EMMA WEBB & WESTERN ACRES A2-3875
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2025 AQHA INCENTIVES- NUTRIEN CLASSIC SALE & CAMPDRAFT
2025 NUTRIEN PRYDES EASIFEED PERFORMANCE HORSE CHALLENGE CHAMPION
EMMA WEBB & WESTERN ACRES A2-3875
OWNER: EMMA WEBB • BREEDER: R & R BRADLEY
IN 2024, EMMA WEBB RODE WESTERN ACRES A2-3875 TO RESERVE CHAMPION IN THE NUTRIEN PERFORMANCE HORSE CHALLENGE. BUT EMMA WAS DETERMINED TO RETURN IN 2025 TO WIN THE EVENT.
WORDS BY: LYN HOFFMANN © 2025 • PHOTO BY: BRIE STANGER PHOTOGRAPHY
They’ d made the 2025 final, and Emma Webb hoped it would be one of the most exciting rides of her life on board her stallion, Western Acres. Stepping through the gate of AELEC arena, Westy’ s ears pricked, the horse calmly anticipating what was ahead. Obeying Emma’ s cue, as she aimed for a great pattern, Westy loped off. Their dry work was appreciated and the crowd let them know it. But it was their wet work that had all eyes glued to that run.
When the cow was released into the arena, she came in with feistiness. After holding her there, for as long as they needed, Emma and Westy allowed her down the fence. She took off fast, but horse and rider turned up the heat! With an incredible show of great horsemanship and speed, they really accelerated down the side of the arena, controlling the cow beautifully and displaying skilful turns at each end. Guided by Emma, with precision, Westy encouraged the cow out into the center, where the pair circled her both ways, still in complete control, right up until the buzzer! To the applause and whistles of spectators, Emma and Western Acres had easily produced a superior performance, finishing on a score of 350.25, with a margin of 20 points, to claim the 2025 Nutrien Performance Horse Challenge Champion!
This victory followed their 2024 ASCA Classic Horse Premiership Champion, emphasizing their dominance in classic events.
In 2022, Emma and Morgan Webb, of Almaden, Queensland, were at the Nutrien Sales, but not to buy a horse.
‘ Our mate, Will Durkin, had put a 2yo colt through the sale, but he’ d been passed in. Will told us that we should buy Western Acres. I’ d protested, saying—‘ No, we don’ t need another horse, we’ ve already got too many!— Morgan was keen, but other circumstances saw us decide not to go and look at the colt.’
Emma caught up with Russ Bradley, Western Acre’ s breeder, as he was getting ready to head home.
‘ Russ said to me—‘ You never came to look at that colt.’ so I replied,‘ Yeah, but I think I would like to have a ride on him. Russ said—‘ Yeah, sure.’ And the rest is history!’
Emma and Morgan finally purchased Western Acres, through the 2022 Nutrien Sale, from AQHA breeders and members, Russ and Rebecca Bradley of R & R Livestock.
Fast forward to Emma and Westy’ s great success at the 2025 Nutrien Classic, and that meant that Russ and Rebecca Bradley would also receive the $ 2500 Breeder’ s Incentive Award, for the Highest Placed Quarter Horse. Western Acres is sired by Acres Destiny( dec.) and out of the One Moore Playboy mare, One Moore Diva Q A2-3875.
Ah, when it’ s all meant to be...
AUSTRALIAN QUARTER HORSE ASSOCIATION- www. aqha. com. au