04 September, 2011

TP campdraft

The sign said "Tom Price Campdraft 29th and 30th August". I turned to Wiki for the gen:

Campdrafting is a unique and very popular Australian sport involving a horse and rider working cattle. The riding style is like that of Western riding and the event is somewhat related to the American events such as cutting, working cow horse, team penning, and ranch sorting.
In the competition, a rider on horseback must "cut out" one beast from the mob of cattle in the yard or "camp" and block and turn that beast at least two or three times to prove to the judge that they have the beast under control; then take it out of the yard and through a course around pegs involving right and left hand turns in a figure eight, before guiding it through two pegs known as "the gate". The outside course must be completed in less than 40 seconds.
Up to a total of 100 points are scored by horse and rider: "Cut out" is worth a total of 26 points; horse work up to a further 70 points; and 4 points for the course. Most disqualifications (signalled by a crack of the judge's stockwhip) occur when a competitor loses his beast more than twice on the camp; losing control of the beast in the arena or running a beast onto the arena fence. A “tail turn” executed by a horse in the opposite direction of the beast's line of travel also incurs disqualification at any stage of the draft.
The sport requires consummate skill and horsemanship, and the skill in selecting a beast from the mob that will run well, but is not too fast for that particular horse. Great prestige is bestowed on the winning horse and rider of the competition.


The girls and I stayed and watched for an hour or so. It was brilliant.

6 comments:

  1. It looks more exciting than sheep dog trials and I guess, a lot more noisy!

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  2. That you mother?! It wasn't especially noisy but certainly dustier than sheep dog trials!

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  3. If we promise to be good, can me and him come camping soon with you guys? Can we, can we - please??? Love this blog to consider your ego well patted and loved! Mary, Mary x

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  4. Most certainly. Keep the October long weekend free! x

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  5. I love campdrafting! It's so fun :) Can't wait for Christmas !! Xxxx Sophie

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  6. Of course you know about campdrafting! Please bring your horse at Christmas and we'll round up the cat xx

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