Tamworth is gearing up for three days of skill, horsemanship, and community spirit as the countdown begins for the 2025 TSPH Clinic Participant’s Campdraft, set to take place from 21–23 November at the picturesque Koobah Performance Horses property in Tamworth, NSW.
Hosted by Texas Star Performance Horses (TSPH), this highly anticipated event celebrates the culmination of a year’s worth of training, learning, and connection through TSPH’s popular clinic program. The campdraft is designed especially for riders who have participated in these clinics, offering them a chance to put their skills into practice in a supportive and encouraging environment.
Director of Texas Star Performance Horses, Amanda Nicholson, said this event is always the result of a year of hard work for her, her partner and co-director, Neil Faint, and the attendees of their clinics.
“This is our 5th year now and each year delivers some really wonderful outcomes,” said Ms Nicholson.
“Neil hosts clinics all over NSW across the year, usually around 40-45 each year, and then these clinics culminate in the campdraft event at end of the year.”
“It’s a big, well-established event now and across the last 5 years we’ve injected around $2.2 million into the local economy as a result of it.”
TSPH’s clinics are known for their small group format, which allows for individual attention and hands-on coaching. Riders at all levels are welcome, from those just starting to experienced competitors refining their technique. Each clinic focuses on developing both horse and rider — building confidence, control, and understanding while maintaining a strong emphasis on horsemanship and animal welfare.
“Our newer riders we tend to see progress into competition in around 2 years whereas some of our more experienced riders we’ll see take out anything up to a national level after completing a clinic,” said Ms Nicholson.
“We have everyone covered category-wise at the final campdraft, from under 8s all the way up to our over 55s Masters category.”
Ms Nicholson and Mr Faint are both experienced campdraft competitors themselves and live and breathe horsemanship in their daily lives.
“We love what we do,” said Ms Nicholson.
“Our one little sacrifice now is that we don’t have the time to compete as much as we’d like to any more, but we still try to get as many competitions as we can each year, and our 10-year-old daughter Annabelle is also competing now as well, so it’s a big part of our lives.”
Across the year, participants learn everything from cattle handling and mechanical cow work to perfecting dry work patterns and improving timing in the arena. The campdraft weekend is a chance for these riders to showcase what they’ve achieved, testing their new skills in real competition settings among friends and mentors.
This year’s program promises three action-packed days of top-quality campdrafting, skill-building, and camaraderie. Riders from across the region will gather to compete, cheer each other on, and celebrate the true spirit of Australian horsemanship. With entries opening at 10am on Tuesday, 28 October and closing at 10am on Friday, 31 October through ABCRA’s iCompete platform, anticipation is already high for what’s shaping up to be another fantastic event. There are 12 different categories open across the weekend, with prizes and entry fees varying depending on which event you’re seeking to enter.
As always, the event’s success is made possible by the support of the 2025 Corporate Partners, whose generous sponsorship helps provide a professional and enjoyable experience for all involved. Tamworth’s Stockman’s Motel, Bar and Restaurant are the proud Platinum Partner for this year’s event. Ms Nicholson extended her gratitude to these partners, as well as to the volunteers and families who contribute behind the scenes.
Campdrafting holds a special place in Australian culture, combining precision, speed, and teamwork between horse and rider. The TSPH Clinic Participant’s Campdraft highlights these elements while also showcasing the friendships and mentorships that grow through shared passion and practice.
“We started the clinics because we saw that there was a real gap in the market, there was no platform for people to be able to learn the fundamentals and the safety that they needed to be able to compete in campdrafts,” said Ms Nicholson.
“People were going out and spending all this money on horses, but didn’t really understand the rules and the safety – It’s like buying a Ferrari but not knowing how to drive it.”
“We really wanted people to be able to have a place to grow and gain the knowledge and skills so that they were fully prepared for open competition when they get there.”
Whether you’re a competitor, supporter, or spectator, the 2025 TSPH Clinic Participants Campdraft promises an unforgettable weekend of horsemanship, heart, and country hospitality.
For more information or to learn about upcoming clinics, visit www.texasstarperformancehorses.com.au or follow Texas Star Performance Horses on Facebook for updates and entry details.
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