Dirk Schrade Set to Star at EQUITANA Melbourne

The 35 year old German equestrian is best known for winning Team Gold at the 2012 London Olympic Games, as well as the European Championships in 2013, and is highly accoladed as a trainer of young horses.

Mr Schrade will be involved with major features at EQUITANA Melbourne, the Southern Hemisphere’s greatest equine extravaganza that attracts over 47,000 spectators, and over 300 exhibitors during the event held at the Melbourne Showgrounds.

Mr Schrade will present an Eventing masterclass,  three education sessions, and in a unique opportunity to view such an elite rider, will participate in the Exhibition Eventing, which is one of the competitions within the Be the Influence Equestrian Grand Final series.  Mr Schrade will also participate in the Jump and Drive competition, a fun and fast paced race against the clock where horse and rider jump a course, before the rider runs to a waiting carriage and the carriage driver then navigates an obstacle course.

In addition he will be on the judging panel of the iconic ‘The Way of the Horse (TWOTH)’ Australian Horsemanship Challenge. One of the most popular features of EQUITANA Melbourne, this electrifying contest involves three of the country’s leading horse trainers partnering with a young, unstarted horse chosen from a selection brought directly from the paddock to the venue, the three trainers work simultaneously in separate round pens, giving the public a rare opportunity to directly compare starting methods and training styles. They are judged by a panel of the most highly reputed national and international Equine experts.

Mr Schrade was excited about arriving in Australia, saying that he was looking forward to taking part both as a rider and trainer, and praised EQUITANA’s education program saying it was a great feature.

“I am excited to work with the different riders and horses from Australia, who's Eventers are so well known for their bold and positive cross country riding. “ He complemented.

EQUITANA Australia Event Director Rod Lockwood who was also delighted to have secured Mr Schrade for the event, said “Mr Schrade brings an incredible wealth of experience to the popular and much loved sport of Eventing, and we are thrilled to be able to offer the public a diverse series of opportunities to learn from him in, as well as see him in action in the unique environment of EQUITANA”.

EQUITANA Australia will run from 20th-23rd November at the Melbourne Showgrounds.