The local Victoria Pony Club is staging a one-day Pony Club event, to be held at Killusty Farm near Fenelon Falls on Sunday, September 23. The event is open to all Pony Club members who have qualified for their D level or above in the Pony Club testing system.

Eventing is an Olympic discipline in which competitors must ride a formal Dressage test, follow with a Cross Country or endurance phase across open country and over fixed obstacles, and finish with a Stadium Jumping competition. Scoring is done on a penalty points basis, with all errors of course, refusals, rails down and falls counted as penalties. In most divisions, penalties are also incurred for taking too much time, or too little, to finish the Cross Country phase. The rider with the fewest penalties wins.

Eventing-or Three-Day Eventing at the upper levels-was first developed in the 19th Century as a competition for cavalry horses and riders and was once called Combined Military Training. The Dressage phase demonstrates the horse's obedience and control, the Cross Country phase simulates a cavalry charge and the Stadium Jumping phase demonstrates the horse's long-range stamina and fitness. Though the military aspects of the competition no longer apply, events are still the ultimate test of both horse and rider. To win at eventing, riders must have first-rate fitness themselves and a wide range of riding skills to handle the different demands of the three phases.

The Victoria Event offers competition at four levels: Pre-Entry, Entry, Pre-Training and Training. Different dressage tests are used at each level, and the heights of both the Cross Country and stadium jumps also increase with skill levels. There is no time limit for the Cross Country phase at the Pre-Entry and Entry levels. Pony Club D1 level is required for the Entry, Pre-Training and Training divisions.

Killusty Farm is approximately 14 km north of Fenelon Falls on Highway 121. From Highway 121, turn right on County Road #37 (Burys Green Road), take the second turn left (Hyper Line) to the second farm on the right. Spectators are welcome without charge.

For further details call Luanne Rae, show organizer, at 905-986-4589 (home), or the schedule section of the Central Ontario website.