General News
22 October, 2024
Digger dazzler: Haley's Gamble pays off
HALEY Smith has mastered an “opinionated horse” to claim a Ranch Horse Association of Australia national title. The Wedderburn horsewoman has returned from Scone, New South Wales, where Digger (registered named QXH The Gamble) starred in the...
HALEY Smith has mastered an “opinionated horse” to claim a Ranch Horse Association of Australia national title.
The Wedderburn horsewoman has returned from Scone, New South Wales, where Digger (registered named QXH The Gamble) starred in the hi-point green rider event.
“He’s certainly been a gamble but it’s paid off,” Haley said.
“Digger’s been in all sorts of accidents since I got him - ran into a gate trying to race another horse, hit a mesh fence and injured his shoulder and knee, ran away and out onto the highway.
“But they say opinionated horses are the best and Digger is certainly opinionated. When I first looked at him, I told the owners he wasn’t for me ... I kept thinking about him and went back to buy him.
“To get Digger to win a national championship is amazing.”
Haley said many in the quarter horse fraternity had doubted her choice of horse “but I had to have a crack”.
Haley says the love of horses has been with her since she was a teenager.
“It’s only in the last four years that I have got into adult riding,” said Haley who is a member of the Northern Victorian Quarter Horse Association at Pyramid Hill.
Ranch association events are judged on the ability to work a horse at forward moving pace “in natural frame while testing the skill and versatility of horse and rider”.
Haley said: “It a bit like cowgirl riding.”
Since her return to riding, Haley has taken part in clinics and received special lessons to improve skills and knowledge.
“Before that I had not had any formal training,” she said.
“So that it was just Digger and me on this journey makes the national championship even more special.
“He has gone from being an inexperienced and nervous horse to a champion.”