The Adelaide International Horse Trials was created in 1997 to replace the Gawler Horse Trials that had been staged in Gawler, north of Adelaide, since 1954.[1][citation needed] In its period as the Gawler Trials, it was a successful competition and was selected to host the Eventing World Championship in 1986. On this occasion the Australian Post Office issued a special set of commemorative postmarked covers featuring a set of four stamps called Horses of Australia.[citation needed]
The new 1997 event in the East Parklands began with a CCI3* (3-star) rating, but was subsequently upgraded to CCI4* in 2002, becoming the only such event in the Southern Hemisphere.[2]
In 2004, it was known as the Mitsubishi Adelaide International Horse Trials, being sponsored by Mitsubishi.[3]
In 2007, to celebrate its 10th anniversary and better reflect its international focus,[2] the event was renamed the Australian International Three Day Event, and was held at the end of November each year. From 2011 the Australian International became part of the FEI (Fédération Équestre Internationale) Classics series of events, for three years sponsored by HSBC.[4][5]
In 2019, the event was upgraded to CCI5* status.[2]
In 2022 the event was renamed the Adelaide Equestrian Festival and held in April each year.[2]
The event is held throughout the East Parklands in separate stages over three days. It is classified as a CCI5* by the international governing body FEI, meaning that it is highest level of eventing competition under the FEI banner. As of 2024[update] it is one of seven in the world, with the other taking place in the UK, France, Germany, and the US.[6]
The event is unique in being held in a city-centre, taking place in the Adelaide Park Lands.[3]
The dressage phase is held on Friday on the arena in front of the heritage-listed Victoria Park Grandstand. The cross-country phase is held on Saturday across the park lands and attracts the most spectators. The course starts in the arena in front of the grandstand, crosses Wakefield Road to Ityamai-itpina / King Rodney Park (Park 15) and then crosses Bartels Road into Rymill Park / Murlawirrapurka (Park 14) and then returns to the arena again. The cross-country course has been designed by Michael Etherington-Smith, who has designed courses for the Olympics in 2000 and 2008 and other CCI5* events, and more recently, by Australian Wayne Copping. The water jumps in Rymill Park are regarded as some of the most challenging in international competition. The final show-jumping phase is held on Sunday in the main arena in Victoria Park / Pakapakanthi (Park 16).[citation needed]
