Tauranga's award winning para-equestrian Jodie Thorne and her support crew are heading for this week's Equidays to gain tips ahead of the team's next big competition at Labour Weekend.

The award-winning rider, who in March this year won the Grade One Para-Equestrian Dressage Championship at the Horse of Year, is one of thousands of riders making the trek over to Hamilton this week.

Jodie Thorne hopes to gain tips from clinicians at this week's Equidays to help her next dressage competition on San Mateo Tech Effects.

'I've made a list of all the clinics I want to go to and I'm also on the lookout for a new saddle,” says Jodie.

She and her horse San Mateo Tech Effects are to compete in the Bay of Plenty Dressage Championships in Taupo in the three days from October 26 to 28.

Jodie's contingent will be among the thousands of visitors, more than 400 horses and some of the country's top riders, expected at the Mystery Creek Events Centre for Equidays from October 18 to 20.

While only in its third year, Equidays is already acknowledged as a world-class equine event and visitors can expect three packed days of all things equine, plus two impressive indoor night shows, says Vicki Annison from Mystery Creek Events Centre.

'Mystery Creek Events Centre's 113 hectare property is well suited to large multi-day events but still requires a unique infrastructure for Equidays; including the creation of four demonstration areas and a derby course.” The multi-discipline arenas set up around site include a 40m x 70m indoor sand arena and a 50m x 70m outdoor sand arena.

Well known Fieldays landmark, the Tractor Pull area, will include part of the derby course - set up in association with Showjumping Waikato. The Hyundai Horse Derby takes place on Saturday afternoon and the $10,000 first prize and chance to ride in the thrilling event has attracted top New Zealand riders such as: Katie McVean, Donna Smith, Maurice Beatson, Sarah Broughton, Matthew Gilmore, Samantha Felton, Vicki Wilson, and young gun Logan Massie.

Jeff McVean, who has competed in three Olympic Games for Australia, is among the clinicians at this weekend's Equidays at Mystery Creek.

'On Sunday the derby course will see up to 50 young riders competing in the Honda Pony Derby.

'The derby events are a rare feature on the NZ equine calendar and visitors are urged to come and view these high intensity, fast paced competitions,” says Vicki.

Visitors can take advantage of an exciting new feature for Equidays 2013 and get their ‘bums on saddles' on one of the bookable horse treks departing the event four times a day and featuring a visit to the local winery for drinks and nibbles. Visit www.equidays.co.nz/activities for more information and to pre-book a trek.

Clinicians featuring at Equidays 2013 are: Adelinde Cornelissen; Katie and Jeff McVean; Sean Cubittt; Mark Chamberlin; Vicki Wilson; Christine Weal; Sarah Milne; Bryan McVicar; Donna Smith; Simone Kann; Ken and Jane Dromgool; Jody Hartstone; Trisha Wren; Leigh Wills, Sally King and Equus Education; and Jo Evans.

Equidays is endorsed by Equestrian Sports New Zealand and Sir Patrick Hogan. The event patron is Sir Mark Todd.

Katie McVean, who represented NZ at the Beijing Olympics in 2008 and has won every title at the NZ Horse of the Year, is among the clinicians at Equidays.