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Name: Michelle Southgate Age: 38 Occupation: Clothing Warehouse Packer Where do you Live: NSW Central Coast Years as an AQHA Member: 28 years
Other Competition Disciplines in the past: Team Penning, Campdrafting, Hack Shows.
What bought you to Western and how you started: My mum Peta bought me my first Quarter Horse at the age of 10 and I never looked back.
Favourite Event: Hunt Seat Equitation
Competition Horses- Current: Sure A Temptation Q-80887“ Diva”. Diva is by Surely Im Good Q-67190 out of Tempted To Concent Q-46123 and we bought her from Wayne and Gill Tangey in Victoria. She is owned by my mum Peta Southgate.
Favourite Horse and Why?: LPH Heez It And A Bit Q-77017“ Ash” because I get to compete in a range of events. From Ranch to Western Riding, Reining, Hunter Under Saddle and Western Pleasure.
I bought Ash from Liz Keating as a 3 yr old. He was broken in and I trained him myself from then. He is 14 years old now and is a very versatile horse for me.
Most Memorable Horse: Twin D Trouble Bar Q-14376, we purchased him when he was 10 years old and he was a great old school master. I learnt so much from him. He literally taught me how to ride!
Home Club: Hunter Coast Quarter Horse Association. I also compete at Sydney Quarter Horse and Sydney Regional Appaloosa Club Shows.
Most rewarding moment of the season: Winning AQHA High Point Amateur Hack of Australia. I found this was a fun new class that I wanted to try and had the best time with encouragement from my mum Peta.
We have really enjoyed the journey to win this High Point.
Most memorable Event or Class: Winning the Hunter In Hand at K Ranch in 2024 with Sure A Temptation Q-80887.
Current Trainer: I currently train my own horses and attend clinics when I can. My show support is my mum Peta and my partner Josh. Josh also took the photos!
Most Influential Person in the Industry: My mum Peta Southgate. My mum has always encouraged me to follow my dreams and has helped me along the way in training our horses.
Best advice you have received: Follow your dreams.
Advice for new members: Never Give up. Anything is possible, you can learn something from everyone.
Something people may not know about you: When I’ m not riding, training or showing my horses, I like to go fishing, bush walking, mountain bike riding and photography.
AQHA 2026 NOVEMBER / DECEMBER ISSUE