Elise and Alvern perform at Sydney Equimillion

Elise Smith and Alvern jumped at the Equimillion in Sydney on the long weekend. Photo contributed

Bourke’s Elise Smith headed to Sydney over the long weekend, competing at the Equimillion event at the Sydney Equestrian Centre, thanks to sponsorship from the Back O’Bourke Picnic Race Club.

The Equimillion is a unique equestrian event, specifically for retired racehorses that have been rehomed and able to show the versatility of the thoroughbred horse.

NSW Racing provide $1 million in prize money so racehorses that have left the track can be retrained into a different discipline.

An experienced rider, 17-year-old Elise competes regularly at local shows and at the Sydney Royal Show.

At the Equimillion, Elise competed in the 1.20m jumping event on her horse Alvern, a 17-year-old racehorse originally owned by Bourke grazier and racing identity Douglas Egan during his racing career.

No sooner had Elise finished competing, she was back in the saddle, but her proud father, Shane Smith was happy to talk about his daughter’s experiences in Sydney.

“Elise competed in two jumping events at the Equimillion but had a couple of faults each time,” Shane said. […]

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