The early chill is in the air so what better time for another road trip, this time in the hunt for autumn leaves. Now don’t get confused as the following is not a story of the amazing colours of autumn (that will be for another post) but a serendipitous side trip to not one, but two horse events that we stumbled upon – the Nundle Campdraft and the National Cutting Horse Association event at Scone.
Horses, drovers and stockmen have played a pivotal role in the history of this country. Over 100 years ago the pioneering stockman relied on their skills, and that of their horse, to muster thousands of head of cattle on the open plains of the Australian outback.
One skill essential for any stockmen was the need to separate or ‘cut out’ a cow from the rest of the mob (herd). This might be to remove it to another holding yard or carry out branding or some other procedure with much protest from the cow. With natural instincts to huddle together, it not only takes patience and skill to separate the cow, but even more to prevent them from doing everything they can to return to the mob.
What was an essential tool of the trade, quickly became a competition between riders to see who could do this the quickest. It has now transitioned to a modern day sport testing horse and rider against the cattle.
While the process of ‘cutting’ is not unique to Australia, Campdrafting has similar origins but could be claimed to be one of our own. One rumour is that the original competition was one station owner who thought he had a better stockman than another so they put some money up and the contest was to cut 20 head of cattle out of one yard and take them 300 or 400 yards individually and put them in another yard. While there is no doubt this probably occurred acorss many stations, the first formal Campdrafting competition was held at the Tenterfield Show in 1885. I have copied an extract of what happens in a Campdraft below.
“One mounted rider moves into a small yard, called a camp, and selects one beast from a small mob of cattle. He or she then proceeds to move the beast towards the camp opening – which is blocked by two gates. The mounted rider blocks and turns the beast several times across the face of the camp. When the rider feels they have shown the Judge enough of their horse’s ability to hold the beast clear of the mob, they call for the gates to be opened so they can take the beast out into a much larger area to complete a course.
The course consists of two pegs (usually small trees) set apart, one on the left and one on the right, directly out from the front of the camp. Some distance from these pegs are another two pegs that are set close together and represent the gate. The judge declares at the beginning of competition whether the course is left hand or right hand. If the course is right hand the rider must complete a circle around the right hand peg first, then changeover in the middle and complete a circle around the left hand peg. The rider then drives the beast out behind the gate and pushes it through the gate. At this point, the rider has finished the ‘run’, which must be completed in less than 40 seconds.
The scoring is out of 100 points. The camp section carries a maximum of 26 points, the course, a maximum of 4 points and a further 70 points can be allocated for horsework. ”
Sitting watching rider and horse manipulate the cow around poles and through gates, it did not take long before we were almost professionals, scoring the good riders from the unfortunate who’s beast got the better of them.
We watched (and photographed) for several hours the dance between the beast, the rider and the horse, dust filling the air as each rider made their run.
While photographing the action in the ring was exciting, it did not take me long to get distracted with the smaller things that make these types of event unique.
At the heart of any event is the people. The organisers, the riders, the spectators, the families and kids. What i love about this is that it is a family event. It does not take long to see several generations of the one family all sharing their passion for campdrafting. From the smallest child in boots and a hat 5 sizes too big, to the old wiry grandfather who has mustered more herds over thousands of kilometres than he can remember. It is the coming together of not only families, but whole communities.
Events such as these often rely on volunteers and everyone gets involved. Even the canteen is looked after by a group of elderly ladies who no doubt, are active in the Country Womens Association.
Having grown up in the ‘big smoke’ I think we have lost a broader sense of community and looking out for each other. Breaking down on the side of a country road, it would not be long before not only someone stops to see if you need a hand, but equally likely, a willingness to not only help repair your car but then take you back to their place for dinner. You can only dream of this as you stand on the side of a busy city road with thousands of drivers, eyes fixated in front of them on their rush to where ever they are going, hardly glancing at the stranded driver.
(A special thanks to Emma for taking the time to share her knowledge and experience when we stopped to chat. It is people like this that demonstrate the friendliness and warmth of those that live in the country)
One thing that is ever present, no matter the age or gender, is the essential broad brimmed hat that is permanently affixed to everyone’s head.
As Aussie icons go, the Akubra hat is as well recognised as the Sydney Harbour Bridge or Vegemite. In 1874 Benjamin Dunkerley arrived in Tasmania from England and decided to start a hat making business in Hobart. It was not long before he realised he could use cheap rabbit felt, which continues today. The trade name "Akubra" came into use in 1912 and is now to be found in nearly every ute, truck or 4WD in the outback.
Traditionally the hat of choice for anyone in the country, these are slowly being replaced by ‘trucking caps’ and American Cowboy Hats’. A part of me is sad to see this small emblem of Australia being consumed by global forces.
They say a hat tells a lot about the person. While the following photographs may not reveal the full story, there is no doubt they are a quintessential part of who we are as a country.
A lot of emphasis is placed on the skills of a rider, but all good horseman know that it their trusty ride that can make all the difference.
Campdrafting requires a horse with a multitude of skills. It needs to have the intelligence to read the movement of cattle, the athletic ability in the camp, the ability to gallop fast to rein in any loose beast, the ability to stop and turn on a dime, all while remaining responsive to the rider's control.
The Australian Stock Horse is the ideal mount that meets these demands. The history of the breed began with the arrival of the First Fleet which brought the first horses to Australia in 1788. Through successive breading they developed the strength and stamina to survive and work in the harsh Australian environment.
Explorers, stockmen, settlers, bushrangers and WW1 troops all relied on these magnificent animals, some of them becoming folklore in stories such as The Man from Snowy River and Clancy of the Overflow.
Another essential companion is the working dog. Every good ute will have a kelpie or cattle dog hanging off its back tray.
The origins of the blue heeler, or Australian cattle dog, are mired in myth and mystery but it is believed to be the offspring of a dingo and an English drover's cur. It's believed to be the only instance in the world where a wild dog has been bred with a domestic dog to achieve an easily trainable working offspring. There are similar stories of the origin of the Australian kelpie being developed by crossing the Scottish collie with the dingo. While there may be no certainty in its origin, what is known is that a lot of farms would be lost without them.
Walking through the sea of horse floats, there are many other ‘tools of the trade’ that accompany any rider. The smell of leather from the freshly dubbined saddles, the boots and spurs to both protect and control the rider and the assortment of bridles and leads - each one bearing the marks of hundreds of rides.
And finally, i cant forget you cant dance without a partner. And in campdrafting, the partner is the cow. for any good score to be achieved you need to select a cow that will bring out the best of both horse and rider. They can’t be slow or easy or the scores will be low. They also can’t be scattery or nervous as they will not be able to be controlled. Like a good dance, it is the pulsating relationship between both where the magic occurs.
All of the above photos were from the Nundle Campdraft. Below are some more images from the Scone Cutting. While I would have loved to get more photos from the ‘Cutting’ (there is a story there I wont get in to) it did not have the rawness and friendliness of Nundle campdraft. Maybe they will invite me back to actually do a positive story in the future.
