Well-respected horsewoman Young’s Christy Davidson took home two gongs from the 2023 Australia’s Greatest Horsewoman event held at Tatura from March 29 to April 2.
Ms Davidson on Slide Aside Cowboy won the AGH senior and Cowgirl Up senior titles in an impressive display of skill.
The AGH involves the horse and rider competing in four disciplines, including reining and cutting, to share in $40,000 in cash and prizes.
Event co-organiser Kim Peterson said Ms Davidson was an “amazing” competitor.
“She is humble and always gives her best,” Ms Peterson said.
Ella Hazlett on Mia Hell Cat won the AGH junior title for the second year in a row, Claire Lindley on Yaven Moore Chrome took out the Cowgirl Up junior event and Minna Baxter, on Bettagetagunner, the Rein In Pink event.
Tumut’s Ariel Wheeler took out the Colt Start, which involves taking an un-started horse, and across three days competitors demonstrate their training and horsemanship skills.
Ms Peterson, who hails from Bonnie Doon, said she and co-orgnaiser Merton’s Stephanie Lancefield were thrilled with the event, which ran for the first time last year, also at Tatura Park.
“We’ve been very fortunate to have so many talented horsewomen from across the country competing,” Ms Peterson said.
There were more than 80 competitors across the events and around 40 taking part in the clinics on day one.
The Goulburn Valley was well represented with riders from Undera, Strathmerton, Tatura, Nagambie, Bearii and Toolamba, as well as from Victoria’s north-east, competing.
This year’s event was particularly memorable for Ms Lancefield — her partner Mitch Dunnachie proposed in front of the crowd after the winners were announced.
“It was very cute,” Ms Peterson said.
“Mitch has a bung knee and when he kneeled down (to propose) Steph jumped down saying ‘don’t hurt your knee’.”
(She also said “yes”.)
Next year’s event will be held from April 17 to 21.
For more details, visit: https://www.theaustraliancowgirl.com.au/