Campdrafting – the fence-sitters guide
When drovers needed to select individual cattle from a mob to drive them to a separate holding area, the stockman would “cut out” the beast from the mob. This was achieved through the skills of the horse and rider to block the attempts of the beast to follow his natural instincts in returning to the mob. This was usually done when large mobs of cattle were mustered together and held by a team of horsemen on the open plain, while the nominated rider did the “cutting out”. Over time, stockmen developed competitions based around this activity, which have evolved into the uniquely Australian sport as we know it today.
The competitor then has to seperate it from the mob cleanly and quickly and take it to the front of the camp. Gates at the front of this area lead out to a large arena, and at the command of the rider, the gates are opened. The judge decides how much skill and precision the horse and rider have shown in this section and award points accordingly.
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You lose points for the beast moving back towards the mob, and if the chosen beast gets back to the mob twice, the judge cracks the whip. This ain’t good. Cracked off in the camp means no score. The rider slinks off and hopes no-one is looking.
When it is done well, the cut-out is like equine-bovine ballet – they face each other and the horse responds almost instantaneously to the beast, mirroring its moves.
The rider here is one of our neighbours. We’ll call him Harv. This is his wife, Elle.
She gets all nervous and wrought up when Harv rides. She’s a great chick and she makes me laugh. Specially when she does stuff like this. These two are also the biggest party animals of all time. But I’ll save that for another post.
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So the rider is ready to leave the camp and calls out “Let’s go” or something to that effect, the gates open, and with any luck, the beast, horse and rider head out those gates and onto the course proper.
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This is a right-hand course. You can also have a left-hand course, which is usually only for advanced competitions.
Getting all four points (and through the final gate) is a Full Course. This is my cousin’s hubby Jay – he got a full course and had to donate $2 to the St John Ambulance for losing his hat! We don’t let anyone get away with anything – keeps us grounded!
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HORSEWORK
No trotting or Saturday afternoon hacking around here my friends. The really great thing about this sport is that it brings together such hardworking people whose skills are usually hidden away on properties. They are passionate about their sport and their horses, and spectators like me get to soak in the spectacle and smell of horse sweat and saddles. Mmmmmm … and they get to fall in love with glorious steeds like this one:
SSB was getting concerned that I worked on this photo for so long… but he needn’t get jealous. The owner rider here is Ken May, a famous Aussie horse handler. Sorry Ken, you rode great and all, but I can’t stop looking at your stallion!
Isn’t he divine?
Eye-candy for horse lovers!
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So there you go – The fence-sitters’ guide to campdrafting.
BB
PS I wish I could say this was me, fence-sitting. But my butt fills out (and overflows) my Levis a little more thoroughly than this! So we’ll sign off with my friend W’s butt and spurs instead. She not only looks great on a fence, she’s a great horsewoman as well. Lucky I’m not the envious type. Not really.
Happy horsemanship (or fencemanship)!
20 Comments
jeanie
Oh to have a half decent camera! Great shots and really wonderful explanation.
You didn’t mention that if there were no such thing as campdrafting, there would be no such thing as us – we owe our very existence to it in a way.
Good luck on getting comments though – I have mentioned campdrafting twice in my blogging career, and it equates to nary a comment – sort of the Bermuda triangle effect.
Bush Babe (of Granite Glen)
Jeanie… well I have two now!! Gotta be happy with that! C’mon people… comment just to show me your love (even if you are as confused as hey about campdrafting!)
Alison
Great explanation and gorgeous pics!
I think it’s hard to comment on campdrafting unless you’ve experienced it. We really need to invent scratch and sniff computer screens – there is nothing like a good leather/stallion sweat scent.
debby
Sounds like fun, but fence sitting with spurs…guaranteed that I’d hurt myself, being all ungraceful and stuff.
Feeling loved?
Raising Country Kids
Wow. I am in awe of your photography (once again). If only you lived on the same continent so that you could give me lessons on how to capture such clear pics in such a challenging environment.
I found the campdrafting talk rather interesting. I suppose that’s because we have similar horsey events in these parts.
Bush Babe (of Granite Glen)
Jeanie – see? People ARE interested… you just gotta get some horsey readers to your joint!
Alison – hmmmm, scratch and sniff screens would be great for campdrafts. Maybe not for branding and feedlot stories so much. That might be stretching a few friendships!
