Entry-level riders kicked off the 2017 Reining Australia National Championships under the eye of judge Debra Versluis on Tuesday afternoon in the Thomas Arena Products Green Rider classes . More than 50 competitors used the relaxed Green Rider rules , riding two-handed and with optional simple lead changes , to get the feel of a reining show at the national level . Sarah Rawson-Harris and Mississipis Destiny won the buckle for Green Rider Level 1 . Craig Hall , riding Wimpys Little Terminator , outscored the other Level 2 Green Riders to take out the top spot in this class .
Our international judges , Joe Hayes and Alessandro Milani , took their places early on Wednesday morning for the largest draw of the show when 70-odd horses contested the Xtreme Genes Novice Horse classes . The Novice Horse Non Pro Level 1 buckle went to Anthony Ross and Einsteins Revelation . The winner of the Novice Horse Non Pro Level 2 class was decided by a run off between Lee Thomson riding
Eskdale West Judgement Day and Denise Milgate on RKN Two Eyed Kid with Lee and Judgie proving the victors . Yves Cousinard and Spin Me Please came up with the double for the Novice Horse Open classes , taking home the buckles for both Level 1 and Level 2 .
The feature event on Wednesday afternoon was the Ed Smith Reining and Performance Horses Snaffle Bit Futurity . Cameron Halliwell and Shine It Up a Notch won the Non Pro division while John Wicks rode Onya Shiney Nu Toy into first place in the Open division . This was a great finish to the first full day of the show and was an exciting sneak peek at the calibre of the 2017 Futurity horses .
The Hygain Rookie Level 1 and Level 2 opened Thursday ’ s program with another big draw of more than 50 horse and rider combinations for the judges to consider . Sharon Leddington-Hill and Migs Shez Dynamite showed their heels to the opposition with a convincing win in the Rookie Level 2 . Sharon ’ s score of 144 in this class was the highest score by a Non Pro rider at the show . The Rookie excitement continued with a run off for the Rookie Level 1 buckle between Sarah Rawson- Harris on Mississipis Destiny and eventual winner Kasey Bogie riding Lyrics Custom Corey .
The very well supported Mr 4X4 Freestyle class followed after the break . Chris Gould outperformed a posse of youth riders to win this event on Malibu Lena . Thursday was rounded off with the running of the K Ranch Open and K Ranch Non Pro with 35 of the best and bravest horses and riders in the country . Cameron Halliwell and Gottagetagunner top-scored in both the Open and the Non Pro . It was an emotional moment when he was awarded the Michelle Halliwell Memorial trophy for his win in the Non Pro class .
Another draw of more than 50 horses opened the program on Friday with the Intermediate Non Pro , Southern Cross Saddlery Intermediate Open and Southern
Page 30 • The Australian Quarter Horse Magazine • November • December • 2017