THE proverbial horse had bolted well before this year’s 125th annual Traralgon Show, when equestrian events were forced off the card due to showground conditions, but the show went bravely on in their absence.
A country music concert on Friday night, a visit from Santa Claus and a robust fireworks display were spectacles in their own right, but little could fill the equine void with attendance numbers down by about half on last year’s carnival.
“We added extra things to it like we had country music and that went really well, the weather was kind which was really good for Saturday; what we planned went well to compensate for it but it still doesn’t cover it,” Traralgon and District Agricultural Society secretary and show organiser Lorraine Anderson said.
“The horses carry us, they’re a big part of our event.
“I think we did pretty well for what we had but for our 125th it would have been better with our horses.”
Horses were cut from this year’s program due to a Latrobe City Council upgrade of the main oval at Traralgon Recreation Reserve.
Council has agreed to reimburse the agricultural society for lost revenue on equestrian events.
Ms Anderson thanked the platoon of volunteers and committee for their efforts in making the show “the best they could” under the circumstances.
