30
FEATURE: SADDLED IN SPIRIT: THE UNSHAKABLE PARTNERSHIP OF JASON AND MOYA RUSSELL
MEET FLYNN: THE HORSE WITH HEART
Home bred, raised and trained Tellhimhesdreamin Q-99072, is the kind of horse every rider dreams of. Known around the yard simply as Flynn, this black stallion is soft, smart, and eager to work. He’ s the horse that waits by the gate, almost asking to be saddled up.“ He’ s got a motor but a mind to match,” Jason says proudly.“ He just loves his job.”
Jason and Flynn have built their bond slowly, with patience and purpose. And despite Jason’ s self-described tendency to overthink, particularly in the pen, he credits his progress to working with mindset coach Gil Friedman.“ Gil changed everything. I used to be a mess on show day. Now, I can ride for the love of it again.”
Flynn now stands at stud and represents not only Jason’ s growth as a trainer but the future of their breeding program.“ He’ s everything we aim to produce— talented, quiet, trainable, and just loves his job,” Jason adds.“ Watching him grow and develop has been one of the most rewarding parts of this journey.”
A LOVE STORY IN BOOTS AND SPURS
Their love story is equally captivating. Jason met Moya through her brother’ s best mate, but it took a party at Moya’ s family farm for sparks to fly. In true Aussie fashion, Jason was initially cracking onto Moya’ s friend.“ The penny dropped,” Moya laughs.“ I just knew he was the one.”
They were young— Jason just 20 and Moya a year older— and they ' ve been side by side ever since. Horses, farm life, and reining have become the fabric of their shared identity. Over the years, their property has grown into a haven for horses and cattle, where training and love go hand in hand.
Today, that bond is the foundation of a family steeped in reining and country values. Jason, a pump operator at a mine, rides after 12-hour shifts. Moya, a registered nurse on extended leave after nearly four decades of service, keeps their world running smoothly while advancing her own horsemanship.
THE HIGHS, THE LOWS, AND THE LESSONS
Jason and Moya have seen it all— the wins, the flops, the unforgettable moments. One of Jason ' s proudest was watching Moya score a personal best on Wiggy, a mare trained by Jason but reprogrammed by Moya to suit her softer style.“ We both burst into tears. It was a 69.5. That run meant more than any buckle.”
And then there’ s the infamous hat story.“ He ran( Jason) down for a stop and his hat flew off,” Moya laughs.“ Landed upright on the horse’ s rump and stayed there for the rollback. Classic.”
But not every show ends in celebration. One difficult moment came when Jason patted Flynn mid-run and was penalised for it.“ At the time, it was gutting,” Moya says.“ But we reminded ourselves: the run was brilliant. The horse was brilliant. That’ s what matters.”
For Jason, it was a turning point.“ I used to be hard on myself. But now, I focus on the ride. That day, even with the penalty, I was proud of what we’ d achieved together.”
RIDING TOGETHER, SEPARATELY
Jason isn’ t a full-time trainer— though many assume he is. He works 12-hour shifts as a pump operator in a mine,
Australian Quarter Horse Association- www. aqha. com. au