What is Campdraft?

Campdrafting involves a mounted rider riding into a “camp” or yard, which has six to eight head of cattle in it. The rider (cuts out) one steer or heifer from the cattle in the camp and brings that beast to the front of the camp and block and turns that beast at least two or three times to prove to the judge that they have the beast under control. The rider then calls for the gates to be opened. The cut out is worth a total of 26 points.

The rider then proceeds to draft (work) the beast around a figure of eight course in a larger arena.

Generally, the course is set to the left and once the beast has gone around the left peg, it must then be drafted around a peg on the right.

Once that is completed, the rider then guides the steer through the “gate” which is two pegs placed apart. Once gated, the campdraft run is complete and the rider can be awarded up to a total of 100 points. Points are awarded for horsemanship and control of the beast, within set time limits, usually 40 seconds.

(SOURCE: Australian Bushmen’s Campdraft & Rodeo Association 2014)