Australia’s Greatest Horsewoman

By Daneka Hill

Apr 4, 2022

Grand title: Jess Smith and This Cat Curls. The Violet Town-based rider took out the grand title of ‘Australia’s Greatest Horsewoman’. Smith wanted to make special mention of This Cat Curls, who is sired by This Cats Destiny. Photo by Daneka Hill

It took three days of events and a nation full of horse women to discover who, exactly, was the greatest.

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Riders travelled from as far as Katherine, NT and North Queensland to compete in the first ever Australia’s Greatest Horsewomen event in Tatura, but in the end the winner was a local.

Violet Town rider Jess Smith won the honour of being crowned “Australia’s Greatest” with a score of 136.5.

But it was a very narrow victory, runner-up Rose Wellersley and her horse Corona took second on 136 points.

Mrs Smith said the inaugural Australia’s Greatest Horsewoman event had “opened up opportunities in the cow-horse discipline”.

“I look forward to seeing the event grown,” she said.

There were a few local names among the Queenslanders and New South Welsh woman, including 15-year-old Chesney Glover from Tatura who won reserve junior champion and best junior reining.

Bright team: Sure To Be Playful, ridden by Bearii competitor Kerry Collins. Both stood out in their bright colours. Photo by Daneka Hill

Riders competed across five events: reining, cutting, extreme cowboy racing, fence work and a top 10 all-discipline final shoot out.

Organised by Boonie Doon’s Kim Peterson and Merton rider Steph Lancefield, the event was held at Tatura Park — the only venue in Victoria capable of hosting a large livestock event.

Mrs Lancefield said the attendance had been beyond what she expected.

“This is the first event we’ve ever run. The sportsmanship between the girls has been like nothing I’ve ever seen before,” Mrs Lancefield said.

“Not only were they riding to an extremely high level, but everyone has gone home with a new friend. No-one came thinking they knew it all, probably because no-one has every done something like this before.”

The event also featured a trade show and an art exhibition, which sold numerous “equine artworks”.

The organisers say all that’s left to do now is start working on next year’s event.