A swag of jittery pony club kids saddled up for the ride of their life yesterday when a unique one-day event galloped into action at Araluen.

A joint initiative of the Moss Vale and Bundanoon pony clubs, the day provided the perfect platform for a host of nervous novices to tackle the gruelling Sutton Forest course.

58 young hopefuls from all corners of the state rode into town for the maiden running of the event that combined dressage, showjumping and cross country across four grades.

"It's a fantastic course and just a great opportunity for younger and less experienced riders to compete," Jan Chesterfield-Evans from Moss Vale Pony Club said.

"I'm sure there were a few butterflies for some of the competitors but we're trying very hard to encourage them and once they got going they had a lot of fun.

"Now the jumps are there for good hopefully this can be an annual thing."

Better known as the home of the prestigious Berrima Horse Trials, Araluen was specially modified for the pomy clubbers under the watchful eye of renowned course designer Vince Roche.

Roche, whose parents own the picturesque property, managed the three-day event at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games.

The course's fearsome Horseland water jump was tipped to cause to concern for the yound riders and their ponies but most competitors negotiated the jump well.

Course secretary Tina Stafford hailed the inaugural running of the event an overwhelming success.

"It was extremely successful and everyone enjoyed the new course," she said.

"The standard of riding was actually very good."

A late afternoon deluge caused a late finish for the young riders but all six grades were eventually decided with results as follows.

B-grade: Renee Morley (The Vines)

C-grade associate: Lyndall Deery (Cobbity)

C-grade: Mirella Buckler (Cobbity)

D-grade: Isabella Roche (Moss Vale)

E1-grade: Anna Moodie (Bundanoon)

E2-grade: Amy Grant (The Oaks).

Of the 58 riders entered, only seven lined up in B-grade with the remainder of the field contesting in the lower grades.

The began with the dressage phase testing the horses obedience and tractability.

Riders then had to tackle the showjumping phase followed by the gruelling afternoon cross country phase.

"Eventing is very

multi-faceted," Chesterfield-Evans said.

"The same horse has to be in harmony with their rider in dressage and also have the oomph for showjumping and cross country.

"It's like a triathlon for horses."