Located in the peaceful surrounds of Mt Delaney, just
outside of Woodford, Queensland, the 90 acre property boasts
a very inspirational backdrop for training future champions,
horse and rider. Upon arriving at the property, you can feel
that it is a very peaceful place, a place you can slow down,
unwind and enjoy the training session with your horse.
The couple started Equine Communication back in 1995, after
the business started to flourish. Darren had been
providing a service to owners, that had float loading
problems with their horses, and as business grew, they knew
they had a extremely unique service to offer to the
equestrian community. Float loading problem horses is our
specialty, Darren comments, and this service is available to
all horse owners.
Darren was born in Brisbane, and says he’ s always had an
interest in horses, even as a young fellow, but his interest
was stirred even more when Sharon decided they were going
horse riding one weekend. From then on, Darren has never
looked back.
Working on several stock stations in the early days, and
Stanbroke Station for a time, gave Darren the knowledge and
experience he needed to start off in the horse industry.
This also ignited his desire to learn more and from only the
best.
In 1994, Darren travelled to the USA. He spent three months
travelling through the spectacular countryside of Colorado
and Arizona. Attending as many horsemanship clinics as he
could, Darren say’s, it was a great experience, and that he
learnt from some of America’s finest horseman.
Darren said, his training is based around Natural
Horsemanship, and he has been heavily influenced by the
greats Ray Hunt, Tom Dorrance and the legendary Ian Francis.
He is not limited to one discipline, and has trained and
competed in many areas, including show jumping, dressage,
polo cross, cutting, show hacks, campdrafting and western
pleasure just to name a few.
Reining became an interest about 7 years ago Darren said,
but because of the training facilities, he had to go
professional straight away, so there was no easing his way
into the sport. But, Darren has proven that with time and
dedication, the hard work pays off. At the recent 2011 Qld
State Reining Championship Show, he rode Gamble to Win owned
by P & L Bastable into the winner’s circle. Darren and
Gamble to Win took out the Five Star Breeders Cup
Intermediate Futurity. He said, he was very satisfied that
the hard work he has put in paid off, and that it is
extremely rewarding for the client to see their horse out
there winning. Darren also recalls, that his win at the 2010
Paint Horse Nationals in Tamworth, in the Western Pleasure
4 year old Paint Horse Maturity on Stand and Deliver owned
by Bettina Gutschelhofer was another win he won’t forget.
Holding his judges tickets his another great achievement for
Darren. He has held his AQHA and HSAA ticket for three years
and the Continental Reining Australia ticket for the past
four years. Darren recently gained his World Wide judges
ticket, and is now able to judge anywhere in the world.
With an incredible following of Non Pro’s approximately
16-17 at the moment, Darren says he puts this down to the
value of being an International Judge and the ability to
match horse and rider. He comments, that a positive attitude
towards training, and knowing the riders strength and
weaknesses, and that working with this, provides a better
communication between horse and rider..
With the Non Pro’s being the backbone of the reining
industry, Darren offers the help they need to achieve their
goals, their personal best and winning their first buckles.
Equine Communication runs an incentive program for all Non
Pro’s. When a rider under Darren’s coaching, achieves their
personal best they receive a shirt first, a hat second and a
jacket third. It’s a fantastic program, in which all riders
strive to achieve their personal best at each show.
During training sessions and show runs, each Non Pro is
videoed by Sharon, this way each rider can view the video
and use it as a training tool. Before each State or National
Show, Darren offers 4 day training clinics, where all riders
can attend to polish of their training before the big
events.
Darren’s Non Pro’s all had an exceptional State Championship
Show in June 2011. Kyley Norman, Leonie Beckhouse and Katie
Jamieson won their first buckles and Karen Lowe added
another buckle to her collection, winning the Non Pro Derby.
Darren is extremely proud of all his Non Pro’s that competed
at the State Show, he said it is very rewarding to see them
winning and placing, they had trained very hard in the
months leading up to the show and they certainly made an
impact in the reining arena.
Also at the State Show, four of Darren’ clients were
Southern Cross Series Winners. The series consists of
competitors competing at three major shows, run between the
QRHA and SQRHA. The winners were Devin Lowe – Rookie Level
1, Karen Lowe – Non Pro & Limited Open, Joanna Manz –
Novice Horse Non Pro and Bayley Lowe – Youth 13 & Under.
Each rider has shown a brilliant demonstration of
consistency, and all took home a beautiful buckle.
Currently, Darren has nine horses in training, a mixture of
Reiners and Western Pleasure horses. He has two up and
coming Reining Futurity prospects for 2012, one two year
old is by Hollywood Custom and the other by Cookie Monster .
Darren say’s he his excited about their future and is
looking forward to campaigning them next year.
When spare time allows, Darren, Sharon and their two kids,
Dannielle and Bodeane, enjoy time out on the water.
Fishing is a favourite pastime, and a great time for the
family to get together.
Darren and Sharon make all their own training halters and
leads, which are available for purchasing. Sharon say’s they
still have the first halter they made, and it now 16 years
old.
Darren would like to thank his major sponsors, Southern
Cross Saddlery and Davcar Horse Trailers.
With the future looking very bright for the Equine
Communication family, Darren is now focusing on the
Nationals held in August. Darren said, it would be an
incredible personal achievement if he were to have a
Futurity and Open winner at the show.
Leesa Petfield
