Article Amanda Nicholson
Photos
Tania Hobbs
Ken Anderson
Sue Jones
T
exas Star Quarter Horses,
Amanda Nicholson aged 33
years has had a lifelong
association with horses and the tre-
mendous support of her family from
a young age to pursue her dreams.
Born in Scone, New South Wales into
a horse-loving family, Amanda had
her feet firmly planted in the stirrups
from a young age. She has enjoyed
success in pony club, dressage, junior
cut outs and campdrafting.
After completing high school,
Amanda was fortunate to become
an employee of the Australian
Quarter Horse Association for some
four years. This kick started a huge
passion for genetics and Amanda’s
approach to breeding would become
founded on making firm decisions
as to which stallion and mare
will produce that winning combina-
tion.
The day prior to the Equine Influenza
outbreak, Amanda travelled to
Goondiwindi Queensland and
inspected and purchased Yulgilbar
Hank Man Chex. He was a 15-year-
old stallion at the time. Due to the
movement restrictions he couldn’t
be brought home to the stud until
some months later so only several
mares were joined to him that first
season.
An opening arose for her to travel
to Weatherford, Texas, in the Unit-
ed States, Amanda resigned from
the AQHA and went on a holiday for
three months, this was the perfect
opportunity to research elite Quar-
ter Horse genetics. After returning
home Amanda established Texas
Star Quarter Horses singlehandedly
32 • The Australian Quarter Horse Magazine • November • December
December• • 2018
2018
in August 2008. Amanda aspired to
produce performance horses that
would excel in the disciplines of
Campdrafting and Cutting.
Stallions at Stud:
YULGILBAR HANK MAN CHEX
Q-29760
Studbook Quarter Horse stallion
foaled 24/11/1993 sired by Hank
Man Leo (Imp) and out of Clover
Razzamataz. Chex continues the
Hank Man Leo legacy as one of only
a few stallions left in Australia. The
decision was made to start to
campaign Chex in Campdrafting
to help promote him to the public
throughout 2008 and 2009 and to
see how good he really was. One of
his most notable accomplishments
was placing equal 5th from a field of
112 of Australia’s Best Campdraft