ON a packed weekend that included the election, Muswellbrook Railway Station's 150th anniversary and the local Fire and Rescue NSW Open Day, plenty of people still made time for St Heliers Heavy Horse Field Days.
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More than 1200 attended the annual event, which demonstrated the skill and beauty of heavy horses and their abilities.
The working class challenges were the highlights of the festival, with riders young and old complimenting the design, according to committee president Lindsay Vonbun.
"It lived up to all the expectations we were hoping for," he said.
"All the challenges really blew some of the competitors out of the water, which is what we wanted to do.
"We put up one of the most challenging and best presented working class courses on the east coast of Australia if not Australia as a whole."
He also believes that by using real bushland as part of the challenges as opposed to just "witches hats", they generated some authenticity the audience wasn't used to but appreciated.
"They were pretty thrilled with the way it was presented as well and being so close to the action," Mr Vonbun said.
"We had it more natural where we had bush and logs and it was as close to real as what you can out at a field day."
While they were hoping for more people to come through the gates, the president still called the event a success and said the attendance was "nothing to be sneezed at".
As an annual event, it's difficult to keep the crowds entertained but with praise like they've received this year its reputation should draw in extra numbers in the future.