It was a season finale to remember for the Yukon Horse and Rider Association (YHRA).

The club hosted the Gold Rush Equine Open, the main event of the season, this past weekend.

It marked the last time the event will be held at the festival grounds off Range Road.

After more than 30 years at the site, the club will be re-locating next year as the Whistle Bend subdivision continues to expand.

"It was the very last one after 30 plus years so it was a very special event for us,” said Anne Lewis, chair with the events committee of the YHRA.

A new site is in place for next year but won't be officially announced until a lease is signed.

To commemorate the event and continue its movement towards diversifying the program, the YRHA hosted a special show on Saturday night; the Gold Rush Challenge.

Ten, three-person teams took part in the timed obstacle challenge which was sponsored by Horses Up North.

"The teams came in full costume and gained points by tackling obstacles,” said Lewis.

The riders competed one at a time and had two minutes to collect as many points as possible.

"We knew we wanted to do something special on Saturday night and this is what we chose,” said Lewis.

"It involves speed, athleticism, but a lot of it is just horsemanship and how well you know your horse.”

Leading the way was team Sinfully Sweet Cowgirls who tallied 1,950 points.

The team was composed of Angelique Bjork on Sonny's Best Yet, Howard Bjork on Kingsley and Amanda Dendy's on Santa De Mingo.

The best costume award was given to Tough Enough to Wear Pink Rodeo which featured Jeff Diment on Bandit, Sarah Diment on Jenny and Carolyn Campbell on Ebony.

The Gold Rush Equine Open features more than 100 classes and draws competitors from across the Yukon.

It was also the third Equine Canada sanctioned event of the season.

The YHRA hosted it first bronze medal sanctioned show in June and followed it up with the Silver Trail Hunter Show/Jumper Schooling Show last Friday.

The Bronze Bridle Dressage Show in June was the first Equine Canada sanctioned event in the Yukon.

"Seeing the difference in the riders from one event to the other and getting those two bronze medal shows was a big thing for everybody and a real highlight for us,” said Lewis.

"We saw a fair bit of improvement in most of the riders.”

The YHRA also opted to mix events together this year, giving riders a chance to mingle with different competitors and learn new skills.

"All the riders were able to hang out with each other and we got an extremely positive response from that,” said Lewis.

"We like to bring as many people together as possible. There is no such thing as just being an expert in horses, it's so varied and it's so different. Something we really like to do is bring people together from different backgrounds.”

Judging the Gold Rush Equine Open were Christine Collins and Ruth Fowler.

Collins has been a judge and clinician at events throughout Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, B.C., as well as to New York where she was a member of the judges panel for the University and College Students Games.

The YHRA is hoping the new site will continue to propel their movement towards expansion and attracting new members.

"We have serious competitions but we also try and hold some more fun events,” said Lewis, who noted the club's focus is on starting new traditions and new events.

"The new site has the opportunity to host many different disciplines of horseback riding.”

The YHRA also have many junior riders in the program that benefit from schooling shows throughout the season.

A judge from southern Alberta makes the trip to Whitehorse and provides feedback during mock competitions.

The YHRA will officially wrap the season with the Dash for the Cash events set for Aug. 4 and 25.