Erle Levey
Shelley Chapman loves riding in the Australian bush – almost as much as she loves her horses.
Just as well, because this last year Shelley rode further than from Brisbane to Cape York – and almost as far as from Gympie to the Western Australian border.
The 2792km covered in endurance riding is a Queensland record and says a lot about the rider and the way she cares for her horses.
Sitting under a tree on her and husband Michael’s 150-acre property at Kilkivan, Shelley tells me about their journey from Herberton in Far North Queensland to the development of Shanelli Park Endurance where they now run about 70 horses.
The tree, with a firepit in front, must be a favourite spot for Shelley and Michael to sit and reflect on what they have achieved so far – and the trail ahead.
From here, on a high-point of the Great Dividing Range, you look out over the dam towards the west. The sunsets must be amazing.
It’s as if we’re on top of the world. Nearby is Wrattens National Park, and a series of state forests or regional parks that stretch south to Kilcoy.
The national trial virtually goes past their front gate – a 5330km trek from Cooktown in Queensland to Healesville in Victoria.
“We’ve often seen people on the trail,’’ Shelley said. “Not so much in the last couple years with droughts and the weather – but we often had donkey or camel travellers as well as people on horseback go by.’’
Shelley and Michael moved to Kilkivan in 2008 and while their efforts of clearing the property of a lantana and scrub jungle are paying off, so is their care of horses.
While Shelley has been extremely successful at endurance riding, Michael has also achieved much – mostly in the preparation of the horses.
This comes from his background of working on large cattle stations in Western Queensland.
Michael concentrates on 40km events to get the horses ready for other riders. In doing so he has received the highest intermediate points rider for the second year in a row.
Points are determined by an equation that is based on the speed and heart rate of the horses.
Twenty Shanelli Park horses have campaigned this year under Queensland Endurance Riders Association (QERA) with 14 riders – some of who are long-term members as well as some new to the team.
Shanelli Park combinations competed in 68 open rides with only two non-completions and six withdrawals (a 94.56 percent completion rate), also receiving 14 Best Conditioned horse awards for events.
This was along with 43 entries in the smaller distances and a 98.68 percent completion rate.
Both Shelley and Michael have long backgrounds with horses, and they have become an integral part of their lives.
Shelley was born in Cairns and grew up with horses in the family.
“Dad had trotting horses but Mum wasn’t keen on us riding them,’’ she said.
“Yet Dad used to take us up to a friend’s place on the Atherton Tablelands, a horse-riding ranch.
“The property was where they made the Australian movie Turkey Shoot. We’ve got photos lifting what looked like big rocks … but they were made out of foam.’’
Shelley met Michael while she was running the Australian Hotel in Herberton.
He had been a ringer and head stockman, as well as managing some big properties out west.
Michael was a butcher by trade but also did landscaping and tree-lopping for a couple of years before they moved to Kilkivan.
“When we met, I had Arabians and he had stock horses,’’ Shelley said.
“Being from the ringing background, Michael broke his own horses in and shod them, so I learnt how to work cattle.
“And he learnt that he had to come training with me to ride the endurance horses.’’
It was an idyllic afternoon, sitting there with the sound of guinea fowl in the background and the breeze in the trees.
Yet Michael had to leave his chores for the day and set out on a five-and-a half-hours drive to northern New South Wales to get a new saddle fitted properly.
Before he left he told me that Shelley was a very modest person, very considerate of their children, their horses and other riders.
“She would never do anything wrong about a horse,’’ he said.
“There are times when we’ll have a discussion about the fitness of a horse … and 99 percent of the times she will be right.’’
The Winton-To-Longreach Ride last year saw Shelley walk her horse into a check-point at about the half-way mark of the 220km ride, rather than risk injury.
They withdrew at that point, leaving riding companion Tracey Eastaughffe and Shanelli Park Phoenix to continue to Longreach.
“It was heartbreaking for Shelley,’’ Michael said, “but she did the right thing by the horse.
“With endurance, it doesn’t matter what’s at the end of the day. If there’s an issue, the horse always comes first.
“I questioned her once. I will never question her again.
“Shelley has done an amazing job.’’
Michael admitted they have had lots of ups and downs in their journey so far but now he is finding great satisfaction in getting the horses ready and them coming through at events.
He said the Winton ride was a big journey and despite Shelley having to withdraw Tracey completed and competed – being awarded winning lightweight rider and best-conditioned horse in that division
“It went really well for us really. We had a great crew – Glen was there, Tracey‘s husband, then we had Peter Toft of Toft Endurance helping.
“He would go ahead and have the area set up for when the horses came in. In return I helped doing the strapping for them.
“I hope they do the ride again in maybe three or four years time, otherwise what’s going to happen as it’ll be like before.
“People forget it and then say we didn’t get to do it. We need to encourage more people to give it a go but if you wait 10 years – it’s gone again and you have to restart it.’’
When Shelley and Michael first came to Kilkivan they tried share farming in a bid to get their own property. But it didn’t work out, mainly due to the seasons.
So Michael went back to his yard-building and shed-building days while Shelley was working in a store in town for four hours a day.
That was while she was training their endurance horses but then they started getting clients to work with their horses at home.
“The property was pretty raw when we moved here.
“It was that thick with lantana and scrub – you really only saw the driveway. You couldn’t see the dam.
