Who will claim this year’s Garryowen Perpetual Trophy? Tune in to watch the class live and free with Equestrian Life, or live and on demand with a ClipMyHorse.TV subscription.
The Garryowen Equestrienne Turnout will run from 9:30am to 12:30pm AEST.
History of the Garryowen
The Garryowen Equestrienne Turnout was first held in 1934 to honour the late Violet Murrell and her champion horse, Garryowen. Earlier that year, Violet tragically lost her life while attempting to rescue her beloved horses and dog from a devastating stable fire in Mentone, Victoria. She was just 29 years old.
A trailblazer in Australian equestrian sport, Violet enjoyed a career as a flat-race jockey, riding and winning against men, and was also a successful jumps jockey. Her horse Garryowen was a three-time Royal Melbourne Show Champion Saddle Horse.
The idea for the Garryowen Equestrienne Turnout was born during a gathering at the Police Depot in St Kilda Road, Melbourne, where friends of Violet discussed how best to honour her memory and that of her beloved horse. Through the Sporting Globe newspaper, members of the public contributed to the cost of purchasing the Garryowen Perpetual Trophy. Crafted by German-born sculptor Reinhold Kubart, the trophy features a 30-centimetre bronze statuette of Garryowen mounted on a marble and timber base. The winner is also presented with a blue sash fastened with a small photograph of Mrs Murrell riding Garryowen.
Only female riders aged 18 and over, riding horses over 14 hands, are eligible to compete. Competitors are rigorously judged across multiple categories, including riding ability, costume, saddlery, conformation and soundness, manners and paces and general appearance.
Read more: GARRYOWEN GREATS: REBECCA & PERCY – Equestrian Life, September 2026
Read more: GARRYOWEN GREATS: CAROLINE WAGNER – Equestrian Life, October 2025
Read more: SECOND GARRYOWEN A TEAM WIN FOR STEPH BARRINGTON – Equestrian Life, November 2024
