In early March I made my way down to a Client’s place in southwest Western Australia who is involved in the running of the Mayanup Campdraft. The Mayanup Campdraft is a favourite for locals on the southern WA Campdraft Calendar, nestled amongst the lemon-scented gums and rolling hills just 15 kilometres southeast of WA’s country music capital, Boyup Brook.
The last time I was there was 8 years ago back in 2007 where I was given a horse to compete in the Maiden Draft and managed to win the event, which was pretty lucky. Anyway, I had previously trained an Acres Destiny bred gelding for 12 months in Katherine which I sold to local committee member Graeme Oliver two years ago. Graeme wanted me to draft him this time in the Maiden and we ran an 87 in the first round and an 89 in the final, which was enough to win the event. I’m not sure what was more rewarding, to run two great scores on a horse I had trained some years earlier, or the excitement on Graeme and Jill’s faces when I was able to hand them the winning trophy.
A few days after the draft, I was back in the heat and humidity of the Territory where the team started work on another 10 horses for Clients. We also began work on some exciting capital upgrades including the installation of a horse walker, construction of new feed and tack sheds and the resurfacing of driveways with the help of good mates Reg Underwood and Rod Bremner, in addition to tree planting fence lines and re-fencing horse paddocks.