PG . 33
WORDS BY : LYN HOFFMANN © 2023 D PHOTOS BY : KENNETH SPRINGER / LEXI SMITH MEDIA / BRITTANY MCVICAR
RODEO IS COURTNEY HALLAM ’ S LIFE . BOTH HER PARENTS AND OLDER BROTHER , BLAKE , COMPETED . HER MUM , DIANNE , HER BIG INSPIRATION , WAS A SUCCESSFUL BARREL RACER , BREAKAWAY ROPER AND TEAM ROPER , AND HER FATHER DAVID WAS BOTH , AN AUSTRALIAN CHAMPION CALF & TEAM ROPER .
‘ Family , Friends & Faith ’
COURTNEY HALLAM
Originally from Tamworth , in NSW , Courtney now rides and trains horses daily in the USA — a little girl ’ s dream realised . But along with her parents , she ’ s also faced true heartbreak and grief . But the champion she ’ s become , supported by her family , friends and faith , has helped her get through .
‘ My parents gave Blake and I the mentality that the sky was the limit . As long as we worked hard , anything was possible . My Dad ’ s famous saying to us was ; ‘ Hard Work Creates Opportunities ’. That quote gives me the push to strive for my best , every day . From my first competition barrel race at around 2yo , I was Breakaway Roping at 13 . Blake & I were encouraged to do other sports , but during High School , we chose Rodeo . Mum ’ s barrel horse , JD , was my first competition horse , and through my Junior years , I gratefully borrowed Jessie Heinemann ’ s horse , Buddy . I later made Junior Finals on Parkinson ’ s great horse , Jet .’
When Courtney thinks back , she ’ s thankful her parents never bought her a trained barrel horse , as she ’ s learned there ’ s no greater feeling than training one ’ s own .
‘ They ’ d bought Wellsdale Electric Acres for my brother , Blake , to rope off . Blake called him ‘ Beaver ’ after World Champion Calf Roper , Joe Beaver . But when Blake and Beaver didn ’ t gel , he became mine . At 14yo , I started training Beaver in Barrel Racing , ending up ABHA Reserve Futurity Champions behind legendary barrel racer , Adele Edwards .’
Beaver took Courtney to the Junior National Finals in Barrels and Breakaway Roping ,
2023 AQHA YEARBOOK ~ MAY / JUNE ISSUE