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FEATURE: HUNTER COAST QUARTER HORSE ASSOCIATION
Sure a Special Invite Q-98962 and Sarah Lambourne with their bag of Munchies supplied by Australian Hemp Feed Chey McCarty and Harry Hypants Q-72099
One particularly exciting donation came from Maria Wilkinson of Wilkinson Farm Quarter Horses, who generously offered the proceeds of a breeding service to the outstanding stallion Memphis Q-80346, at a 50 % reduction in price. This service is still available for a lucky mare owner— an opportunity not to be missed for anyone looking to add proven performance bloodlines to their program.
Finding a home base was the next hurdle, and after some initial setbacks— including a rained-out first show— the club settled at Lovedale Equestrian Park. The venue boasts a world-class 90m x 90m Soiltex arena set among vineyards in the heart of the Hunter Valley.
The club’ s first show became a milestone not only for HCQHA but for AQHA nationally. When Katrina Lewis and Carla Cox were awarded their Limited Judges tickets under the new AQHA Limited Judges initiative, the HCQHA committee saw a historic opportunity. They invited Katrina and Carla to officiate, making HCQHA’ s inaugural event the very first in Australia to be judged by graduates of this groundbreaking program. The decision was celebrated widely, marking an exciting step forward in AQHA’ s efforts to grow and support the judging ranks.
The A + A show went ahead with both judges proudly awarding the Halter Breeds Group of Australia’ s garland for Supreme Exhibit to It Started With a Kiss Q-96502. The show attracted 32 horses and was met with fantastic feedback, confirming the demand for a thriving western club in the region.
Looking ahead, HCQHA plans to build on this momentum. The committee is committed to running a regular calendar of A shows and clinics, providing accessible and affordable competition and training opportunities for riders. Plans for the current season include a number of clinics and a
Australian Quarter Horse Association- www. aqha. com. au