By Tricia Mifsud
THE inaugural Central Victorian Equine Market is set to call Lancefield Park its home, bringing together equestrian enthusiasts for a day full of all things horses products and services.
Market organiser Stacey Groves has ridden horses all her life and noticed the lack of a market specific for those in the equestrian industry to come together.
“Central Victorian Equine Market is a market for all businesses and second-hand horse gear holders to come together, being a specific equine market offering coaches to have a stall, feed, supplements, saddlery, clothing, anything equine,” she said.
Being a business owner of Lucky Kids Equine clothing and accessories, Ms Groves wanted to provide a market that was regular and accessible for businesses, but also one that was affordable for small businesses to attend.
“You have your farmers’ markets every month, and second-hand gear markets but that doesn’t really target businesses and so I wanted an ongoing, cheaper and affordable market to happen for all other equestrian businesses,” she said.
“There’s events like Equitana that runs once every two years but for a business to go to that, it’s a minimum $3500 to $4000 outlay just to trade so as small businesses, people can’t afford that whereas Central Victorian Equine Market is giving everyone the opportunity to trade to the targeted audience.”
Ms Grove is currently liaising with stallholders to see how regularly the market should run – every quarter, six months or yearly.
The market will give the region’s equestrian groups the opportunity to fundraise, with a sausage sizzle to be coordinated by a different group each time.
Ms Groves is looking for businesses to host a stall at the market and welcomes people to reach out should they have any questions or would like to register for a stall.
With 1200 people responding as ‘attending’ on the Facebook event for the market, Ms Groves encouraged all equestrian-related businesses to take on the opportunity to reach a large consumer base.
Central Victorian Equine Market will be at Lancefield Park on March 26, from 10am to 4pm.
or email cvemarketbookings@gmail.com.
