The Cloncurry Stockman's Challenge: 11th - 14th July 2013. Visit: www.currychallenge.com.au for more info
The Cloncurry Stockman’s Challenge is regarded as one of the greatest horse events in Australia. Listed as one of the “150 Must Do Things” on Queensland’s 150th Anniversary Celebration Calendar, the Curry Challenge is an elite and prestigious event, drawing competitors from all states in to a fierce and thrilling competition.
The Stockman’s Challenge has become the bench mark for young performance horses in Australia: it was the beginning of a new era. The only other events of any similar stature were the Warwick Gold Cup and the NCHA Futurity. There were no other aged events with set patterns: The Stock Horse Futurities, Widgee Futurity, the Rocky Rush and the Maiden Series would all eventually follow the lead of the Stockman’s Challenge.
In those 20 years, the challenge achieved remarkable things for the Australian horse industry. It brought campdrafters, reiners and cutters together. It taught the industry that things that unite are far greater then things that divide. We began to put our prejudices behind us and started sharing our skills – which gave us the horse industry a greater resource of knowledge. The results now speak for themselves.
The Challenge has put its brand on our genetics: we are now producing better horses sooner. Originally, a horse was still considered young at 7 or 8 years old – and our good mares bred at 15 or 16 if at all. A stallion was usually 20 years before we know if his progeny were any good. The Challenge has changed all that.
Australia in recent years and the challenge has put its brand on that as well. Today, we are seeing great runs being made by horses that are still only 4 years old – and they can do this because of improved genetics – and improved training technique.
- Category:
- Farming/agriculture