PG . 26
AQHA HORSE SHOW
ALMOST THREE YEARS IN THE MAKING - REINING AUSTRALIA -
HOSTS HISTORY MAKING 2022 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP SHOW
ARTICLE BY : KERRI BEHRENS © 2021 • PHOTO BY : KEN ANDERSON EQUINE PHOTOGRAPHY
ALMOST THREE YEARS IN THE MAKING AND THANKS TO COUNTLESS VOLUNTEER HOURS AS WELL AS THE ENDURING SUPPORT FROM OUR INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS , MEMBERS AND SPONSORS , THE SCENE WAS FINALLY SET FOR THE 2022 AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL REINING CHAMPIONSHIPS HELD AT AELEC IN JUNE 2022 .
Delivering the largest prize pool in the history of its National Show , including a staggering $ 176,000 in cash , Reining Australia proved its resilience in even the most difficult of times to grow from strength to strength .
With not one , but two $ 50,000 Gold Buckle Futurities on offer ! A $ 10,000 Open Derby , plus five stunning trophy saddles and a truck load of prizes up for grabs , over 100 horse and rider combinations from Victoria , New South Wales , Queensland and Western Australia threw their hat in the ring .
Tamworth turned on the best of its brisk winter mornings for the first day of competition and following a Competitor ’ s Briefing from Reining Australia Judges Susan Frost , Donnie McLaughlin and Darren Simpson ; it was our Para Reiners who kicked off the first of the show ’ s 363 runs .
It was an inspiring start to the National Show with congratulations to all our placegetters in the Australian Coloured Performance Horses and Breakoday Quarter Horses Para Reining Class . Champions Joselyn Dale and Hollywood Bar Chic , Reserve Champions Rebecca Webber and Windaradeen A Passin Pep , third Marlene Holahan and Freedom Patti Brown and forth Vicki Walters and ME Texas Red .
Next up was the Shiney And Nu Prime Time Non Pro with New South Wales rider Michelle Moore taking home the Backhouse Training Stables sponsored Champion Buckle with her lovely gelding Who Whiza Wimp . Always a crowd favourite , the Simply Sensational Garlands Freestyle saw Victoria ’ s Tommi
Rose Elliot and OP Whizzel Do perform the eighties classic ‘ Oh Mickey , you ’ re so fine ’ to win the Champion Buckle sponsored by Julie and Isobel Hughes .
The final class of Day 1 was an opportunity to showcase up and coming prospects in the $ 5,000 Freckled Leo Lena three year old Open Snaffle Bit Futurity and the $ 1,000 Freckled Leo Lena Non Pro three year old Snaffle Bit Futurity . Congratulations to New South Wales Trainer Graham Cooper and Lethal Little Lady who took home the Open Buckle sponsored by DCD Quarter Horses and Queensland ’ s Andrew Behrens and Smooth Little Step who took home the Non Pro Buckle sponsored by Griffin Equine Therapy - GET .
That night Reining Australia President Warren Backhouse welcomed competitors by showing off his cooking skills on the BBQ and creating a relaxed atmosphere to catch up with fellow Reiners from across state lines .
The strongly contested Gottagetagunner Novice Horse Open L1 , Neylon Performance Horses Novice Horse Open L2 , Gidgee Equestrian Eyewear Novice Horse Non Pro L1 and Back on Track Novice Horse Non Pro L2 were first up on Day 2 . Posting a commanding score of 213.5 with her mount NPH Chexy Nu It All , Queensland Trainer Ashleigh Backhouse claimed both the Ken Anderson Photography sponsored Novice Horse Open L1 Champion Buckle and the Open L2 Champion Buckle sponsored by Mullans Interstate Transport .
In the Non Pro Novice Horse it was Victoria ’ s Cameron Halliwell with a catch-ride on his wife Keiran ’ s horse Gunner Shake It who claimed both titles , taking home the beautiful
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