Horses and their riders were a sea of pink at the South Burnett Quarter Horse Cutters’ first fundraiser.
The Murgon horse rider group’s pink day was held at the Murgon Showgrounds on Sunday, 12 October.
Horses had their tails dyed pink, and breast cancer ribbons etched out in their hair in honour of the fundraiser as part of the Pink Up South Burnett October fundraiser for the local cancer care nurses.
South Burnett Mayor Kathy Duff was honoured to judge the best dressed on the day.
“I feel like they have out-pinked me,” she said.
“To dress their horses up like this is a lot of effort.”
Melanie Kimball with her pink ballgown won best dressed lady, best youth rider was Hayley Beasley in her pink cow outfit, Marcus Gray was the best man on a horse, Danny Gitshan took home the best spectator prize and Bob Marley won best decorated horse.
South Burnett Quarter Horse Cutters Secretary Lisa Gibson said their first fundraiser had gone better than expected.
“There’s lots of people with beautifully dressed horses,” she said.
“The show today has been fantastic.”
They had more than 80 raffle prizes donated from local businesses, in addition to five major prizes for an auction.
Ms Gibson said 100 per cent of the day’s profits would be donated to the McGrath Foundation.
“We’re hoping it stays locally,” she said.
South Burnett McGrath Foundation Nurse Sue Cox attended the fundraiser and was amazed by the sea of pink she was greeted with at the relatively new club.
“Everyone was so welcoming and enthusiastic, I’m so grateful for their support,” she said.
“I loved the costumes, everyone put in such an effort.”
Ms Cox shared with the club about the McGrath Foundation’s move to establish all cancer care nurses, rather than just breast cancer.
“The money we raise stays in the district,” she said, adding it will go towards research and training new cancer care nurses.
“It’s such a lovely thing to have the community’s support.”
The pink day attracted the club’s largest number of competitors to date, with eight huge herds of almost 200 wagyu brought in for the day thanks to Murgon business Phat Wag.
Ms Gibson explained it was important to have fresh cattle for these competitions, who have not been worked in a competition or been campdrafted before.
A total of seven classes and an additional youth-open combined class were run throughout the day, with 12 to 15 competitors in each class.
Competitors are challenged to herd the cows, driving out one cow and keeping it away from the herd. They aim to cut out three cows during the competition’s allotted 2.5 minutes.
The competitions are split into different categories including the ‘hands down classes’ where riders do not use a reign, rather relying on their legs and the horse to do all the work, and then there is the ‘snafflebit’ competitions that uses a particular bit for the horse.
South Burnett Quarter Horse Cutters held their first show in March 2025 and had a successful debut year, welcoming both regular riders and spectators to their events.
“It’s been really good, it’s grown… we’ve heard all good, positive things about it,” Ms Gibson said.
“We’ve had lots of newcomers in the last couple of months.
“It’s just getting bigger and better.”
The horse cutters club will now turn their attention to planning more clinics and competitions for 2026.
The results from the South Burnett Quarter Horse Cutters Pink Cutting Day include:
Novice (sponsored by Murgon Services Club):
1st: Janelle Simpson on Calinda Lots of Lace
2nd: James Christensen on Erin Reyl Slick
3rd: Georgie Currie on Scottadoodledo
4th: Stuart Thompson on Hand of Destiny
Youth:
1st: Pippa Ray on Bob Marley
2nd: Key Hallman on Dulce N Proud
3rd: Felicity Waldock on Roanie Roynchisum
Rookies:
1st: Laurie-Ann Ogle on Spinsters Playboy
2nd: Ashley Tordoff on Colonel Spoonful
3rd: Lloyd Gritsham on Shine Baby Shine
Open (Sponsored by Norco Murgon):
1st: Christelle Kies on Coconina
Equal second: Bec Eddie on Erin Miss Metalic and James Christensen on Erin Reyl Slick
Beginner Cutter
1st: Maggie Cowan on Incatnio
2nd: Emma Cavanagh on Erin Young Angus
3rd: Laurie-Ann Ogle on Spinsters Playboy
Encouragement Cutter
1st: Maggie Cowan on Incatnito
2nd: Melanie Kimball on SFR Arctic Magenta
3rd: Kerry Dunn on Miss Scotty
Novice Snafflebit:
1st: Sophie McLaughlan on Crystal Oak
2nd: Steve Dunn on Poppy
3rd: Kelly Bond on One Happy Cat
Open Snafflebit (sponsored by Double B Dentistry):
1st: Steve Dunn on Rey
2nd: Hayle Scott on Jenlands Cherry Pride
Beginner Horse:
1st: Kerry Dunn on Miss Scotty
2nd: Janelle Simpson on Sann Rey Mo
3rd: Frank Rainbow on Rosie
