Last week I blogged ‘Campdrafting – Australia’s own horse sport’ (June 13, 2011) and asked the question. ‘I wonder why Arabian horses don’t compete at Campdrafting – or do they?’ Joy of joys – I was contacted by Marian Duncan (artist) who sent me some information about her daughter Jade and her wonderful purebred Arabian mare ‘Danjera Shaania’

Jade and Danjera Shaania

Purchased as a three year old Danjera Shaania is a purebred Arabian of English bloodlines. Jade mentions, ‘as a young mare I took Shaania with me working on a cattle & stockhorse property in the mountains at scone NSW.I was working young stockhorses and doing cattle work. At the time Shaania didn’t work often with the cattle, because the stockhorses were to be used as part of their training. She had a couple of mustering jobs, and in my spare time I worked on getting her sliding stops and rollbacks (spins) very precise.’

When Jade and Shaania returned home they began competing at Pony Club events – hacking, dressage, jumping and sporting finally competing at the State Sporting and Campdrafting Championships. Jade explains further, ‘Shaania held her own in every event and ended up with a 7th overall in the Campdraft. The same year we competed at The Australian Arabian National Championships, we won Champion Working Stockhorse and the Jackpot Barrel Race. At the Sydney Equestrian Centre.’
Jade decided Shaania was ready for an even bigger challenge and began to compete country wide in the open Campdrafts. She started Shaania slowly until she got the hang of things. Arabians are fast learners and as Jade said, ‘it did not take Shaania long to get the idea!’

Go Jade and Shaania!

In case you don’t know Campdrafting is an Australian Sport started by the Australian Stockmen. Jade explains, ‘there are six steers in a yard, you pick a good steer and bring it up to the front of the yard. It will try desperately to dodge past you to get back to the others. This is where you show off your horses skills at cutting (blocking) the steer. After that you call “gate” and the men will open the gate behind the cow out into an arena. You push your steer out and at a gallop you direct him around a course set out with pegs. The first two pegs you do a figure of eight around then put the steer though the two pegs acting like a gate at the end. A Campdrafting horse should be very quick and agile, fast and very responsive to the rider, yet remain calm through the whole process.It’s a tough sport. You may be the best rider and have the best horse, but if you pick a bad steer it can be a disaster.’

Tail carried high! LOL

Jade has recently retired Shaania to breed a foal from her but her last draft was a fantastic achievement. She came 10th out of 80 in The Ladies Draft and made it into the final of the Maiden draft from approx. 200 competitors. (16 made the final)

It seems the Arabian horse always has to prove himself to be accepted. Not that it is a worry for this gutsy breed. They may have to compete amongst criticism but they achieve amidst admiration!

After watching the horses compete at the Pittsworth Campdraft I consider Jade and Shaania to be outstanding representatives for the Arabian breed. As Jade says, ‘Shaania is a smooth, soft ride and one of the smartest horses I have ever ridden.’