AQHA MAGAZINE May / June 2020 AQHA May-June YB 2020 WEB LR | Page 29

PG.27
Ben, Kylie and the kids with
Cooldust - AQHA FM 24670
Photo by: Hickorwee Photography
Cooldust is not only a great athlete; she has an incredible mind and ability
to read cattle. She is a big yard Mare who likes to go to the front and can
handle the tough ones. She can step inside and outside of cattle before
you’ve thought about doing so. In saying that, she is not an easy ride, and
only very few have the honour to do so. She is bold and quick, and there
is no “I’ll have a steady run until I get used to her”... The Mare knows
where she needs to be, and you better have your game face on because she
is going to get the job done if you stick with her or not! She loosened Ben
many a time, including the second round of the Grandfather clock where
they had a 92 in round one. While it was a great laugh for everyone, it was
a bittersweet moment for Ben who hates to let her down.
Ben likes to tell the story of his daughter Courtney, who had to be propped
back up from Cooldust’s neck by the judge Mark Buttsworth at Paradise
Lagoons in the ladies. Ben’s top score on Cooldust was 94 in the Restricted
Open at Goondiwindi Show, where they had to run off with Shirley Lang
and Christine Hall.
Another memorable moment was winning the Warwick Gold Cup in 2012.
Ben had to ride off against a great mate, Terry Hall and ‘Conman.’ When
you stick with her, she makes it so easy; it’s magic!
A lifetime friendship and banter has been created through the sale of
Cooldust between the McNaughton’s and the Tapp’s. Bruce likes to imply
to Ben that he wouldn’t be any good without Cooldust and Ben likes to
remind Bruce he’s the silly bugger who sold her. I think it’s fair to say that
they are both proud of the Mare and her achievements.
Cooldust has been mostly sound throughout her career, and her will to
want to Campdraft and chase cattle has never faded. She turns 20 at the
end of the year, and Ben was hoping to get one last ride in at Willinga,
Condamine, Chinchilla and Warwick before retiring her and putting her in
foal this breeding season.
MAY/JUNE ISSUE ~ YEARBOOK 2020