Adelaide festival gallops ahead as horsepower fuels Olympic-level event
As other events are postponed across the nation, organisers say the current fuel crisis will not be reining in the Adelaide Equestrian Festival.
Elite riders are descending for the Adelaide Equestrian Festival with organisers saying event numbers had reached its pre-Covid benchmark for the first time since the pandemic – despite other equestrian events being postponed as the fuel crisis bites.
Australian Campdraft Association (ACA) announced the national finals held at Paradise Lagoons, in Queensland, were postponed recently as was the Gold Buckle Campdraft Championship at Willinga Park in NSW – which had been slated for May.
But Adelaide Equestrian Festival organisers told InDaily despite “challenges”, the 2026 event boasted its largest field since the pandemic – and there was a fuel grant scheme for riders travelling to the event supporting those driving large trucks required to transport equipment and horses.
Organisers were expecting 30,000 people at the event with elite riders from around Australia and New Zealand to compete over a course in the Adelaide Parklands.
The Adelaide Equestrian Festival is the only 5-star event of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere, the only horse trials in the world to be held in the heart of a city and one of six International events at this elite level which sees Adelaide sit alongside USA, France, Germany and the UK.
“The Adelaide Equestrian Festival is aware that rising fuel costs and supply challenges may impact competitors and spectators, but we are buoyed by strong entries,” a spokesperson said in a statement.
“Our largest field since pre-Covid … reflects the strong commitment from Australia’s leading riders to compete at this internationally renowned event.”
One such rider is triple-Olympic medalist in Eventing Shane Rose.
Rose told InDaily he anticipated it could cost about $5000 in fuel to get to the event and back.
Stay informed, daily
“But we will have to pay this in order to be able to come to Australia’s greatest three-day event,” he said.
“There’s only one 5-star (event) in the Southern Hemisphere – that happens at the Adelaide Equestrian Festival. I can’t wait to be there.”
Ticket sales had also been strong, according to organisers with Tourism Minister Emily Bourke saying “we saw a surge in tourism activity and a bigger economic return from the 2025 event and want to see that growth continue this year”.
“This is a great way to discover Olympic-level sport and get kids off screens these school holidays, especially with free general admission to kick off the festival on Thursday.”
The Adelaide Equestrian Festival – with riders competing in dressage, cross country and show jumping – will be held at Victoria Park, Adelaide from Thursday April 16 to Sunday, April 19.
Want to see more stories from InDaily SA in your Google search results?
- Click here to set InDaily SA as a preferred source.
- Tick the box next to "InDaily SA". That's it.