“We cleared a lot of that front area by hand. We didn’t have the money to get machines in.
“After a couple of years we could afford two days every now and then to get a bulldozer in.
“You could not just can’t explain to you how thick this scrub was.’’
Shelley and Michael had 15 horses when they moved onto the property including a couple of Arabian stock horse mares for endurance events.
“Astronomer came down with us.
“Two mares were the backbone of the breeding but they are both retired now – Bellarine Passion was my favourite mare – a big Arabian stockhorse. And I competed on Touchwarr Kiara really well.’’
Fortunately, most of the endurance events were in the Imbil area at the time as both Shelley and Michael were working and they had four young children.
“That was where I did my first 160km completion. It took me a long time to get qualified for the Quilty – one, because Far North Queensland didn’t really have that many 160km rides; and two, my my big mare was always withdrawn. We would hardly ever vet out but I would just pull her out at about the 120 mark.’’
The first Tom Quilty 160km event for Shelley was at Kilkivan in 2013. In that she finished fifth in the middleweight division on Astronomer.
“That was my first TQ and it was Astronomer’s first TQ. The kids used to ride him and I used to train him.
“It was like he realised he wasn’t babysitting anymore and by end of the first leg my hands were bleeding trying to hold him.’’
Endurance is all about completion, so riders who achieve a successful Tom Quilty finish are awarded a commemorative belt buckle.
“I just remember this little horse has so much heart and wondered why have the kids been riding him.
“He was so good with the kids but I realised he could be a bit more
“I’ve just done my eighth buckle and missed two because of Covid. Six of those have been with Astronomer.
“We couldn’t get to Western Australia because of Covid and you couldn’t cross state borders.
“My goal was for him to do a buckle from every state … and at 23 he’s too old now.’’
The Quilty is rotated on a six-year cycle between states and in 2024 it will be at Wirrina Cove in South Australia in October.
While Shelley prefers the longer events, Michael loves the 20kms and the 40kms. In doing so he achieved 880 points in the 40km events this year.
“Michael went in something like 20 rides,’’ Shelley said. “He likes to ride the young horses and get them ready for us.
“The first year I made him do endurance was because the horse I had was just too much for me to hold.
“We wanted to sell him but as it was going to be our first sale horse, Michael had to ride him and settle him in.
“Michael actually did his first three 80kms and his first 160km all in the one year on this one.
“While we were up north he did saddle bronc for a while … but was never silly enough to ride the bulls.’’
When Stirlings Crossing Endurance Centre was established at Imbil it changed the face of riding in the Mary Valley with the high standard of facilities and variety of trails.
“It concentrated a lot of rides here, which is good in a way. But the thing I love about endurance is just the country we get to see.’’
Since the Winton ride, Shelley has gained third lightweight in the Queensland State Championships at Inglewood, riding Harry Who te from the Toft stables. She was accompanied by Annie Jackson aboard Tazar who received third Junior.
At the Widgee ride, Shelley shared first lightweight with Mindy Gadsby. Then at Biggenden she finished second lightweight in the 80km event on Shanelli-Park Phoenix.
These results show how much Shelley has come into her own in the past 10 years or so.
“I don’t really want to be in the limelight. I’d rather talk about my horses and the other team members.
“I think that I’ve gained my confidence down here as well – in North Queensland you don’t have the same numbers.
“We have some really good horses too – we had some before but nothing that could sustain the rides we do here.
“Some of them are home-bred horses. I’ve been wanting to breed for a long time.
“There are some good bloodlines, such as (Shanelli Park) Pirouette. The moment Michael broke her in and we started riding her we knew she was going to be a great mare.’’
They got Pirouette qualified for the 2023 Tom Quilty at Stirlings Crossing which saw a personal best for Shelley with a sixth in the lightweight division in a time of 10:38:14. Meanwhile Maeve Paten riding Box Hill Nitro was seventh in a time of 10:38:17.
As well as family and friends, Shelley attributes much of their recent success to sponsors such as Stance Equitec Stance Equitec Australia and Stance Equilibrium along with Sauers Produce and Garden Centre Gympie.
Her best finish for 2023 was the PB at the Quilty, but also the third place on Peter Toft’s seven-year-old gelding Harry Who te at the State Championships.
What Shelley is looking forward to is their nine-year-old grey mare Sbara Safari Esteem, that comes from a really old breeding.
“I just love the mental thought behind each week as we are going somewhere different.
“I love being on the back of a very good horse and riding in the Australian bush – we’re riding in some beautiful country.
“We’ve had an awesome team horses this year.
“I am very lucky to really love my job. When the kids were growing up and I did work in town, I would be taking them to school of a morning.
“It was a matter of getting up early in the morning and ride. Then ride in the afternoons after I’d got dinner cooked.
“I just love doing it.’’
And what about tips for young riders or those new to the sport?
“Fall in love with the nature of the horses. I get really attached, and have trouble when it comes to selling them as I have my heart horses.
“Really love what you do. Don’t do it if you don’t enjoy it.
“At end of day, I’ve been lucky enough to have had a few wins this year. But I don’t go out with that in mind.
“See what the horse is like on the day, and see if everything comes together because 160km is hard work for horse and rider.
“For me, it’s just a matter of finishing. You are not doing anyone or any horse any favours if you are not enjoying it.’’
(Special thanks to Sarah Sullivan Photography for some of the images used in this article.)
