The Australian Made All-Rounder
Angela Tiede, January 2025. Image: Classical Ezekiel in his overnight yard at Marionvale, Ozsort Cattle Clinic, 14 December 2024
Waler Horse: the Australian made all-rounder, yep that is my stallion Classic Ezekiel. After some slow years during COVID lockdowns when external horse events were off the menu, followed by an all-consuming project to capture foundation Walers which is ongoing as I work through educating those in my care, I decided Zeke and I could try out a new sport I had seen at a couple of Farm Expos I had attended.
Ozsort was billed as a fun and inexpensive family sport, so why not give it a go?! After all, we had some fun times at Stockman’s Challenges, with a tiny taste of cattle work, so we had the basics behind us I reckon.
The usual hurdle of managing a stallion in mixed company at an unfamiliar venue was par for the course but the additional one was housing him safely overnight the night before the clinic as it’s at least a 2.5 hour drive from home. With an early start to the proceedings and a long day it was too much to tackle all in one go.
Luckily there were cattle panels available for me to build a yard for Zeke for the night so off we headed, for only his second overnight away from home at an event. Little did he know what was ahead of him.
It was a relief to get him unloaded and into his temporary yard (which the kind help of Andrew who was running the clinic on his property) so we could settle in for the night. It was a warm day and the flies were out in full force, followed by the mozzies as the sun was setting. All designed for maximum irritation for Zeke, who could not believe his situation, gazing at me and then into the distance as if to say: ‘when are we going home to my paddock and pal Hastings?’
A restless night ensued as he reorganised his square yard into an octagon by pushing and rubbing on the panels, with me glaring at him from my swag in the horse float, but no yelling or unruly behaviour for which I was grateful. I always expect the worst and he always delivers the best, me of little faith.
We were up bright and early for a walk and pick on the grass outside his yard followed by breakfast for us both then saddling up and heading over to the arenas to meet the other participants and get warmed up for starting our introduction to the cattle. Apart from yelling periodically for most of the day to the horses scattered around in paddocks Zeke was pretty well behaved. Lots of trotting and cantering to get him focused and settled, checking out the waiting mob of young cattle as we went around, and around, and around again (and again…) Andew was determined to ensure he knew we were a safe and under control combination, so we worked, and we worked some more.
The main task for the morning was teamwork with the other 8 or so people who were on their second day of the two-day clinic, moving a mob of around 20 from the arena out across the property to the road, up the road and down the next road, turning them and bringing them back. A first time for us riding on the road with a mob of horses let alone a mob of cattle. Zeke loved it! He knew he had a job to do and was no trouble at all during the whole ride, a natural for sure. Totally happy in company as he always is, no drama with passing cars, long grass and ditches and a few cattle turning back on us. Took it all in his stride and hopefully thinking it was worth the long night away from his paddock and Hastings.
We had a great day learning new skills, first meeting the cattle and cutting out one to move up and down, turning to face up to it constantly. Zeke is obviously a real charmer as his bovine went all dewy eyed as I pushed him up closer, ending in nose kisses. Um, not the expected outcome, but I reckon a great sign that he would likely be trusted as a leader, immediately in synch so to speak. We then worked in pairs to cut out numbered cattle from a mob of 10 in the order nominated by the judge and move them from one arena to the next, the most cattle sorted in the correct order and in the fastest time wins. Well, that was not us, but we did not embarrass ourselves (much). It requires real teamwork and communication to maximise speed and accuracy. One person guarding the gate to prevent unwanted cattle ducking through but moving out of the way quickly enough in order not to block the desired bovine from exiting, the other finding the correct one to cut out and push to the gate. Great fun!
I can highly recommend the sport. Much more family oriented than the established sports of team penning and camp-drafting (hugely competitive and fast moving) and just starting out here in Victoria.
A long drive back home at the end of the day, both Zeke and I had done more riding than we had in ages but had really enjoyed our adventure. He was so relieved to be delivered back to his paddock and ever faithful pal Hastings and I was sure I would not see him for days as the paddock is ten acres or more and he is adept at sneaking up for a drink then disappearing in an instant. Nope, he was waiting for me the next morning and the next and the next, the royal tick of approval that a good time had been had by all. Except Hastings no doubt.
