Melbourne 3 Day Event
The Melbourne 3 Day Event has a long and proud history as the proving ground for many of our best Olympic horses and riders. For 52 years, M3DE has provided world class riders and horses with first class competition.
The Competition
Three Day Eventing is one of the toughest and most exciting equestrian sports. As the name suggests horses and riders complete the competition over 3 days, each day consisting of a different discipline or phase. Horses and riders must first complete a dressage test demonstrating Obedience & Discipline. On Sunday they need to be fit and athletic to complete a gruelling cross country course winding through the beautiful formal grounds of Werribee Park Mansion and the State Rose Garden. Finally all competitors must complete a course of show-jumps designed to test their agility and accuracy at speed.
International 3 Day Events are graded according to level of difficulty. The higher the grade the more complex and physically demanding each phase becomes. Stars are awarded to indicate the Event's Grade. Melbourne is a 3 Star Event, the second highest grade, only surpassed in difficulty by events such as the Olympic and World Equestrian Games. Plus annual CCI**** events: Badminton and Burghley Horse Trials in the UK, Rolex Kentucky in the US and Australian International 3 Day Event in Adelaide.
The Event
Spectators are well catered for with Dressage and Showjumping held in the comfortable indoor arena. Outdoor hospitality marquees on the Cross Country Course and an expanded trade village and food court ensure there is plenty to keep everyone occupied. Incorporating a great weekend of entertainment over the Queen's Birthday long weekend Melbourne 3 Day Event is not to be missed.
The Venue
Located only half an hour from Melbourne, Werribee Park is one of Victoria's premier tourist attractions. Well serviced by public transport the park is also home to Shadowfax winery, Werribee Mansion and the Open Range Zoo as well as the National Equestrian Centre. Guaranteed to be something for the whole family! Click for map to venue.
Olympic History
The first Australian competitors in equestrian were in the Eventing of the 1956 Olympics, which were held in Stockholm because of the strict Australian quarantine requirements for horses.
The first Australian medals were won in the Eventing at the Rome Olympics in 1960 with Laurie Morgan and Neale Lavis winning the gold and silver medals respectively in the individual contest before being joined by an injured Bill Roycroft to win the team event.
Bronze medals in the Eventing followed in Mexico City in 1968 and Montreal in 1976. Barcelona in 1992 saw Matt Ryan win the individual gold medal in the Eventing and with Andrew Hoy & Gillian Rolton win the team competition.
The Eventing team competition was won again in Atlanta in 1996 (Wendy Schaeffer, Andrew Hoy, Phillip Dutton & Gillian Rolton) and in Sydney in 2000 (Matt Ryan, Andrew Hoy, Phillip Dutton & Stuart Tinney). Andrew Hoy also won the silver medal in the individual event in Sydney.