Deb – I don’t wear spurs. Those spurs belonged to a couple who REALLY know how to use ’em. They are lithe and agile (unlike me). And thanks for the love. I feel so needy…
RCK – I think anyone who loves horses would enjoy campdrafting… but I am biased! It’s better than cutting etc because so much is required of horse and rider… as for photos… position, position, position. And take a HEAP. Here endeth the lesson!
BB
I'm Mikey
That rocks big time!!! Love it! Thought it would be like our version of team sorting, except it’s solo. And there’s a course.
I’m getting all kinds of ideas here.. hmm, thanks 🙂
Been to your blog before, must bookmark. LOVE your pics and commentary. A nice peek into Australia!
debby
Okay. I want to hear how you owe your very existance to campdrafting. You or Jeanie need to start spilling the beans.
jeanie
Bushbabe – the problem with my joint and horsy people is I so rarely have action shots of equines available.
Galloping sunflowers – can do… Long rambling words about bellybutton fluff – I am your girl… Occasional ideas for future counselling sessions for various members of my family – my speciality!
Speaking of which – Debby – there are lots of things that involve “if only” in our family lore that led to the blessing of our presence, but campdrafting is a special one.
debby
Jeanie: that is only the first sentence of a story.
*waits patiently*
BB: Thanks for goading PW about the long horn. This has been niggling at me since I saw the picture. I REEEEAAALY want to know about the half ton of beef magically appearing.
Bush Babe (of Granite Glen)
OK Jeanie you have really started somethin’ here… this is not a two-par explanation Deb. We shall have to confer behind our books for a few minutes/days and come up with a good post on this teaser from my baby sis.
Hang tight Mother Goose!!! (And I mean that in the nicest possible way… anyone ever seen Kenny Everett??)
BB
baby~amore'
wow – I bet everyone is on the edge of their seat when it is all a ‘happening’
Great pictures and diagrams.
I agree with Alison on the scratch and sniff LOL – sans poop smells.
baby~amore'
I am curious about Jeanie’s comment too – spill the Tim Tams…please one of you.
debby
I’m a patient goose, although, I’ve not seen Kenny Everett.
I just need to hear the story from Jeanie’s very first sentence to your ‘happily ever after’.
*still waits patiently*
Trailboss
Came over here from ponygirl. Love the eye candy for horse lovers. What a beautiful stallion. I too couldn’t stop looking at him. He almost looks blue doesn’t he? I will be back on your blog A LOT!
Adventures Of A Horse Crazed Mind
Hi there! I am so excited to have found your blog and lucked out in getting to see this post!! I came over from ponygirl. I have been dreaming of visiting Australia since I started watching Mcleods Daughters back in 2002. I swear that I am the only person in Canada who watches that show! I fell in love with the Australian Stock Horse and actually looked into importing one back in 2004. Some lady in Calgary, Alberta (canada) beat me to it and offically had the first imported ASH. I still dream of owning one some day and would love to spend a few months in Australa watching the campdrafting and visting all the big stud farms.
I planned on doing a post on the ASH soon so might have to do that tonight or tomorrow now. Stop by if you get a minute and dont be shy to correct anything!
Chelsi
British Columbia, Canada
Anonymous
Oh wow!!! It looks like your famous rider is using a CA saddle. I’ve got two and love them, but not quite as much as my Aussie.
Remudamom
Anonymous
Hi Bushbabe!
I must be one of the few- I actually did a search on “campdrafting” and “blog” and found you!
Beautiful images, and a great explanation of the mechanics of campdrafting…bravo
Although I have not competed in a campdraft, I have practiced on an old campdraft mare- oh my, it was so long ago- half my life ago, but I can still feel the exhilaration, smell the leather and sweat, and feel the horse moving under me, whirling around on her hind legs, truly watching the beast she picked out (not me, I was just along for the ride!)
Ahh.. memories. Maybe one day I’ll have a horse again… dreamin…!
Your new friend!
Anonymous
Hey I have been to Williams campdraft a few times to compete. I love it! I also love swimming 🙂
Lola
Tips = spine in line coming out of the camp
– beat the cow to the fence every time in the camp
– check back when changing leads
– keep ur hands in a fixed position only move ur body back and forwards out side and hands side to side in the camp
– bring the horse to the front of the camp if u want a big score
– if the cow is mad stay off it and give urself some room to turn