AQHA Magazine January / February 2019 Jan_Feb_2019_WEBSITE | Page 29

QH Geld
in
Mrs Bett g called Lake T
yrell Kn
y Neilse
o
n
Horse C
hampion competing at th tmine R2-4367
ow
ship at C
omet rid e Queensland Qu ner
den by S
a
helley L rter
alor
Pearl one of my ear
liest ponies
As our stud grew so did our travel plans and the next
level of competition. Over the years I have shown at State
and National level, and now have the girls out showing.
Over the years I have had many mentors and consider
myself lucky that I had so many great horsemen and
women throughout my riding and showing career.
Les Rudd, Chilla Seeney, Merv Williams, Allan Edgar,
Bruce Neville, Vince Corvey, but without a doubt the
biggest mentor I have, is still my mother, Kathy Thomas.
Mum taught us how to ride and look after our horses and
carried us all over the country, giving up so much just so
we could go to shows and she’s still the best critic to have
at a show.
At present we show in many different events, the girls
love their Hacking and Dressage just as much as their
Western performance events. Over the last few years we
have been doing a lot more of the top end English shows,
with both our Quarter Horses and our Welsh ponies. At
present we have qualified both of our Quarter Horse geld-
ings, Catwalks Mischief Jack and Stetsin, for the Royal
Shows along with Milo our Welsh pony. Over the next 12
months we are going to the Grand National qualifiers for
Grand Nationals Show that is held in Sydney. It is some-
thing else to see this event.
This year saw the retirement of our gelding, Mischief,
from showing. He went out with some big wins over the
year in the Hack ring, the last being at the QLD State
Show held in Gatton, where he took Grand Champion
Hunter Under Saddle. We are now getting Stetsin ready
for this coming years show season. He has already gone
on to prove himself in the Hack ring, winning Grand
Champion Hack at Sarina Hack Show in October. We
think he has a very bright future ahead, in both the Hack
ring and the Western performance ring.
The future of the Quarter Horse is looking better all the
time, with a large swing back to the versatile horse
happening. The non-traditional events are making a
large comeback and I hope to see a Quarter Horse not
only competing at the Grand Nationals, but also winning,
in the not so distance future.
Stetsin Q-81642 a QH Gelding to Champion Hack of the Show and
then Grand Champion Hack of the Show ridden by Charlie Lalor
January • February • 2019 • The Australian Quarter Horse Magazine • 29