The versatility of standardbreds will be on show in Tamworth this weekend when the Standardbred Pleasure and Performance Horse Association of NSW host their annual state championships at the Tamworth Paceway.
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Held in conjunction with Harness Racing NSW, the championships will see horse and rider combinations from across the state compete in a range of ridden, led and harness classes.
"For the past 25 yrs SPPHA NSW has been dedicated to rehoming standardbreds and promoting them as a versatile breed capable of excelling in all different disciplines," SPPHA NSW media and publicity officer Sarah Solomona said.
"Our adoption program has been the gateway for hundreds of horses to find their forever homes."
The organisation also sponsors shows and has extended their programs to sponsor riders who compete in endurance and dressage events in open competition as well.
"For the last two years we have also had a training program in place which has had great success in bridging the gap between the trainers and potential homes," Solomona said.
"We green back and desensitize these horses so they can go straight into work in their new pleasure riding homes."
The feature event will be the Harness Racing NSW Off The Track final, which will be held in the indoor arena from 6.30pm on Saturday night.
Run for the first time at last year's championships, Solomona said they have added more qualifiers this year.
Among those are last year's inaugural winners Connor Richardson and Diamond Park Khaleesi.
The action in the ring gets underway at 10am on Saturday following the fashions in the field, where the riders will dress up in their finery.
"It's the one event where the horse is the accessory," Solomona said.