It was finally EKKA time - having missed the largest Queensland Annual event in 2020 & 2021 due to Covid restrictions - Everyone was very Ekkacited

The EKKA brings the country and the city together to celebrate everything EKKA. With plenty of Ekkatainment, from animals & agriculture, carnival, live entertainment, food, wine, Ekkanites filled with night shows, live music and crazy fireworks. With over 400,000 people through the gates and 10,000 animals on display it’s an actioned packed 10 days.

Universal Stables were Ekkaready to settle into the Showgrounds and prepare for a busy week of doing what they do best.

Thoroughbred day on the Monday is the 1st day of horse competitions and let’s you get close and personal to the beautiful Thoroughbreds on the arena. With perfectly turned out Thoroughbreds and strappers, it was a splendid day for showing horses.

Leigh Sears (Sears Racing) scooped Most successful Exhibitor with ‘Montana Lady’ winning Filly 3 years old, The Lawyer winning Reserve Champion Thoroughbred Gelding and ‘Illicit Affairs’ taking out Best Thoroughbred Race Horse In Training.

Riley rode Billie Johnstone’s elegant mare ‘Dubbo’ (La Dolce Vita) for a win in the ridden Thoroughbred Mare and a fabulous workout for Reserve Champion Ridden Thoroughbred.

The afternoon was the Turnout and Gent Riders with Mel Waller on Amelia’s Sheldene Strauss looking very polished for a win on the Smartest on Parade. Brock Billing rode First Impressions in the Gent rider for some great results and Rhys rode Mel Wellsteads new Hunter Hack Napoleon AK and awarded Champion Gent Rider.

Tuesday Open Hacks and Hunter Galloways

A very busy day for the team and the opportunity to showcase some new members of the team in the Novice Hack. Mel Wellsteads elegant small Hack ‘Obama’ handling the atmosphere and taking out Reserve Champion Novice Hack and following through with 3rd placings in the open and Gents Hack.

Ellie Kelaart’s 17h impressive thoroughbred ‘Efron’ also experiencing the EKKA atmosphere for the 1st time, worked his way to 4th in the Novice and Open Hack.

The Highbury Cup showcases many of the hacks be it big or small and it was an impressive line up before the judge. It was the successful and Seasoned magnificent grey ‘Rolex II’ putting on a polished performance to take the flowers with Kaitlin Labahn and Universal Stables beautiful Thoroughbred ‘Portrait’ owned by Nikki Saunders and ridden by Rhys finishing with 2nd, this combination went on for a 2nd in the Open and a win in the Gents Hack.

Rivalry certainly didn’t disappoint winning the Open Hack 15.2-16h and working a treat in Champion to take the Flowers. Kaitlin and Rolex II were hot on their heals with a polished workout for Reserve Champion.

The afternoon were the Hunter Galloways and Riley riding Georgia Fairweather’s stunning Hunter Galloway ‘Dreamtime Ambition’ won the judges approval for Champion Novice and Champion Open Hunter Galloway. Emma Ashton’s lovely Boy ‘Manorvale Salvatore’ with Rhys in the saddle worked his way to win the Gents Hunter Galloway and a super workout for Reserve Champion.

Wednesday - Open Galloways and Hunter Hacks

A busy day with Hunter Hacks and the Galloways

Mel Wellsteads Napoleon AK standing 17h and looking very impressive handled the Ekka atmosphere in style winning the over 16.2 Hunter Hack. Jazdan Royal Olympia piloted by Adam won the 15-15.2 class. Riley rode Bailee Richdale’s ‘First Impressions’ for a 2nd in the Novice & Open and a win in the gents Hunter Hack. It was a thrill to have 3 horses in the Hunter Championships all putting on a great show and doing us proud.

The Galloways were strongly contested. Kerry Trows smart Galloway ‘Langtree Accucia’ experiencing a Royal show for the 1st time worked her way to 2nd in the gents Galloway. The beautiful and elegant little Galloway of Emma Ashtons ‘Mira Image’ ridden by Rhys won the light weight small Galloway. Sue Oberg’s well performed Galloway ‘Royalwood Touch of Lyric’ were a stand out and won the lightweight large Galloway. Always a thrill to be in a Royal Show Champion Lineup. Stable mates ‘Royalwood Touch of Lyric’ & ‘Mira Image’ were both polished and stunners. It was Woody as we know him around the stables was picture perfect and the judges choice crowned Champion Galloway.

What a whirl wind few days with all the Hacks & Galloways done & dusted it was time for the little people. With Willow having an untimely hospital stay Riley picked up the reins on Her small pony ‘Sandarah Evening Star’. What an achievement to win the Pony mare class and work their way to Reserve Champion Small Pony.

And finally the littlest rider Ruby Scotson sat on board Cherrington Royal Ambassador led expertly by Riley for a double win. Smartest on parade and Rider 3 years & under 5. As the show came to an end our Ekkacitement unfolded into Ekkasausted. It was time to pack up and head home. A big thank you to the team behind the scenes keeping the lane way on time and our horses perfectly presented. Congratulations to all our App members achieving many fantastic results.
Thank you to Lisa Gordon for all the beautiful moments captured.