The King of the Ranges

Stockman's Challenge

Showcasing the horsemanship skills of today’s Australian stockmen and women

As the dust settles and the adrenaline rises, competitors face tough events set to test the most skilled horses and riders. Exhibiting unwavering skills, the stockmen and women are challenged til we find the King of the Ranges.

From high in the

hills of the

Great Dividing Range

to the long grassy plains,

stockmen and women are

called to

the Challenge

What is a Stockman’s Challenge?

The King of the Ranges Stockmen’s Challenge showcases the traditional skills of Australian stockmen and women over an exciting and intense 3 day challenge.

Competition is fierce to accumulate points for cattle work, packhorse work, bareback riding, target whip cracking, horseshoeing and cross country jumping.

Finalists further display skill and courage in catching and leading a wild horse and riding a buckjumper to determine who will be the 2024 King of the Ranges.

The King of the Ranges Stockman’s Challenge is a living tribute to the Stockmen and Women of Australia.

The King of the Ranges Challenge

competitors must win the highest number of points

over 7 challenges to be eligible to compete in the final events on Sunday.

The events are;

Horse Vet Check

Steward Sarah Connley

  • Horses are to be fit and sound as determined by the Vet.

  • The horse must be able to be led at a trot to the satisfaction of the Vet.

  • Should a horse be ‘vetted out’, the competitor may use a spare horse if it is presented to the Vet within 30 minutes and is determined to be sound.

  • Horse’s standing heart rate will be taken after the horse has been standing for at least 15 minutes and will be taken into consideration when the horse’s recovery time is assessed for scoring on completion of the Cross Country event.

  • The same horse must be used throughout the competition.

  • A horse with ring worm must not be brought into the grounds, if symptoms develop during the event, the horse must be removed from the grounds immediately.

  • Please refer to event rules for detail

Stockman’s Gear Check

Steward Sarah Connley

Dress in and use gear for rugged bush riding. Horse and rider gear must comply with the recognised criteria of Australian gear for daily work and be deemed by the Judge to be safe and suited to rugged bush riding.

  • Horse to be fully saddled with halter, stock whip and oilskin etc

  • Competitors are to dress according to the appropriate stockman’s gear which is required in each event

  • Competitors do not need to present their shoeing materials

  • Riders’ and horses’ gear and accessories must be in good condition and well maintained throughout the events.

  • Gear intended for use in the competition must be on the horse for inspection

Bareback

Steward Sally Stockwell

Catch a horse in the morning and ride bareback to the campsite. Riding bareback and using a choice of headgear competitors must complete a course designed to demonstrate rider skill, control and manoeuvrability of their horse. Perform 60 second freestyle routine.

Packsaddle

Steward Sarah Finalyson

Pack a packsaddle and lead a pack horse through the bush. Within a set time competitors must pack their competition horse ensuring that the bags are balanced. The packhorse is then led through a course of obstacles to reach the campsite where the packsaddle is removed, bags unpacked and the competition horse re-saddled.

Shoeing

Steward Lane Grant

Shoe a horse so that it can be ridden over rugged country. Competitors are allowed tools of their choice at the horse but only a hammer and pritchel at the stalljack. Within a set time and depending on category, competitors prepare and shoe one or two hooves.

Stock Handling

Steward Racheal Finlayson Wall

Work groups of cattle free from the mob, using a horse and a dog. Within a set time competitors must cut out one beast in campdraft format and then in a controlled manner using a dog, move three head through set obstacles.

Whipcrack

Steward Lee Tonkin

Crack a stock whip to control stock while riding at speed. Within a set time competitors navigate a course, whilst negotiating obstacles they may encounter in the bush and attempt to cleanly cut targets. Riders then perform a 30 second freestyle routine including the compulsory ‘Sydney Flash’ with the horse standing still and relaxed.

Cross Country Obstacle Course

Steward Lucy Wade

Gallop over logs, down banks and through streams when mustering. Riding in a stock saddle, competitors must complete a 2km course with 20 jumps, as close as possible to an optimum time which is based on a horse speed of 425m per minute. 

Challenge Finals

Steward Chris Anderson

The preliminary events run on Friday and Saturday with the highest ranked riders going through to the Challenge Finals on Sunday. The Open Challenge Finalists compete in a poley saddle buck jump, attempting to ride a bucking horse for 8 seconds whilst cracking a stock whip. The Ladies and Open finalists will both competethe wild horse catch.

“From start to finish, riding at King of the Ranges is challenging, inspiring and empowering. I’ll be back next year.”

- Competitor 2022