Special Sub-Topic: The Sport of Campdrafting Click Here To Play: The Sport of Campdrafting

What two animals are involved in the sport of campdrafting?

Horses and cattle. Stockmen and drovers started campdrafting to show off their skills of horse riding and cattle work. I'm sure it was also used to settle the arguments as to who was the better rider and who had the better horse!

In terms of campdrafting, what is the 'camp'?

A small yard. This is where the horse and rider need to push the selected beast into to complete the course.

The basic idea of campdrafting is to select one beast out of a mob of cattle, show the judge they have control of the beast and steer it into the 'camp' after completing a course. How does the competitor keep the selected beast from the rest of the mob to demonstrate control of the animal to the judges?

Keeps himself and the horse between the beast and the mob. By working the horse backward and forward to be between the single beast and the rest of the mob, the selected beast is kept away from the mob. Riders only FEEL like shooting the beast when they pick a strong-willed one.

Once control of the beast has been shown in campdrafting, the rider signals that the gates are to be opened and then must complete their run by going through a course and putting the beast through the gates. How long is given for this?

Forty seconds. Doesn't seem long, does it? Which is why the horses and the riders have to have work extremely well together to get the course completed. (It takes me over forty seconds just to get ON a horse :D )

Of what shape does the campdrafting course consist?

Figure eight pattern. Two markers, perhaps trees or drums, are set apart for the rider to maneuver the beast in the figure eight pattern. Not as easy as it may sound.

Once the beast is in the 'camp' the judges allocate points. On what areas are the riders judged in campdrafting?

All of these (Horsework, The course, The camp section). To gain the highest mark possible the rider should show skill in all sections.

The final score of campdrafting is out of how many points?

100. The 'camp' section is scored out of twenty six points, the 'course' is only four points and 'horsework' makes up the remaining seventy points.

What group does S.C.A stand for in regards to campdrafting?

Southern Campdraft Association (Ltd). The S.C.A. covers southern New South Wales, Victoria and a part of South Australia. The membership of the S.C.A. is growing by 12% per year making campdrafting one of Australia's fastest growing sports. Check out their website at www.campdraft.org.au

During 2002, why have many scheduled campdrafting events been cancelled?

Drought conditions. The cattle used for campdrafts are usually supplied by cattle stations near the event. Unlike some rodeo events the cattle are normal farm stock and usually have had no experience in being taken through the campdrafting course. Because of severe drought in many areas of Australia during 2002, it has been hard to find cattle in a good enough physical condition.

During which decade is it thought that campdrafting was started?

1880 - 1890. This was way before the common use of vehicles and motor bikes, when horses were the major way to work cattle. Ahhh, romantic days.