HANNAH RILEY & EB S BLUETOONZ Q-91431
46
2025 AQHA INCENTIVES- NUTRIEN CLASSIC SALE & CAMPDRAFT
4CYTE CHARLIE MAHER YOUNG GUNS CAMPDRAFT
HANNAH RILEY & EB S BLUETOONZ Q-91431
OWNER: TROY PALMER
THIS YEAR’ S YOUNG GUN’ S EVENT SAW THE PRESSURE ON WITH AN EXCITING RUN-OFF FOR FIRST PLACING. HANNAH RILEY, 23, OF BUNDELLA, NSW, RODE TROY PALMER’ S GOOD MARE, EB S BLUETOONZ, PLACING SECOND OVERALL IN THE COMPETITION.
WORDS BY: LYN HOFFMANN © 2025 • PHOTO BY: BRIE STANGER PHOTOGRAPHY
This year was the first time that the AQHA supported the Nutrien Charlie Maher Memorial Young Guns Campdraft event and offered $ 1,000 AQHA Cash Incentive to go to the highest placed registered Quarter Horse in a financial membership, and ridden by a current AQHA member.
At the Nutrien Classic, the Young Guns event refers to the Charlie Maher Memorial Young Guns Campdraft. It’ s a popular crowd-pleaser and is keenly contested by riders aged between 15-25, who have either sold or purchased a horse at the Nutrien Classic Sale. The event celebrates the significant influence the late Charlie Maher had on many young lives, and it’ s proving to be a great event to highlight Australia ' s most exciting young campdrafting talent.
Hannah has worked for Troy and Fiona Palmer since 2020, and being the rider who trots her out daily, knows Bluetoonz well. She knew Bluetoonz was a popular horse, and thought someone else would be riding her in the Young Guns, so had asked Troy if she could ride his stallion, Binnia Shaquil. Hannah couldn’ t believe it when Troy said—‘ Why don’ t you ride Toonz, as well?’— Which she did!
Foaled in 2013, the red dun EB S Bluetoonz is sired by Ima Smooth Blue Cat, out of EB S Eucalypt, and is an exceptionally outstanding mare. Owners Troy and Fiona Palmer, of Coolah, purchased Bluetoonz from Matt and Fiona Caban. The very cowy mare has had her share of great wins and in 2024 EB S Bluetoonz was named the ABCRA National Open Horse of the Year in campdrafting, after being the Maiden Horse of the Year in 2022.
It would be the first time that Hannah would draft the mare. Prior to their first run, Hannah says she felt very nervous, because she knew that Bluetoonz was such a good mare.
‘ Troy’ s ridden that mare in a lot of drafts, and before my run, he talked me through things. He was at the yard, and picked a cow for us, then told me to throw the reins at her and use my feet in the yard. All of that helped to get my nerves under control, and once we were out there in the arena, I found Toonz to be a ball of fun. She was so very soft, and just a really kind, honest mare, and at the end of that run, I was pretty ecstatic to hear that my first round score was a 90, because I’ d never scored over an 89 before!'
When the Young Guns arena presentation followed, Hannah found her excitement more than doubled when she realised that she was also to be presented with the $ 1,000 AQHA Cash Incentive by the AQHA General Manager, Gemma Clarke.
AUSTRALIAN QUARTER HORSE ASSOCIATION- www. aqha. com. au