ANDREA Laws-King from Beaudesert will be saddling up at Stirling's Crossing Equestrian Complex at Imbil for the 2019 Equestrian Australia Championships endurance event this weekend.
Ms Laws-King will be riding her purebred French-trained Arabian Heathfields Bonnie for the 160 kilometre three-star endurance race, while also cheering on her other horse, Heathfields Prince, ridden by a New Zealand teenager in the youth section over the same distance.
"I recently competed in a similar event at Euston Park in the UK, it was 20 degrees with a bit of drizzle across private property," she said.
"My successful Fédération Equestre Internationale 160 ride in England qualified me for the World Endurance Championships in Italy in 2020.
"Stirling's Crossing will be a hard ride in comparison to the UK, with hot weather predicted for the day and the track is deceptively undulating."
Ms Laws-King said she had 30 year experience in endurance riding but had stepped back for the past eight years in order to focus on her daughter's riding career.
"She's married now and I thought it was time for me to get back into it," she said.
"This ride starts at 2am but we will be riding through the heat of the day in the forest where there's not much breeze."
After hosting the 2019 Tom Quilty Gold Cup in July the small country town in the Mary Valley will welcome more than 150 riders from across Australia including Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia and as far as New Zealand and United Arab Emirates to compete in the endurance race.
Event organiser Kim Moir said competitors would have the opportunity to compete in one or two of the nine rides being hosted over the two-day event, spanning between 20 kilometres and 160 kilometres in distance.
"This event will not only see the best riders take to the tracks of the Imbil State Forest - including the likes of recent Tom Quilty winner Kaylea Maher - but also offers the chance for less experienced riders to test their capabilities," Ms Moir said .
"This multi-ride event offers a challenge for all riders irrespective of their skill level, and of course our vigorous vetting system ensures all the horses remain in top condition to tackle the courses.
"With each rider expected to bring a team of two to three support crew to assist them over the weekend and many riders bringing families, we expect 400 to 500 visitors to converge on the complex over the long weekend.
"The Tom Quilty proved the quality of the tracks at Stirling's Crossing Equestrian Complex with one of the highest completion rates in the history of the event at 65 per cent - something we are very proud of given it's the highest completion rate in the Tom Quilty since 1981.
"The Imbil State Forest provides a fantastic menu of tracks offering all terrains and conditions, whilst also interacting with cattle, deer and all other wildlife."
Owner of Stirling's Crossing Equestrian Complex Matthew Sample said he would compete in this weekend's ride along with brother Brook Sample and nephews Zac and Matthew Junior.
"This is a family sport and the success of the Tom Quilty has continued to attract new riders across the age spectrum to the sport," he said.
"We are looking to maintain the momentum following the successful national event which was one of the biggest in the 54-year history of the ride, with close to 300 riders participating in the 160km event.
"I encourage anyone who has considered participating in endurance to get involved this weekend and experience it for themselves. It's you and your four-legged best friend taking on the course, it's a real thrill for anyone who loves horse riding."
Participants in the 160km FEI accredited ride include 17-year-old Ana Whithead travelling from New Zealand as well as the current Tom Quilty champion and local Imbil rider Kaylea Maher.
Organisers said there were currently 144 nominations with 33 of them registered to compete in the FEI events.
For more information, visit the stirlingcrossingendurance.asn.au.
