Intention has always been to
become a respected all around horsemen
that could somehow make a positive
contribution to preserving this great life
we have, alongside horses and friends few
people ever understand or experience!
I appreciate the opportunity to share a
piece of my story, so far, of my endless
pursuit of becoming a better horseman...
When I decided to become a horse trainer,
my plan was very simple. It sounds funny
now, but I thought of it like any other
university degree that takes four to six
years to complete. I would spend a year
on a cattle station, ride a lot of horses and
work a lot of cows; spend a year with a
reining trainer to learn to get a horse soft
and broke; then go to America and finish
by “apprenticeship” with a cow horse
trainer and then go out on my own. Life
has a funny way of not going as planned
but other than a few minor diversions and
bumps in the road that’s basically what
I’ve done.
2005 I spent 12 months with the past
ACA President and renowned Campdraft
competitor, Cameron McIntyre of
McIntyre Cattle Company. I rode a lot
of horses and worked even more cows
on foot and got to compete at local
campdrafts. I highly recommend any
aspiring horse men and women to spend
a minimum 12 months with a company of
similar standard, such as the McIntyre’s,
to instill a strong work ethic and crucial
fundamentals to becoming a successful
cattleman and horseman!
In 2008 an opportunity came up to
start a family owned horse training/hay
growing business in Rockhampton. It was
something we’d always talked about doing
so we jumped at the chance. I look back
now and laugh knowing without a doubt I
was in no way shape or form experienced
enough to go out on my own yet. It really
was a miracle we survived. I do not
regret any of tha [YH