Lancefield Bloodstock

14/02/2025

There’s something about seeing your student do something new for the first time that makes you a bit proud 🥹 first lead change and nailed it 🔨

12/02/2025

Cowgirls, one of the most important roles at The Gathering is that of the Educator—and it takes a proper dose of real horse crazy to love this job ✨

As we all know, horse trainers are incredible at working with horses, but sometimes, the paperwork and phone calls aren’t their strong suit. Finding new educators each year who not only fit the ethos of Cowgirls Gathering but also bring knowledge, passion, and a love for teaching is no small task…

So, it gives me great pleasure to formally introduce our 2025 Education Director, Steph Dunnachie 🎉 Cue the crowd going wild!

Between us, Steph was the first person I thought of for the role after our amazing friend Skye took on a new career path. After seeing Steph in action at the 2022 and 2023 Gatherings, I was drawn to her open, honest, and transparent nature, not to mention her let’s just get s**t done attitude! One quick call last year, and the rest is history.

So let's find out more about Steph

Steph grew up a horse-crazy kid in suburban Melbourne, despite having no family connections to the horse world—quite the opposite, actually! Her mum, Maryanne, was a flight attendant, and her dad, Graeme, was a champion bodybuilder and gym owner. But that didn’t stop Steph. Her obsession led to weekend riding lessons and trail rides at a Yarra Valley riding school, where she eventually worked her way up from student to stable hand, riding instructor, camp leader, and ultimately, owner of Parkview Riding Centre. She ran riding schools for over seven years, adapting her teaching style to suit riders of all ages, experience levels, and disciplines.

Her passion for horses took her overseas, leading the riding program at Jameson Ranch Camp in the USA. She also spent time guiding mule trains through the Sequoia National Forest, packing gear for hunters and fishermen into the backcountry. Her journey included working on several cattle ranches across California, further expanding her knowledge and experience.

Steph has worked extensively within the racing industry, from pre-training and racing to breeding and yearling sales. Her horse training career has spanned a lifetime, learning from both legendary trainers and equally legendary horses.

She has participated in major horse training competitions, including:

🐴 Australian Brumby Challenge (Equitana 2016)
🐴 Trainers Challenge (Man From Snowy River Festival 2019)
🐴 The Way of the Horse (Equitana 2022)

Her main focus lies in the Western horse industry, training reining and ranch-style horses. In 2022, she took home the Champion title in the Race to Ranch at Cowgirls Gathering, where she transformed an Off-the-Track Thoroughbred into a versatile ranch horse in just 150 days.

Steph’s success doesn’t stop there, she was Reserve Champion in Australia’s Greatest Horsewoman 2023 and has won multiple state and national reining titles, including the Open Futurity at SNSWRHA Slide To Nationals Show in 2024.

Now, she and her partner, Mitch, run Lancefield Bloodstock from their property in Merton, VIC, where they continue their incredible work.

We couldn’t be more excited to have Steph leading the education program for 2025! Stay tuned, because she’s bringing big things to Cowgirls Gathering 💛

12/02/2025

A very special little lady making her way back to the show pen for 2025 😍

10/02/2025

Congratulations Mitch on making the Top 10 Open Cow Horse riders in the National Reined Cow Horse Association Australia 🇦🇺

It’s amazing how this small gesture of a printed card has so much meaning to its recipients, thank you to the association for the effort it is truely appreciated

10/02/2025

Thanks Goulburn Valley Reining Horse Association - GVRHA for a great weekend show, and to the best crew of riders who make every weekend we spend at a show an absolute blast!

All our horses did a great job, with KC Miss Lady Marmalade picking up a 2nd place in the Junior Horse with a very respectable run 😍 looking forward to our first major futurity in April 💪

Damen Lowrie
BetaVet Australia
The Horsemen Collective
Equissage Therapy Australia
Karn Quarter Horses
db braiding

10/02/2025

• 𝐌𝐑𝐃 𝐅𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐫 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐬•

With over 25 years professional experience, a fully qualified Master Farrier specialising in performance horse shoeing and corrective work.

Mitch is back from his double knee replacement walking straight and ready to get back to it. Taking bookings now, available onsite at Merton on Wednesdays and servicing all surrounding areas.

PM for a booking or contact Mitch direct on
0409 998 289

07/02/2025

Have you checked out The Horsemen Collective?

