The Scoop - Kerry Turner

This article is from the December 2019 Horse Deals magazine.

Age: 46

Lives: On a mixed farming property named Niagara at Clermont, Queensland.

Occupation: Grazier/Mother

How would you describe yourself? Shy and determined.

Family history with horses? I grew up on a cattle station in North Queensland and we used horses to do our mustering and our family competed in a few events per year.

What age did you start riding? I don’t really remember when I couldn’t ride. As a little, little kid, my pop would always put us on the front of the saddle in front of him and take us for rides. My first competition ride was being led around at the age of three in the horse sports at our local show.

Tell us about your first pony. I actually started out on a big bay Thoroughbred called Ned that I shared with my sister. He was a big old horse, who was super quiet and didn’t move very fast. Mum and my whole family used to lead my sister and I around on him. Then I got a little fat white pony called Snowflake that threw me plenty of times, so he was pretty fun.

After being involved in campdrafting in your early days, you turned to breakaway roping and barrel racing. What led you to go in that direction? Early on I did have a few campdraft runs with my family, but I was more interested in becoming a roper. I grew up wanting to become a cowgirl, so I taught myself to rope from a Roy Cooper book. Then I went on to rodeo for a long time. When we went to local rodeo and campdraft type events there were a few older women that I idolised. I thought that’s what I wanted to be like and that was who I wanted to follow. They barrel raced and roped, so yeah I just wanted to go down that path more than campdraft.

What success did you achieve in rodeo? I won numerous circuit titles, Australian Titles and Pro Tour Titles in the breakaway roping, barrel racing and steer undecorating. I also team roped and made the finals. I won a lot at rodeos, a lot of Allround Cowgirls. Any win is a privilege really.

Five years ago you returned to campdrafting. Why? I had achieved what I wanted to in the rodeo arena and I lost my will to go a bit. I won my last Pro Tour Title in 2013, which I’d done quite a few miles for when the kids were little. I’d won what I wanted and needed a new challenge, so I went back campdrafting. RyLee, my daughter, was interested in drafting as well, so I went back for both the challenge and to do something with the kids.

Congratulations on taking out the Warwick Gold Cup Campdraft with Hingis from 830+ competitors. How did the competition unfold for you? I was lucky enough to draw three pretty good head of cattle and I didn’t let the pressure get to me. Experience has taught me over the years to keep it as cool as I can at these types of events, especially when you are doing well. It all just turned out really good. I wasn’t going to back off or overthink things, because that’s when it all seems to go a bit wrong. I just kept on focussing on what I was doing and not on anyone or anything else.

The second lady ever to claim the cup. What does that mean to you? It means so much to me personally and for other women in the sport. I’ve thought about being the second lady to win the cup for a long time. 12 months before, after the last Warwick, I put the challenge to myself. To remind me I put a photo of Gertie Brooks, the first lady to win the Warwick Gold Cup, on the background of my phone. Each time I picked up my phone I’d see the photo. It helped me stay driven towards that. It’s unbelievable the way it’s turned out. Every year you work at being better and better, whether it be your horsemanship or your cattle sense or getting your horse working better. In this last 12 months, I’ve really worked at it with my horse, my mind and with my timing.

Hingis also took out the JHS Barnes Memorial Trophy for the most consistent working horse. Can you tell us about this mare and your journey with her? My partner Rohan had drafted her and then we swapped horses two years ago. I swapped him a bay gelding called Cowboy. Rohan worked with Cowboy, winning the Canning Downs and Condamine Bell, and I’ve clicked with Hingis. I guess it was meant to be.

Hingis is a Conman mare out of a mare called Bookine Patsy, who has bred two Warwick Gold Cup winners now. We’ve got a pretty good relationship, I love her to death. She’s always been a very consistent mare, but I think with age she seems to get better and better. Through the three weeks we were down at Condamine, Chinchilla and Warwick, she was consistent in making every ladies and open final except the Canning Downs.

What are the other highlights of your riding career? Winning the Breakaway Roping at Mt Isa was a highlight for me. Another was winning the Golden Spurs at Myrtleford Rodeo. I am the only female to ever win the spurs as they are now known as the Silver Spurs. The Myrtleford Spurs is awarded to the highest money winner over the whole rodeo. Any win’s a highlight!

Who has had the biggest influence on your riding career? My Pop Johnson and my mum and dad. If it wasn’t for them I wouldn’t have gotten started.

What’s the story of you and Rohan? We met at a campdraft. We share the same passions and beliefs in life. We are both very competitive and as a team it works really well in all directions, whether it’s horses or our kids or place. We enjoy life together.

And your children, are they involved with horses? My late husband Alex Turner and I have two children and my partner Rohan has four. My two are very keen competitors in both campdrafting and rodeo. My daughter RyLee barrel races and my son Kash rides steers. We took him to the states this year to compete in the World Finals. Both RyLee and Kash are very keen on campdrafting and come with us every weekend to the drafts and help with the horses. All of Rohan’s children ride and compete in the campdrafts, as well and Rohan’s son Morgan also made the Gold Cup Final with Rohan and me. School holidays are great because it means we can hit the road to the drafts with the three youngest kids.

How many horses do you have in work? During the campdraft season Rohan and I have 14 between us, sometimes more if we’ve got younger horses in work.

Share a typical day in your life. I get up about 5am, feed the horses and unrug them. Then breakfast and I get the kids ready. I leave here at 7.20am to drive the kids 40kms to the school bus. I’m home by 8.30am and I exercise the competition horses. After they are done I’m either in the office or I go help Rohan on the property, whether it be mustering or farmwork. I leave here at 3.45pm to pick up the kids from the end of the road. When they are home we ride horses, feed up and get dinner. I’m lucky that my daughter is a good cook so she cooks dinner. We are never inside before dark and we make the most of every minute.

What are two qualities that you look for in a horse? Conformation and intestinal fortitude.

Horses provide plenty of highs and lows. How do you manage the lows? Stay focussed and as positive as you can. Set goals and work towards them.

What is the best part of working with horses? Forming a really good relationship with the horses that are around us. I enjoy getting to know each and every one of them, they are all individual.

What is the first thing you have to pack to take away to a draft? Feed. We usually take between 12 and 14 horses to each draft.

What do you like to do outside of horses? I like to travel when we can get away, like how we went to the States this year. I also like going to the gym, I try to work out at least three times a week.

What are your long term goals? I’m excited about our breeding program. We’ve got a lot coming through that we’ve bred. Other goals are staying fit to be able to keep competing alongside my kids and I enjoy that.

3 things we don’t know about Kerry Turner?
1. I didn’t finish school because I did not like it and I wanted to ride horses and compete. I couldn’t wait to get my first job and pay my own way.
2. If we weren’t so full-on with our horses I’d probably like to try bodybuilding or something like that.
3. I really enjoy helping kids with their riding or campdrafting. I have quite a few local kids that come around and we ride and chase cattle.

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