PG . 11
CASEY
SANDERS AQHA HIGH POINT YOUTH BARREL 2019
ARTICLE BY : JODIE ADAMS © 2020 V PHOTOS BY : PEYTON HOPE PHOTOGRAPHY & FAMILY ALBUM
This young lady was born to ride , introduced to horses from an early age , attending gymkhanas then progressing to flat riding , which is the necessary background to any discipline .
Asuccessful competitor in the art of Dressage , Casey Sanders turned her hand at Rodeo and has excelled in this field too . Casey ’ s love of horses and the land sees her currently studying an Advanced Diploma of Agriculture full time at Longerenong Agricultural College .
“ My mum was always into horses , so I was around them from a very young age . I was fortunate enough for my parents to give me my first pony , which I rode alongside my mum for years on the farm before I got serious with anything . She took me to gymkhanas from a young age , and that ’ s where it all started ,” recalls Casey .
“ I was always an English rider . I ’ ve always competed in showing and Dressage from a young age . Once I turned ten years old , I really focused on Dressage and got to quite a high level in the discipline . I always loved Dressage , the training involved , and the consistency you must have , but after a while , I needed a change . I ’ ve always loved the sport of Rodeo ; I just never had the chance to get into it . I knew friends that were in the sport and continually annoyed them with many questions on how to get into the sport .”
“ We had a young palomino gelding we bred sitting in the paddock who wasn ’ t doing much . We had bred ‘ Zippos Perpetual Luck ’ better known as ‘ Toby ’ who is by ‘ Perpetuality ’ out of mum ’ s quarter horse mare ‘ MQH Zippo Lucky Choice ’. He was broken in as a Dressage horse and had the ability to excel in the discipline , but there was so much sprint and agility to him , and in his bloodlines , I couldn ’ t resist but get him onto the barrels . We trained each other really , with the help from people we met at local jackpots we attended , that ’ s where our journey started .”
At the age of 16 , Casey attended her first Jackpot at BFM Horse events and shortly after attended her first Rodeo in Simpson , Victoria . During rodeo season , Casey is competing every weekend all over the state , “ this would definitely be the best time of the year for me .”
NOVEMBER / DECEMBER ISSUE 2020