Young was well represented at this year’s Australian Stock Horse National Championship in Tamworth with 19-year-old Emily McIllhatton and her horse Merriview Fly exceeding expectations to win a number of divisions.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Hailing from Tubbul, 29 kilometres west of Young, Emily is studying in her second year of a Bachelor of Social Work at Charles Sturt University in Wagga Wagga and has been involved in Stock Horse Championships for many years.
Emily and Merriview Fly, owned by her partner Joe Lawrence of Engleston Performance Horses at Barmedman, competed in the two-year-old Snaffle Bit Futurity section along with 70 other catalogued horses.
Merriview Fly was acquired with the intention to return this year and compete for the incentives The Australian Stock Horse Society had on offer for buyers from the Fountain Of Youth (FOY) sale.
The duo finished highest placed FOY horse in lead section; second highest placed FOY horse in hack section; highest placed FOY horse in utility section and seventh overall in Snaffle Bit Futurity.
These placings were enough for Emily and Merriview Fly to secure the win and were announced the Highest Placed FOY Horse for 2016.
Apart from the cash prizes for each section, as well as the overall winner prize, Emily and Merriview Fly were victorious in winning a special class for two-year-old FOY horses, picking up a service to a well performed Australian Stock Horse stallion.
Emily is extremely thankful for the support of partner Joe and is very appreciative of the opportunity to campaign Merriview Fly with such success.
“I am very excited that we did so well,” Emily said.
“It was unexpected, but I knew we could perform at the level required.
“After quite a few years in the sport, it was nice to get such a positive result.
“We will give Merriview Fly a break now before getting back into it in spring to be ready for next year’s national championship,” she said.
