Campdrafting
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Campdrafting is a unique and very popular Australian sport involving a horse and rider working cattle. The riding style is like that of Western riding and the event is somewhat related to the American horse show events of cutting, working cow horse, and team penning.
In the competition, a rider on horseback must "cut out" one beast from the mob of cattle in the yard or "camp" and block and turn that beast at least two or three times to prove to the judge that they have the beast under control; then push it out of the yard and through a course around pegs involving right and left hand turns in a figure eight, before guiding it through two pegs known as "the gate".
Up to a total of 100 points are scored by horse and rider: "Cut out" is worth a total of 26 points; horsework up to a further 70 points; and 4 points for the course.
The sport requires consummate skill and horsemanship, and the skill in selecting a beast from the mob that will run well, but is not too fast for that particular horse. Great prestige is bestowed on the winning rider and horse of the competition.
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[edit] History
It is thought the sport developed in outback Queensland among the stockmen and drovers in informal competitions to prove horse skills. The first formal campdrafting competition occurred in 1885. Competing at this event was Clarence Smith, a cattleman and stockhorse breeder near Tenterfield, in northern New South Wales. He went on to work out the rules and judging procedures that remain pretty close to the rules of 2005.
The Warwick Gold Cup is the premier event on Australia's campdraft calendar. Here around 1,800 camp drafters compete for prize money over about 6 days of competition. Walcha, NSW has held the National titles on several occasions as the district is one of the few towns able to supply the quantities of quality cattle needed for these big events.
Campdrafting has become a very popular family sport, sometimes with the husband, wife and a child competing on one horse in the ladies', junior and then in another event with the man up. There are 30,000 campdrafters (horses) currently (2008) registered and competing at various locations in Australia.[1]
The first sale of campdraft focused horses was held at the Landmark Classic Campdraft Sale, Tamworth on 24 May 2008. The 103 horses sold to $51,000 and averaged $10,456.[2]
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