Australian Stockhorse Society youth clinic rides high at Oakey

More than 30 riders turned out in Oakey in early December for an encouragement and youth clinic held by the Australian Stockhorse Society.

The society's Southern Queensland Management Council's youth committee was behind the two day event, which saw participants travel from as far west as Bollon and Roma.

It is the third time such a clinic has been run to support youth within the society in Queensland, with numbers increasing at every event.

Youth co-ordinator Amanda McLennan-Dehnert said they were aiming to bring riders from different disciplines togethere to try new horse sports, with the last school including showjumping, horsemanship, mechanical cow training.

Ms McLennan-Dehnert said it wasn't just youth getting involved in the clinics.

"We get just as many adults as children, if not more," she said.

"A lot of people will bring young horses as a training opportunity for them in a no-pressure environment.

"People were enthusiastic to learn, they wanted to experience different disciplines.

"It was a great opportunity for everyone who came along."

Mc McLennan-Dehnert said the clinics were a great chance to introduce more people into Australian Stockhorse disciplines and to get greater recognition for the breed.

"We see a need in Queensland to involve and develop the youth participation in the Australian Stockhorse events going into the future," she said.

Volunteer instructors for the weekend clinic included Rick Walley, Paul Dehnert, Rachel Spring, Annemaree Wallen, Sharyn Durrie, Jana Macdonald, Samantha Vuksanovic, Maddy Bryans, Amanda Mclennan-Dehnert and Gillian Adrian.

The Australian Stockhorse Society's SQMC is also pushing to bring the Australian Stockhorse Youth Nationals to Queensland for the second time.

They're bidding to host the July event in Pittsworth, going up against a push to hold the competition in Victoria.

The nationals see youth members of the Australian Stockhorse Society up to the age of 20 compete in drafting, hacking, dressage, challenges, showjumping, rider and youth judging.

Ms McLennan-Dehnert said having the 2020 event held in Queensland would be a great opportunity for the state's young riders.

"It's got quite a lot of interest and now we're talking with potential sponsors," she said.

"We've had people from as far as Rockhampton who have said they would travel down to take part.

Article and Image courtesy of Australian Community Media and the Queensland Country Life