SUPERMARKETS and fuel retailers are trying to get out of obligations to accept cash payments under new industry codes introduced by the Federal Government, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has confirmed.

THE Currency Creek Horse Trials has delivered another chapter in the event’s growing reputation for excellence on the South Australian eventing calendar.

RIDDELLS Creek in the Macedon Ranges of Victoria continues to be one of the most popular eventing destinations in the state for both pony club and open riders.

STRONG fields across all divisions highlighted the depth of local talent and growing interstate presence at this year’s Equestrian South Australia State Showjumping Championships at Talunga Park, Mount Pleasant.

The 2026 Interschool state team championship for Victoria has been won by Braemar College, with Tyler Gamble, Lily Clear-Graham, Summer Doyle Astin Leggett riding for the win. Toorak College’s Abbey Restall, Lucy Charlton, Ruby Rose Eurell and Lara Gomez were reserve champions and Haileybury’s Ethan Sipthorpe-Foster, Pearl Hodson, Zara Woods and Maddison Mcglynn placed third.

In a stunning act of betrayal, the Liberal and National parties have back-flipped on a commitment made in the Senate just seven days earlier and voted with Labor to scuttle a motion that would have relegated the Government’s problematic cash mandate regulations to history.

ANYONE trying to understand why regional Australians are turning their backs on the major parties need only look at what happened when a motion to disallow the Government’s problematic cash mandate regulation came up for vote in the Senate this week.

EXPECT shenanigans.” This ominous warning was included when news came this morning that the debate on the motion to disallow the Albanese Government’s controversial cash mandate regulations had been scheduled to continue in the Senate today.

THE National Clydesdale and Heavy Horse Festival has once again shaken the earth at Werribee as the world’s much-loved working breeds were shown off in hand, under saddle and in harness.

THE 57th Barastoc Horse of the Year Show at Victoria’s Werribee Park National Equestrian Centre ran like a well-oiled machine, with organisers and volunteers receiving all-round praise for their efforts pulling of yet another premier event.

HIGH temperatures did not deter competitors at this year’s Victorian Show Horse Council’s Horse of the Year Show for 2026, with big fields turning out in all sections to contest the annual championships.

REG Cleland has been recognised for 60 years of service to equestrian sport with an Order of Australia medal in this year’s Australia Day Honours list.

LOVE it, hate it or don’t even understand it, Bendigo Bank’s multi-million dollar “Better Big Bank” marketing campaign has raised a lot of questions since its launch seven years ago, but as 2025 draws to a close it finally has one hard fact to hang its hat on.

THE Horse Riding Clubs Association of Victoria continues to provide grassroots equestrian competitors with a happy place, with members riding serenely on, untouched by the turmoil making headlines at the elite level of the sport.

MAJOR-BRAND supermarkets and fuel retailers in bankless towns could be eligible for exemptions from the Federal Government’s proposed cash mandate regulations under exceptional circumstances provisions, an official from Treasury confirmed today during Senate Estimates hearings.

THE Royal Geelong Show continues to offer a gold-standard horse program, presenting a traditional range of classes over the four-day event.

THERE are fatal flaws the Federal Government’s draft cash mandate laws and they can be traced back to the Government’s refusal to respond to senate recommendations to fix the banking crisis in regional Australia.

THERE have been few horses more talked about in the show world over the past few years than Simone Padoin’s elegant black gelding, Wynara Signature, aka Orlando.

THE show horse classes at the Royal Melbourne Show for 2025 have been run and won, with quality in all sections and some new faces.

TRADITION is still strong in the heavy horse section at the Royal Melbourne Show and what they lack in numbers from days gone by is made up for in the quality of the exhibits.