Yulgilbar's New Kids in the Show Pen are Looking Good!
Yulgilbar is pleased with the first outing of three of the Studs futurity horses in the SQCHA Goondiwindi three year old cutting held August 13-15, 2021. All are looking forward to showing in the 2021 NCHA Futurity.
We want to congratulate Roy Marchington for his gelding Yulgilbar Keep Kool shown by Jamie Secombe for making the final. Keep Kool is by Ima Smooth Blue Cat and from Yulgilbar Bright Scotty and is a stylish cutter.
Robert Mackay made the final on Yulgilbar Kinda Tuff who is the first foal from Yulgilbar's imported mare, SVR Reys Smart Chic and by Woody Be Tuff. Tuff is a great athlete and has such a neat move on a cow.
Robert also showed Yulgilbar Keepin Sweet by Smooth As A Cat and from WD Short N Sweet who also showed well but had some bad luck and missed the final. It's too bad because she is so cowy, has a great mind and honest.
Yulgilbar 2021 NCHA Futurity Show Team
The Yulgilbar Team had a fun day at Robert and Lori Mackay's Boggabilla property, "Budleigh" warming up for the 2021 NCHA Futurity. Todd Graham travelled up from Tamworth with Yulgilbar's imported mare SVR Reys Smart Chic (Dixie) who Todd is preparing for the big Pinnacle Cutting event at the Futurity. Dixie is not carrying a foal this year so the Stud decided to put her back in work and have some fun showing her. Wow!!!! Sid Myer and Todd Graham are having so much fun riding her as she is 'The Real Deal". Robert Mackay is showing her son, Kind Tuff in the Futurity so it will be fun to see mother and son in the arena at the Futurity. Hi Kitty and Ima Black Cat are entered in the Classics and Yulgilbar also has a Smooth As A Cat filly entered in the Futurity. With a team of 5 horses representing Yulgilbar this year, everyone is looking forward to heading to Tamworth.
NCHA Autumn Spectacular Yulgilbar Horses Shine
The NCHA Autumn Spectacular was a great show and Yulgilbar congratulates the owners of the Yulgilbar bred horses that had success in the very competitive events.
Yulgilbar Jackaroo made the final of the open Futurity and both the open and amateur and non pro Futurity finals. Congratulations to Troy Randell the trainer and Scott Cody the owner and non pro competitor such an outstanding achievement.
Yulgilbar GDay Kitty also had a successful show making the non pro and amateur Classic Challenge ridden by Kylie Bennett Tapp. 
Yulgilbar Quarter Horses also wish to congratulate Mark Buttsworth on his Futurity Reserve Championship by half a point riding his Peppyphalair who is out of his famous mare Yulgilbar O Peppy Roy. 
Annual Yearling Handling at Elgee Park
Each year Robert Mackay arrives at Elgee Park to give the Yulgilbar Quarter Horse yearling his special pre breaking handling. This year he was accompanied by Lori Mackay and Todd Graham who gave a helping hand with the yearlings. Though the visit to Elgee Park was cut short due to the Victorian Covid five day shut down, the yearlings were given a quick course of hobbling, being sidelined, tied and lead from a horse by Robert. Todd gave the yearling a course in learning to give to pressure and suppling. The yearlings are well grown and will now be set for breaking in the next few months.
The brand new viewing grandstand at the arena is a wonderful addition to Elgee Park and was enjoyed by all who watched the yearlings being handled.
Vale to Yulgilbar Great Smooth Cat and Linafex
On the 5th of February Yulgilbar lost two of their favourite horses from a lighting strike. Yulgilbar Great Smooth Cat and Linkafex were standing together in their paddock near the Elgee Park stables on the evening of the storm when a lighting bolt hit the ground near them and travelled to their shoes. Both were found in the morning of a Yulgilbar Cutting School where both horses were going to be ridden by Sid and Ed Myer in the school.
