From the moment a horse is born – and even before – the manner in which it is handled can have a profound effect on how it performs. The finalists in the Horsemanship categories of the GSSSA are involved in different stages of a young horse’s development; both have been selected for their superior skills in this most vital of areas.

Kellie McCarthy is the assistant manager at Mill Park Stud in South Australia where her various duties include the handling of mares and foals and the preparation of yearlings for sale. “They are probably areas that aren’t seen by the general public, but when you are dealing with other people’s substantial investments, things have to be done as perfectly as you can do them,” Kellie says. “I get a lot of satisfaction from what I do, but it is a genuine privilege to be a finalist in the national awards and to be recognised by the leaders of the industry you work in.”