Record numbers to compete at event

This year’s Southern Forests Campdraft will see a record number of riders compete across three days from March 6 to March 8.

There have been 167 entries across five grades: maiden, novice, restricted open horse, junior and juvenile.

Due to the number of entries, the competition has been expanded, adding a Friday afternoon to the usual Saturday and Sunday competition, with the first runs beginning on Friday at 3pm.

The aim of campdrafting is for a horse rider to separate a cow from a group of cattle and then guide it through an obstacle course.

Competition grades in campdrafting are decided by the rider’s experience rather than their age or gender.

“It’s one of the only sports in the world where it doesn’t matter what gender you are, or what age you are, everyone competes against each other,” Southern Forest Campdraft and Rodeo Club secretary Katie Drummond said.

“For example, in the novice... we can have an 18-year-old or an 80-year-old, male or female,” she said.

“It’s really good in that aspect...it’s not categorised depending on the person, it’s all about the horse, other than the junior and juveniles.”