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Young Rider: Hayley Condon
This article is from the March 2020 Horse Deals magazine.
Age: 19
Lives: Greenvale, North Queensland
Occupation: I work for my parents in their contract mustering and fencing business, however also spend time working on a place near Nebo.
What is your family history with horses? I have been extremely fortunate to grow up in a family who share a common interest in horses. Our family’s passion for horses stretches right back to my great-grandad, who owns a place near Greenvale. There they bred mainly Stock Horses. My uncle influenced my dad to start campdrafting when he was younger. Since then he has been hooked. We also caught the deadly “campdraft bug” as it is all we have known. However, my mother is actually allergic to horses. Most people find this funny as she is surrounded by a family who absolutely loves them.
What age did you start riding? I always wish I could remember the feeling of the first time I rode a horse, but I was far too young to be able to. Dad would put us on horses with him before we could even walk! So let’s just say as long as I can remember.
Tell us about your first pony. When I first began to ride we had a little pony StarTrack who we would fall asleep on while pushing the tail of the mob up. My first campdraft horse was a gelding called Playboy. I loved him to bits. He was dad’s Open gelding, however you could hardly tell. He would just plod along for me.
As I got older and more competitive he did also. We achieved so much together. He was a tall horse and my sister and I couldn’t lift our saddles or put a bridle on, so I would dig my foot into his shoulder and climb up on him. We had ridden around the house and swam in the dam that often he just knew where to go — I didn’t need to steer.
What was your first competition? The Greenvale Minnie’s Campdraft was my first big outing. My uncle led me around and I couldn’t see a thing because my helmet kept flopping over my eyes. We used to ride for ice cream vouchers. It was the most rewarding feeling to walk up after your run and get your ice cream.
What do you enjoy most about campdrafting? I love most aspects of campdrafting, the people these events attract are so incredible — it’s a real privilege to be a part of such a friendly community. But the aspect that gets me “hooked” to the sport is how unpredictable every run is. It’s always different, which keeps it interesting and exciting.
Tell us about the special horse who made you ride like you are today. Playboy was obviously a confidence builder. He showed me the basic foundations of campdrafting and how to be safe and competitive. Bracelet and The Duck were my Juvenile horses. They were the ones who made me ride to a more adult level. I am so grateful dad gave me the opportunity to learn what a good horse feels like.
Congratulations on winning the Warwick Ladies Silver Cup. How did you gear up for such a big event? I had never been to Warwick before. I knew it was big, but I didn’t quite believe it would be that extreme. I was obviously extremely nervous, but at the same time extremely fortunate to have such a supportive group of people around me. I had at least ten phone calls from people at home wishing me good luck. I had Jess Hoffman and my partner Sam Kime there helping me choose a cow. The excitement I felt from all of my family and friends really was the reason I was able to over-power the nerves.
What went through your mind when you took the win from 199 competitors? I honestly couldn’t believe it. I remember looking around, surrounded by such incredibly capable competitors — ones that I’ve looked up to my whole life. I just sat there thinking I wasn’t supposed to be in the same line-up with them. I was so proud of Bracelet and I just couldn’t wait to ring dad to let him know that I had won.
Tell us about your partnership with Bracelet. Bracelet is my dad’s horse. I have been competing her since the start of my Juvenile. She was only a maiden horse when I first started drafting her. We placed and sometimes won in many Juveniles throughout our time. I now compete her in the Ladies Draft. We have competed at Paradise and made the final of the Ladies, rode in the State Of Origin and have placed in the Open and Ladies campdrafts. She is an absolute dream to ride and I am very appreciative to have the opportunity to ride such an athletic horse.
What other horses do you have in your stables? We have over 60 horses and also a fair few broodmares. We breed our own horses as well as buy them. We have bought a few from the Tamworth Sale. We don’t have a specific breed of horse, it’s a variety of many different lines from Conman, Millionic Chick, Conductor, Romeo and everything in between. All four of us have horses that we draft ourselves — it’s a full truck everywhere we go. I generally draft four maiden horses and a futurity. I have a classic horse to bring back this year, which I am extremely excited about as I have never competed down in Tamworth. He is a Tellasagin gelding. My elder sister Emma, dad and I will ride at least three or four young horses a day mustering when we are in full swing. We consider ourselves very fortunate that we have ample opportunity to ride our horses at work, giving them a foundation for campdrafting while working.
How did you overcome your confidence struggles? Confidence is such a major aspect to campdrafting. I struggled in the year I have now called “the gap.” It’s when you first leave the Juvenile and are expected to compete against the adults. I never thought my riding was up to the standard of an adult’s league. I would get horribly nervous before competing, which reflected in my performance. It wasn’t until riding The Duck in the ACA National Finals in Greenvale that I realised that it is really anyone’s game if you can maintain your nerves. Winning in my home town while hosting a highly competitive event was one of the greatest experiences — one that definitely changed my riding.
What is it like having your father competing alongside of you? Campdrafting is really an incredible sport. The fact that my 11-year-old brother, my dad and my sister can all compete in the same sport amazes me. We work incredibly hard to get to come to drafts, so when one of us has a good run we are over the moon. Dad is very supportive. 99% of the time he is at the camp helping us choose a cow and watching to give us feedback once we are finished. I couldn’t quite explain how appreciative I am of my parents and how thankful I am to be able to compete with him in a sport we both love.
How many events do you do in a year and how much travel is involved? We usually do about 10 or 12 drafts a year, which is really not a lot in comparison to the professionals. My mum has a food van that we take with us to campdrafts. Most of the drafts we go to, mum caters. When we aren’t riding, we are in the food van working. We contract in many different areas in Queensland and are constantly travelling with our horses, motorbikes and dogs — it’s a real convoy when we are moving camps. Wherever we are moving to or working in that area, we try to get to as many drafts local to the place we are at the time. It works really well as we get to see a diverse range of campdrafts. I am personally really interested in how different committees run their event and how the cattle are so different in other areas.
Share a typical day in your life. It depends where we are, but mainly I just wake up at 5.30am, have a shower, coffee, pack lunches and feed horses. We then go to work, usually get back around 6pm. We all cook dinner and then go to bed at 8.30 or 9.00pm. It obviously changes depending on which place we are working at.
Who’s your idol? Dad has taught me most things and I love to learn off him. Jess Hoffman and Kerry Turner are some of my biggest idols. There are so many other women I observe and learn things from as well.
Who is your coach and what are their best words of advice for you? Dad is my coach and he always says “it’s only a campdraft, we aren’t riding for sheep stations.” This doesn’t come across as an inspirational quote but I love it. Just ride safe, have fun and do your thing because at the end of the day it’s only a sport. Be passionate but remember not to get caught up in the competition.
How do you manage your highs and lows of the sport? Campdrafting can be very disappointing, a lot of it is luck. The more you work on your riding and your horses can help your chances, but if you don’t get a good cow, there isn’t much you can do. I try to remember that the luck comes and goes and it will be my turn soon enough.
What are your future plans? Things chop and change in my mind always. One thing I know is I love my horses. I want to go study and have deferred to uni. I am not quite ready to give up my job riding horses and being active all day. So, for now, I just plan on having fun and learning as much as possible.
What do you like to do outside of horses? I love recreational sports. Netball and touch, whenever I get chance I try to get a few games in.
Can’t live without? Family.
3 things we don’t know about Hayley Condon...
1. I am very forgetful and lose everything
2. I am a cup of tea lover
3. I’m not a hugger
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