All the photos from the 45th Scone Horse Festival
The 45th Scone Horse Festival, a celebration of the Upper Hunter's affinity for prime equine bloodstock, began on Thursday night with a prayer.
Some 10,000 people were expected to attend the 10-day festival in the heart of Hunter horse country, which was slated to begin in earnest on Friday, May 9, but which opened with a religious service at St Andrew's Uniting Church on Thursday night, exalting the region's passion for its industry.
This year, organisers said, would be the first to include a stand-alone booking in the schedule acknowledging women in racing, attended by Magic Millions equine auction house founder Katie Page as a special guest.
The event, the centrepiece of which is the annual street parade scheduled for Saturday, has taken the theme "home is where the horse is" in its 45th iteration, and includes daily social and industry events, from equine demonstrations to farrier exhibits, a high tea at Gwandalan Stables to working dog trials.
The festival was established in 1980 to pay homage to all breeds of horses, including thoroughbreds, Australian stock horses and draught horses, as well as the men and women who work with them.
Jim Rodgers, Mike Pritchard, Barry Chapman and Brian Russell created Horse Week 45 years ago, and at the weekend Mr Rodgers said he was astonished at what the event had become.
"A lot of people back then thought we were crazy," he said. "Some people liked the idea, others didn't but I don't think anyone would believe what it has become today."
Festival President Jason Hill lauded the event and said it celebrated the region's deep ties to the best Australian horse lineages.
"Scone is the birthplace of over 50 per cent of Australia's Thoroughbred racehorses, and the Hunter Valley is internationally renowned as a champion breeding ground, recognised alongside Kentucky and Ireland," he said.
"That success, along with a community dedicated to showcasing their unwavering love of all things equine has undoubtedly helped to elevate Scone as the horse capital of Australia."
The two-day Scone Cup Carnival will round out the roster, beginning on Friday, May 16, at the Scone Race Club, touted as Australia's richest country racing carnival. It offers more than $2.5 million in prizemoney and a standalone metropolitan status, drawing punters from Sydney into the region.
Fireworks are expected to close the event on Sunday, May 18.
The complete festival program is available via the event's website.
The 45th Scone Horse Festival, a celebration of the Upper Hunter's affinity for prime equine bloodstock, began on Thursday night with a prayer.
Some 10,000 people were expected to attend the 10-day festival in the heart of Hunter horse country, which was slated to begin in earnest on Friday, May 9, but which opened with a religious service at St Andrew's Uniting Church on Thursday night, exalting the region's passion for its industry.
This year, organisers said, would be the first to include a stand-alone booking in the schedule acknowledging women in racing, attended by Magic Millions equine auction house founder Katie Page as a special guest.
The event, the centrepiece of which is the annual street parade scheduled for Saturday, has taken the theme "home is where the horse is" in its 45th iteration, and includes daily social and industry events, from equine demonstrations to farrier exhibits, a high tea at Gwandalan Stables to working dog trials.
The festival was established in 1980 to pay homage to all breeds of horses, including thoroughbreds, Australian stock horses and draught horses, as well as the men and women who work with them.
Jim Rodgers, Mike Pritchard, Barry Chapman and Brian Russell created Horse Week 45 years ago, and at the weekend Mr Rodgers said he was astonished at what the event had become.
"A lot of people back then thought we were crazy," he said. "Some people liked the idea, others didn't but I don't think anyone would believe what it has become today."
Festival President Jason Hill lauded the event and said it celebrated the region's deep ties to the best Australian horse lineages.
"Scone is the birthplace of over 50 per cent of Australia's Thoroughbred racehorses, and the Hunter Valley is internationally renowned as a champion breeding ground, recognised alongside Kentucky and Ireland," he said.
"That success, along with a community dedicated to showcasing their unwavering love of all things equine has undoubtedly helped to elevate Scone as the horse capital of Australia."
The two-day Scone Cup Carnival will round out the roster, beginning on Friday, May 16, at the Scone Race Club, touted as Australia's richest country racing carnival. It offers more than $2.5 million in prizemoney and a standalone metropolitan status, drawing punters from Sydney into the region.
Fireworks are expected to close the event on Sunday, May 18.
