And some familiar faces will be back at the popular complex.

Specialist junior coach Martin Gostelow has been returning to AELEC since its first ever show back in 2009. His wife Sophia Gostelow competed in the first Grand Prix hosted there, and this year their daughters Alexandria and Olivia will also compete. This week’s qualifier will be one of 14 to be held Australia-wide, and the first to be held outside the Sydney metropolitan area since 2007.

So what makes people like the Gostelow family continue to return.

“The indoor arena is world class,” he said. “The facilities are outstanding, it’s a safe environment with good stabling and everything is planned well.

“My horses are of the utmost importance to me. Their safety and well-being is foremost in my mind when I attend a show, so I’m always happy to bring them back.”

“Though to make the venue truly outstanding, some time and money spent on the outdoor arenas would bring them up to standard. It would be a real asset to not only AELEC, but also Tamworth itself.”

He added that the new Hunter Expressway has made it easier for many southern competitors to travel up.

Also returning as he often does will be equestrian coach and competitor James Mooney who will float 15 horses from his base on the Central Coast, along with another 15 belonging to riders he coaches.

He said it was “amazing when you ride through the gates to jump your round”.

“The committee is easy to work with, and that’s important when you have many horses and clients as I do. You need to be organised,” he said.

His enjoyment too is bringing his many students with him.

“I love watching them become better people through their chosen sport,” he said.

Another rider Nic Carraro has won and placed many times at AELEC on his horse Colombo, which he has entered in the qualifier itself. He’ll be represented by five horses this weekend, but it’s not the ribbons that beckon him back.

“The shows have become bigger with a broad program that caters to so many levels of horse and rider,” he said.