PG . 14
AQHA FEATURE ~ HALTER
should stick to Western shows ’. That comment was a direction-changing moment for Kellie . Unperturbed , she put Agricultural Shows behind them to embrace Western competition , a move proving great success !
Living at Nulkaba , Hunter Valley , NSW , is great , Kellie says . The gateway to some of Australasia ’ s top horse breeders , it ’ s central to the Western shows that she now regularly attends . A member of various clubs , Kellie attends many shows , the furthest north , Gatton , Qld and south , Tatura , Vic . Employed within the NDIS , for YouMatta Support Services , Kellie loves her work , coordinating the required support of their clients and maintaining the daily rostering of staff . She ’ s welcomed another lovely AQHA gelding into her life and talks about both horses with love and pride .
YELLA OAK aka Kid - Q-61683
‘ Yella Oak , with his arena presence , inspired me to show him at Halter . Quiet , loving and extremely smart , Kid gave me the courage to push myself , learn and gain confidence . We learned and now compete successfully in Show Hunter , Western Dressage , Dressage , Ranch Versatility and Ranch Riding . From our first Nationals and State shows , I was happy just to get a ribbon , but since becoming Australian , NPHA and Multi – State Champions , I realise we ’ ve come a long way , and I ’ m proud !’
Kid , a flashy bay roan gelding , has attracted a large following , but Kellie says that everything he does is on his terms .
‘ He ’ s like a box of chocolates — really lovely , but you just don ’ t know what you ’ ll get on the day . On show day he ’ ll decide if he wants to perform or not ! He ’ s my heart-horse , ticks all the boxes and has done incredibly well . I ’ m very proud of everything Kid ’ s achieved and is yet to achieve . Highlights would have to be winning his first Open Show Hunter Champion , his first ever State Title and show garland in Victoria , Reserve Australian Champion Show Hunter , Australian Champion Halter Gelding , and Australian High Point Halter Horse . My plan was to retire him from Halter as an 8yo and finish on a high . But every season it ’ s ‘ just one more year ’. Another eight years have passed and he ’ s still competing successfully and winning . Kid ’ s achieved all the major awards he can in Halter , so now , concentrating on his ridden classes makes so much sense .’
UNDISPUTABLE SCORE aka Scorsey - Q-96424
Two years ago , the pretty palomino , Undisputable Score , was sitting in a paddock . Kellie ’ s good friend told her she should buy him — so she did ! Unshown , Scoresy had no real education until Kellie prepared and trained him for Halter . Scorsey quickly went from a paddock pony to a Champion Halter horse , achieving two ROMS , National Grand Champion , NSW State Grand Champion and Grand Champion / Supreme Champion of numerous club shows . A proud Kellie says she ’ s excited for their future together .
‘ At the 2023 NSW Quarter Horse Championships , Scoresy won the State Champion Halter Gelding and
AUSTRALIAN QUARTER HORSE ASSOCIATION - WWW . AQHA . COM . AU