Situated in picturesque Central West NSW near Orange, the Matar Bullio Cup draws riders and horses of all endurance levels from across Australia, and internationally.
Hosted by Canobolas Endurance Riders Inc on the 2026 October long weekend (3-5 October), the Matar Bullio Cup not only features something for everyone, but an opportunity for the sport’s top riders to qualify to represent their country.
Alongside the Australian Endurance Riders Association 20km, 40km, 80km, 100km, 120km and 160km events, there’s also international standard 100km, 120km 160km youth and open FEI rides.
Committee member Annette Bailey said running the international and domestic rides alongside one another gave endurance athletes the opportunity to see first-hand how they could progress beyond Australian borders in a sport that is hugely popular internationally.
“Australia is very well respected overseas in a sport that is hugely popular internationally and rides such as the Matar Bullio Cup provides the opportunity to improve their qualifications in the international arena,” she said.
“It brings a whole different dimension to the sport. It encourages people to prepare their horses and themselves to qualify to ride overseas. It is just another facet of the sport.”
Endurance rides are split into sections and, no matter what country or banner they fall under, horses are required to undergo veterinary inspections at the end of each section in order to progress. Their vital signs, including heart rates, are checked and they are inspected for signs of illness or injury.
Having FEI and AERA rides at the same event simply gives riders another option to compete at an international level, while the regular AERA competition continues as normal. The two can run side by side without affecting the domestic competition.
“This ride provides opportunity for people to learn how to ride under the Vet Gate into Hold system of vetting which is also used at all State Championship events and the Tom Quilty Gold Cup National Championships in Australia, as well as at all oversea endurance events,” Mrs Bailey said.
“It is not hard, just different and provides a vetting standard that means that horses of similar fitness end up travelling together.
“The communal strapping or crewing area, set up by the ride organisers, means that horses are not doing the bulk of their strapping back at their camps, as is standard at most Australian endurance rides. After their horses are inspected by a member of the veterinary team, they can then return to their camps, to eat and rest before going back out to complete their next leg or loop of their ride.”
As for the rides themselves, there will be the introductory 20km ride which caters for newcomers and young horses as well as the 40km training level ride.
All rides though, will travel through beautiful farmland and forestry.
“The tracks are beautiful,” Bailey said.
“They are travelling through forestry country, with a lot of the legs taking them into farming country which ordinarily would not be accessible without entering the event.”
“It is a great course and has been very well received by all who have ridden it since the inception of the event in 2018. The feedback is amazing.”
Outside of time in the saddle, the Canobolas club has added some social aspects to keep that feeling of camaraderie endurance is known for.
“Since it’s a long weekend, people arrive, set up their camps and organise their horses. Then the tradition is on Friday night everyone is welcome to sit around the communal campfire, listen to music, relax and chat before the activities of the ride start the next day.” Mrs Bailey said.
For more information or to enter, visit aeraonline.com.au.
For more information on endurance riding in NSW and to view coming rides in your area, visit nswera.asn.au.
