A new equine facility has popped up at a famously old location near Wallendbeen, with the owners determined to ensure performance horse sports continue to gain momentum in southern NSW. Image: Emma Sheridan.
In an opening night that rocked the hills of Wallendbeen, music drawing the ears of neighbours outdoors, there was little doubt the village’s newest residents were all about stamping their brand on the region.
In a move that opens the gates to even more performance horse events in the south of the state, the February weekend “Kinloch Equine” opened its gates was the culmination of a lifetime’s aspiration for Andrew (Shero) Sheridan.
Most performance horse enthusiasts will know the Eurongilly native for his equine aptitude – not only as a competitive camp drafter, horse breaker, educator, trainer, stock horse breeder and horsemanship clinician but his stint with Gai Waterhouse carting and training racehorses and, latterly, his participation in the Man from Snowy River Festival Challenge.
Andrew also comes with a royal stamp of approval, as such, as the result of the 12 months he spent in the UK working alongside Her Royal Highness Princess Anne preparing and working her three-day eventing horses.
Andrew and his wife Emma, who hails from Marrar, purchased a fairly well-known block on the outskirts of Wallendbeen 18 months ago with the aim of creating an equine facility that would firmly put southern NSW on the map.
Long has the block named “Kinloch” enjoyed the spotlight, first galloping to fame as a thoroughbred stud owned by the late Arthur Menzies.
Now “Kinloch Equine” will stage events in a range of horse performance disciplines, including the escalating uniquely Australian sport of camp drafting, which in southern NSW is enjoying its 50th year of competition.
The move to Wallendbeen has ticked all the boxes for Emma and Andrew Sheridan, pictured here with 18-month-old Harry and Nell (right) and the stallion Sheros Traditional Acres. Image: Emma Sheridan.
“There is massive interest in camp drafting,” Emma explained. “This is proven by every camp draft having a big waitlist of people trying to get in. It has become extremely popular.”
This evident by their opening weekend Super Ladies Clinic led by three high quality trainers including Morgan Webb, Mat Holz and Fiona Gordon.
“We took 36 ladies for it and could have nearly filled it twice! The ladies came from far and wide with someone from Victoria and one from Narromine.”
Proving that even a year of record rain doesn’t douse their determination, the Sheridans have carved out a new facility worthy of the 24 and 25 February grand opening, including a full full-sized camp draft arena, 24 covered day yards, two sand arenas and stables.
“We named the arena after Todd Walsh who was a great friend of Andrew’s who passed away in late 2022 from a brain tumour, leaving behind a young family,” said Emma.
“He was involved in camp drafting and was a prominent stock and station agent in the Kimberleys,” she added. “We were lucky enough to have his parents here to open the facility.”
The camp draft events saw money raised for the Harden-Murrumburrah Lighthorse Heritage Troop.
Going forward facilities and events will cater for camp draft clinics, stud sales, children’s riding lessons, horse breaking and horsemanship clinics, thoroughbred yearling preparation, sales, agistment, transport overnight stays, foaling and weaning.
Emma also hinted at the prospect of an extreme broncs event.
Kinloch Equine is also home to Shero’s Performance Horse Stud with breeding lines featuring Australian Stock Horses and Quarter Horses.
The opening weekend also featured their inaugural performance horse sale, offering 39 ridden and led horses of varying ages and performance levels including the top priced Sheros Classical Acres – a full sister to Sheros Traditional Acres – which sold for $66,000 in a sale that averaged $14,800, with horses going both locally and interstate.
And then there’s the Sheridan’s small family including 18-month-old Harry who has just started riding his pony Pirate and four-month-old Paddy who had his first sit on a horse last week, both looking likely to follow in the footsteps of Andrew’s daughter Nell who is notching up points as a junior camp drafter.
Emma said Wallendbeen had already proven the perfect location.
“We absolutely love it here at Wallendbeen,” said Emma. “The community has been great and really supportive of our business and what we are trying to achieve. Over the weekend there were many people from the township who came up and said hello and supported us.
“We chose this spot because it is a central location and easy to get to for many people,” Emma said. “The block is idyllic, has a great aspect and we wanted to be part of a small community but not too far from a major centre – it ticks all the boxes.
“And as Andrew says, we live in the same street as the Wallendbeen pub,” she laughed.
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