While the pandemic put a stop to campdrafting for most of 2020, riders are finally out of isolation, back on the road, and in the saddle.
Tamworth’s Nutrien Classic has seen people travel far and wide from many states to get back on the campdraft circuit this week.
After 12 months of cancelled drafts, the performance horse event has been a welcome beginning to the 2021 season.
For some horses and riders, it is the first time they have competed in a year and laid eyes on distant friends.
Craig McNabb travelled from Moama on the New South Wales-Victorian border with his horses Spotty and Phoenix.
“We’ve been separated for 12 months and Sale [in Victoria] was our first draft [this year] and it was like a big family coming together, it was fantastic.”
Mr McNabb’s wife Carolyn and her friend and fellow campdrafter Toni Hart from Googong, NSW, have also looked forward to campdrafts getting underway.
For Mrs Hart, it was her first since last year’s Classic.
“We’re super happy to be here and it is lovely to see everyone. There is a real buzz,” she said.
Mrs McNabb was enthusiastic to have conversations with friends face-to-face.
“It’s just so great to see everybody. We have all been through isolation in different ways,” she said.
“It’s been a good thing on the farms, in isolation, because you still get on with your normal jobs. But it’s just been the lack of seeing people and communication.
NSW horsewoman Emma O’Shea hails from Cootamundra and usually travels the year across the nation to compete in drafts and running clinics.
Like everyone, COVID-19 stopped her wheels turning for some time.
“It didn’t bother me at the start when we couldn’t draft because I have two young kids and we’re very busy. But as soon as I found the first draft was on I was pretty keen,” Ms O’Shea said.
“Once I got to the first draft it was great catching up with everybody and getting back to it.
Queenslanders back on the road
Joshua Smith travelled 1,200 kilometres from central Queensland with his family to get to the Tamworth draft.
“We haven’t actually done anything since the Nutrien Classic in 2020,” he said.
Kim and Evan Acton made the long journey from north-west Queensland where there were only two drafts last year.
Mr Acton said drafts were an important social outing many had missed, particularly for those working on isolated pastoral properties.
“There are a lot of young people that work on those big properties and it is their social outlet,” he said.
“[In normal times] they might work a month, work every day, and have three or four days off to go to rodeos and campdrafts.”
