At Home with Kim Campbell

This article is from the February 2021 Horse Deals magazine.

Vivacious was the first word that came to mind when Kim Campbell picked up the phone. The bubbly cutting rider is based just north of Albury, NSW at Table Top with her husband Scott. Together, they run the successful cutting operation Moondyne Cutting Horses, training, competing and breeding Quarter Horses. Life for Kim hasn’t been linear, it’s been adventure-filled with a splash of adversity.

How would you best describe yourself? Horse mad, animal lover, protector of all baby animals, competitive, honest, loyal and fiercely defensive of my tribe, both human and fur babies.

How did you first get involved in horses? I was literally born on a horse — the stork dropped me straight on the back of the horse. I won the rider Under 6 at the Brisbane Royal Show at the age of two and a half years, as I was the only rider not on a lead line.

I started showing cutting horses as a youth at the age of eight, as my step-father Leon Ford was involved with the cutting industry in the early 80s. I competed in other Western Performance events from Western Pleasure and Trail, through to Reining, Cowhorse and Cutting. I represented Australia in the Youth World Cup team at the ages of 15 and 17.

What are the highlights? I am so fortunate as there are so many highlights. Competing in the NCHA Futurity in the USA on our own sire, His Stargun is Hot, is certainly a highlight. Winning the Open Non Pro event at the NCHA National Finals to then take out the 2019 Hi Point Open Non Pro of Australia. I also won the very first Ladies Pink Cutting. These have all been standout moments throughout my cutting career. I have also had many highlight moments at home without an audience. These are the moments that motivate and inspire me.

We hear you spent some time as a makeup artist in Paris. What was that like? Paris feels like another lifetime ago. It was a different lifestyle and pace, and it was such a wonderful and artistic time of my life. I wouldn’t change it for the world, I learnt so much and I had experiences that I would never have had if I didn’t chase the opportunity. I still love and appreciate makeup artistry.

What brought you back to horses and cutting? I was working with a fashion photographer for Vogue Australia when my mother had a heart attack. I moved home to help rehabilitate her. Riding horses was my timeout when I was at home. A good friend, Tom Hanssen asked if I would like to show a little mare called Redgum Lucinda in the rookies, that he was trying to sell at the time. I ended up buying her myself and this mare has gone on to be the foundation of our breeding program.

How many horses do you currently have in work? We currently have eight client horses in work and four of our own.

What does a typical day look like? There is no such thing as a typical day. Scott works as a Stock Agent, so we can work horses early in the morning or in the afternoon, dependant on his work commitments. Working with animals, you have to malleable as plans can change in an instant. The horses always come first.

What’s the story of you and Scott? Scott and I were introduced to each other at Benalla Cutting Show many years ago. Scott was still showing as a Non Pro at this stage, he was contemplating moving to Erin Park to work for Jim Coen and become a professional trainer. We had the same passion and goals within the cutting industry. We were married in 2003. Before we were married, we used to drive past a property at Table Top. Every time we would drive past, Scott would tell the story of how he rode his first cutting horse at the property at a Max McTaggart clinic. Two years later this property came on the market, we bought the property and established our own training facility, Moondyne Cutting Horses. We live at this property to this day.

How do you get along; running a business, training and competing together? It has taken many years to master the art of running a business and working together each day. We are fortunate enough to have Scott competing as a Professional Trainer on our client’s horses and I compete in the Non Pro events on our home-bred horses. We are each other’s biggest support, I certainly couldn’t be as competitive without Scott in my corner. We work hard to maintain a positive team environment, not only for ourselves but our clients, as well as we compete together.

What have you set out to achieve with your business Moondyne Cutting Horses? We are excited for the future of Moondyne Cutting Horses as we have just started the first progeny by our imported sire His Stargun is Hot. They have started better than anticipated. We were always hopeful that bringing a stallion with his bloodlines and conformation to Australia would have a positive impact on our cutting industry. The way his first foal crop is shaping up, we may have just hit the jackpot. Our Australian bred stallion, A Little Turpulence, is also making waves in the Campdraft arena after a very successful cutting career. We are super excited about his progeny starting in the campdraft world. He won the first Koobah Golden Guitar Campdraft in 2020. With competitions ramping again in 2021, we can’t wait to see what he has in store under the guidance of Dave Thorn.

Being right on the border, how have border restrictions impacted your comp season? Competitions have been few and far between. We are fortunate enough to have clients that have stood behind us during this time of uncertainty. The NCHA has been working hard to get shows up and going. They are doing a great job to follow guidelines and maintain the safety of our members. We have a show calendar forecast for 2021, we are really hoping to make these events.

How are your young horses shaping up for 2021? We have a small show team for 2021. Scott is very excited about his futurity mare owned by Kirk and Tracey Nicholson, however we don’t want to say too much and jinx ourselves. We are fortunate to have a strong show team.

What’s been the most pivotal moment in your life so far? In 2008, I had a major health scare. This altered my mindset, direction and perspective on life. It is very important to spend time with the animals and people you care about. Nothing else matters.

What’s the most influential horse you’ve had and why? I’ve been so fortunate to have ridden so many great horses in my time. It’s hard to choose just one. From my years competing as a Youth, Walla Nelson, Miss Bandito and Cloud 8. In recent years, Sweet Smokin Hooch, Lucifex and currently, Who’s Moonshine and MDC Jinx. I’m so grateful to have ridden such good horses.

Where would you like to be in five years time? I would like to compete at the NCHA Futurity in USA again. I’m really looking forward to breeding and showing His Stargun is Hot progeny. I look forward to following the careers of the progeny we sell as they branch out into various cowhorse sport disciplines.

Quickfire Questions

What did you last watch on TV? Mindhunter! It’s addictive.

What’s your signature dish? I’m renowned for my pomegrante Christmas ham and thai larb. If you ask Vaughn McGuiness, he thinks my satay chicken is the best thing he’s ever eaten.

What inspires you? Happy people, a good laugh and fluffy baby animals.

What music are you listening to? I love Coldplay, however Scott tends to take over the stereo.

What should every horse person do at least once in their life? Take your favourite horse swimming and ride in the mountains.

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