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AQHA FEATURE: FAMILY, FRIENDS AND QUARTER HORSES
2024 and earning the State Ranch Versatility Improver High Point Youth awards in both 2025 and 2026. He is now looking forward to progressing into one-handed Open Youth classes across several AQHA disciplines. While he enjoys the versatility of the Quarter Horse, his greatest passion appears to be the cattle events. More recently, he placed first in Intermediate Youth Ranch Cow Work at Tropicana, further cementing his love of working cattle. It has been particularly rewarding to watch the partnership he has developed with TN Metallic Belle Rey, a mare that has helped him achieve some outstanding results. Seeing the bond between horse and rider develop, and watching Hunter set goals and work hard to achieve them, has been one of the highlights of my involvement with horses. At the end of the day, ribbons and trophies are wonderful, but the memories made with family and the experiences shared along the way are what matter most. Hunter and I still enjoy a healthy banter about who is the better rider in the family. I am also grateful to AQHA for introducing the free youth membership initiative, helping encourage and support the next generation of Quarter Horse enthusiasts. I would encourage any young person with a Quarter Horse to become involved and take advantage of the many opportunities available.
Beyond ability and athleticism, as an amateur rider, I look for a horse with a kind nature, a willing attitude, and a genuine desire to partner with its rider. Those qualities are exactly what I found in my stallion, TJT Tassa N Genes, affectionately known as Tucker. He has had an enormous impact on my Quarter Horse journey and, in my eyes, embodies everything the breed represents. Tucker is the true definition of versatility, capable of stepping into multiple disciplines and remaining competitive at a high level while maintaining the temperament and trainability that make him such a pleasure to own and ride. I constantly get feedback from judges, competitors and spectators about his impeccable manners as a stud out in public. Most surprised to learn he isn’ t an old gelding. Together, we have achieved placings and wins at local, State, and National level across a diverse range of disciplines, including Western Dressage, Ranch, Ranch Versatility, Dressage, Team Penning, Ranch Sorting, Hacking, and Cowboy Racing. One of my favourite memories this year was winning the AQHA Queensland State Show Novice 2.3 Dressage Test.
Dressage at that level requires greater precision, balance, and technical skill, making it a particularly rewarding achievement and a wonderful
Nicole George
AUSTRALIAN QUARTER HORSE ASSOCIATION- www. aqha. com. au