Stephen Mowbray Photography

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

24/05/2026

𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗡𