LEGENDS  STOCKMANS  CHALLENGE

Celebrate the Legends of the Australian Bush who went before us and experience fair dinkum Aussie bush spirit in action.


Over three days we challenge our competitors and their horses; showcasing their skills, the partnership between horse and rider; and the trust and respect they have for each other.


The exciting finale crowns of a new Aussie legend: The Legend of the Lower Lakes

Friday & Saturday Preliminary Action

Friday morning is an early start for riders to get out there and begin collecting the points they need to get to the finals.  After two days of gruelling competition, the finalists announced on Saturday evening. 


Every rider competes in all six events collecting technical and time points:

 

  • Stock Handling
  • Jump Challenge
  • Whip Cracking
  • Bareback Obstacle
  • Pack Horse and
  • Horse Shoeing

 

Saturday throws in a winning opportunity for our visitors: 


Once we know our finalists, we auction them off to the highest bidder!


The Calcutta Auction is a great fundraiser for you and your friends to take a punt on who will be the Legend and all monies raised go straight to the Royal Flying Doctors.

Sunday Main Arena Finale

The Men, Women and Junior finalists battle it out on Sunday for the Legend title.

Get your spot early to take in this stunning main arena finale!

The day gets going with the Grand Parade at 10am.

 

  • Junior Time Trial
  • Heritage Horse Catch
  • Poley Saddle Rough Ride

 

Preliminary Events 

Stock Handling

The Stock Handling event sees horse and rider team up and give you a close up display of their skills in the 80m cattle arena with a stopwatch tickin’.

With five brains in the arena – 3 cattle, horse and rider – the Challenge competitor is thinking on his horse’s feet!

There’s cutting, calming, obstacles and more to score the winning points.

Jump Challenge

The fast-paced Cross Country event challenges horse and rider over rough terrain at speed. While carrying a full length oil skin and a stock whip, competitors skilfully negotiate jumps, ditches, fences and gates to showcase the courage and experience of rider – and horse!

This event has an optimum time window so competitors can’t ride too slowly to maximise jumps points and can’t ride too fast to get the best time but at the expense of their horse.

And the Bonus Jump at the end of the course is optional but taken cleanly offers a huge point bonus and no penalties.

Whip Cracking

The Whip Crack event is not to be missed! It is a thrilling display of precision whip cracking and horsemanship.

No walking in this one!!

One hand on the reins,
         one hand with a whip,
                 aiming to cut the target tape
with a resounding CRACK of the whip,
the challenger canters their way through the obstacle course –
up hill, down dale and over jumps – while the clocks a tickin’.

After the set course, competitors let loose with a 30 second freestyle show where they showcase their whip cracking prowess with one or two whips.

Bareback Obstacle

The Bareback event brings the aussie bush skills to life with horse and rider completing a challenging obstacle course. Horses are not naturally adventurous but these riders have put in the time gaining their partner’s trust and it is a compelling display of horsemanship.

No saddle, a stock whip and beat the clock – bonus points for no headgear on the horse!

Even more entertainment with the Freestyle segment.

Pack Horse

Stockmen and women work in isolated landscapes and, whilst the Pack Saddle challenge may sound simple, the knowledge and experience in this event can mean the difference between life and death for the isolated traveller.

Under the experienced eye of the judges, the competitor packs the packsaddle and then travels the obstacle course replicating the not-so-simple challenges of the Aussie bush.

Horse Shoeing

Precision and speed is what you need to succeed in the traditional Horseshoeing event. 

Horse handling, preparation, shape and fit of the shoe are all imperative to the horse and the riders’ safety in rough terrain.
“Fantastic event, I have been every year and I’ll be back this year!"

Michael Green

“Awesome!! Well done to the committee and all involved on a fantastic weekend!! We’ll be back next year!! (12 hour drive from Victoria)"

Vicki S

“Throughly enjoyed competing at the Lower Lakes stockmen’s challenge ... committee worked really hard to make it the event that it is! I’m excited to compete this year and challenge myself even more! Thank You for continuing and making it a great weekend!"

Brooke W

The Aussie Bush Stockmen were the bush pioneers whose proficiency was developed as a simple matter of survival in a harsh land.

They would often be alone for weeks patrolling fence-lines or droving with a handful of mates for hundreds of miles in almost uninhabited country.

They were Legends!
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