The ultimate campdrafting quest for Jess

THE sport of campdrafting has everything that a horserider needs to skill them for working on the land. An event would see a rider in a yard attempt to “cut out” one beast from a herd of cattle and then block and turn the beast at least two or three times to have the beast under control. Violet Town horse breaker Jess Smith competes regularly, and while she “works hard and practices to master the sport” her taking part is so much more competitive horsemanship. “Campdrafting is a very family orientated sport, it’s open to anybody that would actually like to come and have a go,” “Just knowing that you love horses is the base of the sport, and moving forward from that, you just need to be able to reach out to people you know for help and support and coaching.” Ms Smith has been involved with campdrafting for only two years, but was led to it by “anything and everything from eventing to pony club.” But she says her affection for campdrafting allows her to give back to her community places that extra bit of specialness in her extensive career with horses. “I just love the environment there, and it’s a real family environment – the adrenaline, I think in running a beast around a full course is definitely something is very hard to beat too,” Ms Smith said. “Once I met my partner we started training a few more horses and I just ended up falling into camp drafting, giving it a go, ‘getting the bug’ as they like to call it then, off you go.” Ms Smith has been selected by the Southern Campdraft Association (SCA) to represent Northern Victoria in the Classic Ladies’ Foundation Young Ambassadors Quest. The quest supports and empowers young women who participate in the sport of campdrafting, have a passion for the sport and are interested in getting involved in the fundraising efforts for the charitable arm of the Nutrien Classic Sale & Campdraft annual event held in Tamworth. Being an advocate for more competitors in the sport has led to Ms Smith meeting many friends and other young people looking for a career in the horse and equine industries. She said that she sees competitions fill up “100 per cent with entries” within a few minutes, and the diverse array of people who take part in it is exciting to see. “These opportunities come up in front of you, the more involved and passionate you become,” Ms Smith said. “For me, we had gone from just camp drafting to now breeding our own our own stock to hopefully running through a Nutrien sale.” “A Nutrien Classic would be amazing as it’s a very prestigious event, but for those beginning a simple love of horses is all you need.” Ms Smith’s advocacy and fundraising efforts will be through raffles, merchandise sales and charity auctions, with funds going to the Black Dog Institute and Melanoma Patients Australia. “The Black Dog Institute study really hard on prevention, what we can do as a community to open it up in a way that’s easily approached and open up a discussion,” Ms Smith said. “The Institute is big on coaching, and they bring all kinds of people into the equation with their research. “Melanoma Patients Australia are also very supportive of those who have melanoma, making sure they are not alone and that there are support networks helping them with either housing, emotional support or information.” The Classic Ladies Foundation Young Ambassador Quest is open to female campdrafters between the ages of 18 and 30. More information at www.classicladiesfoundation.com.au/young-ambassador-quest

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