The complete festival program is available via the event's website.
The 45th Scone Horse Festival, a celebration of the Upper Hunter's affinity for prime equine bloodstock, began on Thursday night with a prayer.
Some 10,000 people were expected to attend the 10-day festival in the heart of Hunter horse country, which was slated to begin in earnest on Friday, May 9, but which opened with a religious service at St Andrew's Uniting Church on Thursday night, exalting the region's passion for its industry.
This year, organisers said, would be the first to include a stand-alone booking in the schedule acknowledging women in racing, attended by Magic Millions equine auction house founder Katie Page as a special guest.
The event, the centrepiece of which is the annual street parade scheduled for Saturday, has taken the theme "home is where the horse is" in its 45th iteration, and includes daily social and industry events, from equine demonstrations to farrier exhibits, a high tea at Gwandalan Stables to working dog trials.
The festival was established in 1980 to pay homage to all breeds of horses, including thoroughbreds, Australian stock horses and draught horses, as well as the men and women who work with them.
Jim Rodgers, Mike Pritchard, Barry Chapman and Brian Russell created Horse Week 45 years ago, and at the weekend Mr Rodgers said he was astonished at what the event had become.
"A lot of people back then thought we were crazy," he said. "Some people liked the idea, others didn't but I don't think anyone would believe what it has become today."
Festival President Jason Hill lauded the event and said it celebrated the region's deep ties to the best Australian horse lineages.
"Scone is the birthplace of over 50 per cent of Australia's Thoroughbred racehorses, and the Hunter Valley is internationally renowned as a champion breeding ground, recognised alongside Kentucky and Ireland," he said.
"That success, along with a community dedicated to showcasing their unwavering love of all things equine has undoubtedly helped to elevate Scone as the horse capital of Australia."
The two-day Scone Cup Carnival will round out the roster, beginning on Friday, May 16, at the Scone Race Club, touted as Australia's richest country racing carnival. It offers more than $2.5 million in prizemoney and a standalone metropolitan status, drawing punters from Sydney into the region.
Fireworks are expected to close the event on Sunday, May 18.
The complete festival program is available via the event's website.
The 45th Scone Horse Festival, a celebration of the Upper Hunter's affinity for prime equine bloodstock, began on Thursday night with a prayer.
Some 10,000 people were expected to attend the 10-day festival in the heart of Hunter horse country, which was slated to begin in earnest on Friday, May 9, but which opened with a religious service at St Andrew's Uniting Church on Thursday night, exalting the region's passion for its industry.
This year, organisers said, would be the first to include a stand-alone booking in the schedule acknowledging women in racing, attended by Magic Millions equine auction house founder Katie Page as a special guest.
The event, the centrepiece of which is the annual street parade scheduled for Saturday, has taken the theme "home is where the horse is" in its 45th iteration, and includes daily social and industry events, from equine demonstrations to farrier exhibits, a high tea at Gwandalan Stables to working dog trials.
The festival was established in 1980 to pay homage to all breeds of horses, including thoroughbreds, Australian stock horses and draught horses, as well as the men and women who work with them.
Jim Rodgers, Mike Pritchard, Barry Chapman and Brian Russell created Horse Week 45 years ago, and at the weekend Mr Rodgers said he was astonished at what the event had become.
"A lot of people back then thought we were crazy," he said. "Some people liked the idea, others didn't but I don't think anyone would believe what it has become today."
Festival President Jason Hill lauded the event and said it celebrated the region's deep ties to the best Australian horse lineages.
"Scone is the birthplace of over 50 per cent of Australia's Thoroughbred racehorses, and the Hunter Valley is internationally renowned as a champion breeding ground, recognised alongside Kentucky and Ireland," he said.
"That success, along with a community dedicated to showcasing their unwavering love of all things equine has undoubtedly helped to elevate Scone as the horse capital of Australia."
The two-day Scone Cup Carnival will round out the roster, beginning on Friday, May 16, at the Scone Race Club, touted as Australia's richest country racing carnival. It offers more than $2.5 million in prizemoney and a standalone metropolitan status, drawing punters from Sydney into the region.
Fireworks are expected to close the event on Sunday, May 18.
The complete festival program is available via the event's website.
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