Yulgilbar Great Smooth Cat (Brownie) and Linkafex (Link) had successful cutting careers but more importantly, were wonderful family horses used for station work, pleasure riding, non pro showing and schools. Brownie and Link gave so many family members and friends an introduction to cutting and western riding and will be almost impossible to replace.
They were laid to rest on Elgee Park and have plaques placed in the stables in their memory.
Yulgilbar Mares at Work
Yulgilbar Hi Kitty and Yulgilbar Ima Black Cat are on the job at the Mackay property "Danderga" drafting fats. Yulgilbar's moto, "we work our show horse and show our work horses" has never been more turn than for these two mares. With Covid restricting movement and showing for so many of our horses, they have been put to work until they can show again.
Yulgilbar Pre-works 2020
2020 has been a troubling time for everyone and certainly Yulgilbar Station has seen its fare share of difficult times. The fires in 2019 and 2020 raced through the majority of the property but the rains following the fires have transformed the landscape. Winter is always a wonderful time to visit Yulgilbar, but this year it was extra special.
Due to Corvid restrictions that postponed the 2020 NCHA Futurity the annual April pre-works held at Yulgilbar Station were moved to August 1 - 4. The Myer family were so looking forward to attending the pre-works but were unable to attend as they were locked down in Victoria. Rob and Tyler Hodgman, Robert and Lori Mackay, Todd Graham, Peter Shumack, Jade Williamson and Rafe Ritchie were lucky enough to make the pre-works this year and relished each of the four days of perfect weather and outstanding Santa yearling cattle. The relaxed atmosphere with plenty of banter was enjoyed by all especially the Yulgilbar Team who received expert coaching from the cutters.
By the end of the four days the horses were ready for Tamworth, but unfortunately now that the Futurity and Aged events have been cancelled for 2020, they will not be able to take advantage of all those fresh cattle!
Yulgilbar Station is considering holding a School later this year with Todd Graham. Let's hope all travel restrictions are over and the Myer Family can attend.
Lock Down at Elgee Park
Yulgilbar Quarter Horses stud property "Elgee Park" is in lock down. Despite the lock down and cold wet weather Sarah Myer is still riding her 27 year old mare "Scotty".
NCHA July School Holiday Youth Clinic At Argyle
The NCHA held a three day cutting and horsemanship clinic at the Yulgilbar Tamworth property "Argyle" on July 10-12. Thirty-eight young riders attended from as far a Toowoomba and Kangaroo Valley south of Sydney. Each day was full of instruction with tree arenas in use. Some of Australia's best cutting horse trainers gave their time to coach each rider individually in general horsemanship, using a mechanical cow and working out of the herd.
There was a marked improvement each day in each and every rider and horse. Hopefully this type of clinic will be held again at "Argyle" in the future. A special thanks to Todd Graham for devoting weeks of work making certain "Argyle" provided the ideal location and facility for the clinic.
One of the highlights for Yulgilbar was the attendance of Nick Palmer who rode Yulgilbar Ambitious Again during the school. She was a standout and a wonderful mare to learn on as she has had cutting training by Robert Mackay and a very successful campdrafter with Jim Lyons.
Handling the Yulgilbar Yearlings
Robert Mackay made a visit to Elgee Park last week. After leaving a drought ravaged Goondiwindi, he was pleased to see such well grown Yulgilbar yearlings. Knee deep in the lush, green rye grass covered pastures, the yearlings are an impressive group by sires like Metallic Cat, Catty Hawk, One Time Royalty, Cat N A Hat and Spoonfulla Badge. Robert decided since he will be breaking in some of the yearlings, he should handle all of them before they get any bigger! Robert likes to hobble, sideline and lead the yearlings from a horse before he breaks them in. Robert even introduced the yearlings to cattle while settling some steers. It was amazing how quickly the yearlings started to hook up to cattle. He plans to handle them all again in January as part of his Horsemanship School that he will hold at Elgee Park on January 4-5, 2020.
