2026 NUTRIEN YOUNG GUNS INCENTIVE WINNER
JESSICA SPOOR & YULGILBAR DUCK N DOWN Q-71336
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2026 NUTRIEN YOUNG GUNS CAMPDRAFT- AQHA OWNER INCENTIVE WINNER
PHOTO BY: NUTRIEN
2026 NUTRIEN YOUNG GUNS INCENTIVE WINNER
JESSICA SPOOR & YULGILBAR DUCK N DOWN Q-71336
AQHA INCENTIVES $ 1,000 CASH AS THE RIDER OF A HORSE IN A CURRENT FINANCIAL MEMBERSHIP SIRE: PLAYBOY ROY Q-31044 • DAM: BLITZEM DUCK Q-52119 OWNER: JAMIE SZKUDLARSKI • BREEDER: YULGILBAR QUARTER HORSE STUD
WHEN YULGILBAR DUCK N DOWN Q-71336 SURGED TO CLAIM THE 2026 NUTRIEN YOUNG GUNS CAMPDRAFT WITH JESSICA SPOOR IN THE SADDLE, IT WAS A WIN THAT RESONATED FAR BEYOND THE ARENA. FOR OWNER JAMIE, IT MARKED ANOTHER MILESTONE IN THE CAREER OF A HORSE HE DESCRIBES SIMPLY AS“ ONCE IN A LIFETIME.”
Behind the broad ribbon lies a story of careful breeding selection, raw intensity on cattle, and a partnership built on trust.
A PEDIGREE WITH PURPOSE Jamie’ s journey with Duck N Down began with a very specific vision in mind.
“ I contacted Yulgilbar Quarter Horses looking for a Playboy Roy colt with Acres Destiny lineage,” he explains.“ Duck N Down fit the criteria.”
It was a deliberate approach grounded in confidence in proven bloodlines. Breeding, Jamie believes, plays a defining role in producing elite campdraft horses. While he doesn’ t point to one single physical trait that sealed the deal, it was the overall package pedigree, type and potential that convinced him Duck N Down deserved a place in his program.
That confidence has since been more than justified.
A SPECIAL YOUNG GUNS MOMENT Watching Jessica Spoor pilot Duck N Down to victory in the 2026 Nutrien Young Guns Campdraft was, for Jamie, both thrilling and deeply personal.
“ It was an amazing moment,” he says.“ Having run some big scores on DND myself, I knew the excitement Jessica would be feeling. It was very special.”
Few owners have the perspective of having experienced the same horse’ s brilliance firsthand in major competition. Jamie understood exactly what Jessica would have been feeling as the scores came in the surge of adrenaline, the validation of preparation, the rare satisfaction that comes when horse and rider truly click.
In addition to their outstanding performance, the combination also secured the AQHA $ 1,000 Cash Owners Incentive for the highest-placed registered Australian Quarter Horse owned by a financial member a fitting accolade that further recognised both the quality of the horse and the strength of the breed she represents so exceptionally well.
TRUST, STYLE AND TEAMWORK The partnership between Duck N Down and Jessica may have seemed seasoned and effortless in the arena, but it was still relatively new in competitive terms.
“ Jessica had only had a couple of runs on him prior to this year’ s Nutrien Classic,” Jamie explains.
Australian Quarter Horse Association- www. aqha. com. au