Stockman's Challenges with Horse Deals' Kellie Curran

This story is from Horse Deals July 2019 magazine.

A discipline that used to be viewed as predominantly for horsemanship trainers and Stock Horse riders is gaining traction across Australia. Many mature aged riders, who previously didn’t venture over to the ‘other side’, are making the switch to stockman’s challenges. Horse Deals’ very own marketing consultant Kellie Curran is one rider who’s become a passionate competitor, and we chatted to her to find out why.

How did you first get involved with horses?
As a child, I was horse mad like many young girls. I didn’t come from an equestrian family, in fact far from it. When I was about 11 years old, my parents bought me my first horse. Their decision to buy me a horse was so they knew what I was riding, as I had a habit of getting on any horse I could find around my neighbourhood. I rode for most of my teens, but I was never competitive. We never even owned a float, so attending events was out of the question, except for the ones in my local town that I would ride to, to attend. When I was 19 I moved away from horses as I left home, got married and started a family. Now fast forward 20 years.

Over the last 12 years, you have supported your daughters in different equestrian disciplines. What made you decide to get back in the saddle in a competitive sense?
I was fortunate to have two daughters with the same love of horses as I did. They both loved all types of disciplines from barrel racing, jumping, dressage and eventing. I would often have a ride on my daughters’ horses at home just to get my ‘fix’. When my daughters finished school and started working, their passion for riding was no longer, but I never lost my love of riding. I wasn’t ready to sell up, so I decided to start back riding myself.

What was it that appealed to you about stockman’s challenges?
I have always admired good horsemanship skills. I enjoyed learning from horsemen such as Warwick Schiller, Clinton Anderson, and Steve Brady. Stockman’s challenges really appealed to me because it gave me the opportunity to put the skills I learned into practice. Even though it is the competition, it is also just as much an individual challenge between you and your horse.

When and how did you start competing in stockman’s challenges?
When I first started back riding I didn’t really know what I wanted to do. I joined a trail riding club and I decided to have a go at a dressage test at our local ag shows. How hard could it be? I have talked my daughters through many dressage tests over the years, I just never actually ridden one. On the day of the event I experienced for the first time a horrible feeling of nerves and stressfulness. I was extremely relieved when the whole thing was over. Although I did have an awesome feeling of accomplishment, I knew this was not what I was looking for.

What was your first stockman’s challenge like?
My first challenge was in 2017 in a small country town in Victoria. I was invited to go along with a friend. Like everything in life, if we have a bad experience we tend to not want to do it again. I am very thankful that I was made to feel so comfortable and welcome at my first challenge. All the competitors were very encouraging and the more experienced riders were happy to give advice and support. Each phase of the competition was explained step by step, what was expected and what the judges were looking for. Each rider would take a turn to complete a ridden pattern, time trial and obstacle course. I don’t remember very much about my first course as I was extremely nervous, but I do remember the “well done” and encouragement from the other competitors as I finished. The demographics of the other riders were so varied, from juniors through to more than 70 years of age.

Stockman’s challenges vary a lot across Australia. You have competed mostly in Western Victoria and South Australia. What is involved at the challenges?
Locally the stockman’s challenges are better known as horsemanship challenges, demonstrating skills and horsemanship, loosely based around the original stockman’s challenges without the use of any livestock. The horsemanship challenge is generally made up of three sections: working pattern, time trial and obstacles.

A working pattern is similar to a dressage test. It is a short workout that includes walk, trot, canter and gallop, lead changes, stops, rein backs, and walk back to judge on a loose rein.

A time trial is an event run over a small course which may include a gate to open and close, a small jump, bending barrels or cones, poles on the ground, stops and turns. It is a timed event and seconds are added for errors or touching poles or cones etc.

The obstacle course is the more challenging element. The course is only limited by the course designer’s imagination. It is not a timed event, although it does have a time limit. Each obstacle is scored out of ten. You are not eliminated if you do not complete all obstacles, but an effort will score more than no effort at all. An obstacle course may have wooden bridges, water trays, curtains, whip cracking, flags or towing objects behind your horse.

What are the different divisions?
Challenges are generally split up to three different skill levels: encourage or novice, intermediate and open. Encourage is generally newcomers or riders who have never won an encourage challenge. You can stay in encourage for as long as it takes for your horse to learn, and eventually move on up. Because every challenge is different you are not usually doing the same thing every time, it is not repetitive. Once you start winning consecutive challenges it is time to move up as that level is no longer challenging.

And the social side, what part does that play in events?
The social side of the event is one of the elements that makes it so appealing to me, and the encouragement from the other riders who all started where I am. Unlike dressage or other competitions, where you have a designated time slot or order of events where you tend to just warm up, ride your test and go back to your float, at challenges if not warming up their horse, they are watching the other riders and chatting with each other before and after their turn. Even the presentations are social. It is normally always a mounted presentation and with all levels together at the end of the day. Just another chance to sit around and chat.

How much training do you do at home?
This is one of the best things about the challenges, is that you are always training. Every time I ride I am making sure my horse is responsive, soft and listening to my request. I am always teaching him along the way. For example, whenever I mount my horse, I have him stand without moving until I ask. You don’t need to have an obstacle course set up at home to train. As long as you are practicing good horsemanship and creating a solid relationship with your horse, making sure you have control of all the parts of your horse, from his feet, hind, ribs, neck and brain, that way you can pretty much ask him to do anything for you. If you have all the right controls, it will pay off come competition time.

Why is competing important to you rather than just riding for pleasure at home?
I really like the competition because it is fun! I wouldn’t do it if I wasn’t having fun. It also gives me something to work towards, gives me goals and helps keep me motivated.

What about the sport appeals to your demographic personally?
I think for me it is the social side. You can compete at a level you feel comfortable, and it is a very supportive, family orientated sport.

What’s the best way to get involved?
Go and talk to someone who competes or is involved. Most people in this sport are very approachable. Check local show programs for challenge events and head along to watch and chat with riders. ASH branches also run open challenges (any breed) which may suit, or adult riding clubs may have some information. Local saddlery or fodder stores may have any programs of coming events.

What is next for your competition career?
I don’t usually plan too far ahead. I live in the South East of South Australia. The weather is not the best for the next few months so I will just be riding on a casual basis and looking forward to the spring to start competing again around October.

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