Stephen Mowbray Photography

10/06/2026

The The Man From Snowy River Bush Festival Wild Horse Catch.
One of the last events on the final's day where both the Open and Ladies 'catch' a wild horse like they used to do in the bush in days gone by.

It's a spine tingling moment, everyone in the crowd on the edge of their seats.

If you've never seen this, especially live, you really need to be there, 8th-11th April 2027 at Corryong , Victoria.
Follow the page for details.

https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=the%20man%20from%20snowy%20river%20bush%20festival

One of the most amazing events you'll ever witness and horsemanship at a level that is truly elite.

09/06/2026

'𝗞𝗢𝗢𝗡𝗔𝗠𝗔𝗥𝗔 𝗦𝗣𝗢𝗢𝗡𝗙𝗨𝗟𝗔 𝗕𝗔𝗗𝗚𝗘'
One of those special 'once in a lifetime horses' who has also gone on to be a very successful producing stallion with many champion progeny in both the cutting pen and the campdraft arena..

I first met 'Roanie' in 2014 when shown in the Open events by Jamie Creek and in Non-Pro by owner Ben Loades.

A powerful, athletic, very cowy and big stopping horse, he was 'camera candy' for me in the show pen.

Chloe and Ben asked me to dig out some pics, I'll load them for you tomorrow on my website but here's a few that I've found so far.

If you've never seen pics of you and yours that I've taken between 2014 and I think 2022 when I last managed the FB page and told stories etc, let me know and I'll try and dig some stuff out for you when I get time.

Chloe Ben Jamie Creek Cutting Horses

06/06/2026

𝗔𝗟𝗟 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗕𝗘𝗦𝗧 𝗧𝗢 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗙𝗨𝗧𝗨𝗥𝗜𝗧𝗬 𝗙𝗜𝗡𝗔𝗟𝗜𝗦𝗧𝗦 𝗧𝗢𝗠𝗢𝗥𝗥𝗢𝗪.
Be like the immortal Frank Green, enjoy the ride, do your best, have fun and be incredibly proud of making the final after all these years of preparation which now presents the opportunity to win arguably the greatest prize in our sport.

I wish each and every one of you all the very best.
I'll be watching on from afar (whilst hitting a golf ball!) but can't wait to see who our 2026 NCHA 4CYTE Futurity Champion will be.

Cheers,
Stephen

06/06/2026

𝗟𝗢𝗢𝗞𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗡𝗖𝗛𝗔 𝗙𝗨𝗧𝗨𝗥𝗜𝗧𝗬 𝗙𝗜𝗡𝗔𝗟 𝗗𝗥𝗔𝗪???
Nothing on the website?
Nothing on the FB page?
Who made finals?
On what aggregate scores?

Just used Dean and the extra-ordinary 'Stylish Player' to grab attention!

I'll be on the golf course but can stream, good luck to all the finalists.
Cheers,
Stephen

30/05/2026

Very special moments…
That’s what I do!

Wanting to wish everyone walking done the timeline at the NCHA Australia 4Cyte Futurity all the very best.

Enjoy the moments and milestones it takes to get there!!

25/05/2026

𝗜𝗧'𝗦 𝗡𝗘𝗔𝗥𝗟𝗬 𝗡𝗖𝗛𝗔 𝗙𝗨𝗧𝗨𝗥𝗜𝗧𝗬 𝗧𝗜𝗠𝗘!
For more than a decade I ran the FB page, told stories but then I got the flick. Broke my heart.

I'm hoping that into the future when management changes I'll again be allowed to cover, shoot, and tell stories about one of my favourite western sports.

And I'd like to do that with the awarding of a trophy I would sponsor for the highest scoring Futurity mare in honour of the legendary 'Long John Brekelmans' and the extraordinary 'Dux Ducks'

If Alana and the Brekelman family will allow me, it will be named in John's honour, I don't have a name for it, the family should decide but it's for the highest scoring futurity mare.

When I first shot this event in 2013 this is the image I took.
I didn't know if there should be a cow in the pic, I just liked the shape she was in with John in the saddle!

It is my favourite picture I have ever taken.
I have 27,991 pics of the NCHA Futurity from over the years sitting on my 3TB harddrive, (95%+ of which have never been seen because I've never been the Official Photographer so I've never bothered to edit and post), I have some awesome photos still on hard drives!

I wish all you competitors the very best for the NCHA 4CYTE Futurity, hopefully I'll get there over the finals weekend to see ( I'm not allowed to bring a camera) a 2026 champion or two crowned.

Cheers,
Stephen

25/05/2026

𝗝𝗨𝗦𝗧 𝗔𝗡𝗢𝗧𝗛𝗘𝗥 𝗕𝗜𝗧 𝗢𝗙 '𝗖𝗔𝗣𝗣𝗢' 𝗠𝗔𝗚𝗜𝗖!
Let's face it, he's a legend in his own lifetime, the toughest competitor you'll come up against, an announcer with a wit and knowledge of the game and the players like no other and off the field, a great bloke to have a beer with!

Cappo, this is my favourite pic of you mate, going at it 100% like you live life. Long may you play and long may you live life to its fullest.

24/05/2026

𝗜'𝗟𝗟 𝗡𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗥 𝗙𝗢𝗥𝗚𝗘𝗧!
Capturing a great ride or a run is sometimes lucky.
Seeing it through the lens does distort recollection but hopefully I have a frame that I reflects how good the ride or run was.

But what I really want, win, lose or draw is EMOTION!
A fist pump, a salute of some description, a huge smile a 'damn that was my best' celebration, however you do it!

Bec Laurie gave me that moment a few years back.
On board 'Big River Black Chrome ' (aka 'Smutley') in the RA Futurity in 2016, a moment I will never forget.

That hug, that joy, that 'we did it' is still one of my favourite ever photos.

24/05/2026

𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗠𝗔𝗡 𝗜𝗡 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗚𝗥𝗘𝗘𝗡 𝗦𝗛𝗜𝗥𝗧!
No words.
He's Australia's greatest ever reining competitor, equal to any in the world.

When I first saw reining, I thought I was getting cutting but that's a whole long story, not for here, the man in the signature green competiton shirt is the G.O.A.T.

In these images, Wazza is on Anita Ganzers 'Rocin' On The Ranch' at EQUITANA Australia back in 2013, and at the awful 'dungeon' called Horseworld Maraylaya opened by Olympian Captain Mark Phillips in 1997, (the first and worst venue lighting in any venue I ever photographed at) but this team were unstoppable.

It was my introduction to reining and from there I was hooked!

WarrenandCarol Backhouse Reining Australia Victorian Reining Horse Association (VRHA) NSW Reining Horse Association

24/05/2026

𝗝𝗨𝗦𝗧 𝗗𝗔𝗡𝗗𝗬 𝗕𝗔𝗡𝗗𝗬!
With hubby Rob watching on, champion cowgirl Suzi Bandy reaches for the ribbon in a fast Steer Undecorating run at Stroud Rodeo in 2013