’s historic opening celebrations at the Australian Equine and Livestock Events Centre at Tamworth

Four members of the 6th Light Horse Cumberland Troop, Gillian & Bob, Helen & Rachel, joined troops from Murrurundi, Trundle, Quirindi, Queenbeyan, Warialda in NSW and Toowoomba and Mudgeeraba in QLD. Six members of the Tamworth Tent Pegging Troop also formed part of the Light Horse segment. In all there were more than 32 Light Horse members participating.

The Light Horse segment was narrated by the actor, Colin Friels, and told the story of the Australian Light Horse from joining and training of the horses and men and included tent pegging with lances and swords. This was followed by a charge across hay bale trenches by successive waves of 6 riders and horses.

The arena was lit only by the flashes of “artillery” and the sound of guns providing a challenge for horses and riders as they galloped through the arena and then into a narrower chute, around the outside and then through the arena again.

“Tamworth was absolutely amazing – the most scary, exciting thing I have ever done on a horse. After the Beersheba charge, 5 sections, 6 abreast, at the gallop, over two jumps then into half sections to do a hard left turn into a chute and back to the start and charge again. When it was over, we all pulled up laughing. All done in the dark, with strobe lights, gunfire and none of the horses will ever stand still again while the theme from the movie Gallipoli is played” (Gillian).

Rodney O’Regan sent an email reporting back on the reaction to the Light Horse by the Governor of NSW Marie Bashir and the organisers of the event. (Click here to read the email)

We are proud that all the Troop members and their horses acquitted themselves well and received compliments from the other participants.

Click on the gallery below to view some personal photos of this event.

Opening Photos aelec.com.au/opening2009/ for AELEC’s own photos of the opening