05/02/2025

•𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫•

𝐴𝑟𝑒 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑑𝑦 𝑡𝑜 𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑟𝑡 𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑦𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝑔𝑜𝑎𝑙𝑠？
𝐿𝑖𝑚𝑖𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑠ℎ𝑜𝑤 𝑡𝑒𝑎𝑚 𝑝𝑜𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑠 𝑙𝑒𝑓𝑡 𝑓𝑜𝑟 2025
𝑃𝑀 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑚𝑜𝑟𝑒 𝑖𝑛𝑓𝑜

04/02/2025

The sliders are back on, and Mitch is back at it 💪

Don’t worry no horses where harmed in the making of this video 😜 only one hot and tired farrier!

03/02/2025

When you are a bred in the purple pleasure horse and you have been hanging around too many reiners 🤣

Cam enjoying an Equissage Therapy Australia treatment after his ride. A vital piece of gear that should be a staple in every performance horse barn to aid in recovery and keep horses feeling their best

Get in contact if your interested in getting your own unit

02/02/2025

👀 WANTED 👀

I have a few clients looking for horses. Seeking reining or cowhorse bloodlines, 3-5yo (or open to older trained horse if the right article but we don’t have the $40k budget). Great homes assured, looking for horses that will make show horses, must have some natural desire to stop and no huge behavioural issues. Green is fine, capable riders that will continue in our program. Show me what you’ve got!

02/02/2025

I think the more advanced you get the more this becomes blindingly clear 🤌

31/01/2025

Keep your eyes glued to Cowgirls Gathering page…this is one super clinic you do not want to miss out on getting a spot in

Cowgirls, we are only weeks away from starting to let you know who the Educators will be for this years Mini Gathering in June but we are excited to share with you the focus for this gathering now.

👉 Before you read on, we want to stress that it does NOT matter if you have not done this sport before. This is what the gathering is all about, trying new things in a safe environment with supportive team of Cowgirls!

Reined Cow Horse – The Ultimate Test of Horse & Rider 🐴🔥

Reined Cow Horse is an exciting and challenging discipline that combines precision, athleticism, and strong cow-working instincts. It’s a true test of horse and rider, with three key components:

🐎 Reining - Reining is a pattern class (sometimes called dry work) where horse and rider perform a series of precise and controlled maneuvers, including:

✅ Spins
✅ Sliding stops
✅ Large fast circles transitioning to small slow circles
✅ Lead changes

The focus in reining is on finesse, precision, and obedience, with judges scoring based on the smoothness and correctness of each maneuver.

🐮 Fence Work - In this phase, the horse and rider demonstrate their ability to control a single cow, showcasing cow sense and responsiveness. This includes:

🔹 Boxing – Holding the cow at one end of the arena to demonstrate control,
🔹 Down the Fence – Driving the cow along the rail with a turn in each direction,
🔹 Circling – Circling the cow both ways to demonstrate agility and control.

🐴 Herd Work - Herd work is the cutting element in a 3-phase reined cow horse competition. The horse and rider must:

✔️ Separate at least two head from the herd
✔️ Keep them from returning for a set time
✔️ Work with a team of turn-back riders and herd help to ensure success

🏆 The National Reined Cow Horse Association (NRCHA) - The NRCHA governs this discipline, organizing events, competitions, and educational opportunities for riders of all levels, from amateur to professional.

In Australia, the sport continues to grow, with two major associations: 🇦🇺 ARCHA & NRCHAA – Plus many affiliate clubs popping up across the country!

🔥 Whether you're a seasoned competitor or just learning about reined cow horse, this discipline is a true test of skill, tradition, and partnership between horse. If you are looking five days to immerse yourself with five amazing Educators, then this gathering is for you!

🙌 Mini Cowgirls Gathering: Mon 23/06 - Fri 27/06! Cowgirls Mini Gathering - Save the date

30/01/2025

𝐇𝐞𝐥𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐤𝐢𝐝𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐢𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐰𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞🫶

BK Trick Riding & Equine Performance

28/01/2025

What an amazing memento from the NRHA - Oceania Beginner Series for Sinead & Whizzy 🫶

Just finished for the lovely Sinead Bouwmeester winner of the 'Champion Beginner Reiner'
At NRHA - Oceania 2024
Was smaller than I usually do at 27.5 x 35.5 cm but enjoyed every moment.

28/01/2025

FULLY BOOKED

Limited availability left for this weekend

Saturday 1pm
Saturday 2pm

𝐋𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝐚𝐭 𝐌𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐨𝐧

Saturday 1st February & Sunday 2nd February
$110 inc gst per hour lesson

Show season is nearly upon us, whether you are reining, ranching, cowhorse, or just generally want to have a better understanding of how to train your horse to be a more useful member of society, I can tailor a program to suit you.

Free camping available.
Contact Steph on 0447163564 or DM to make a booking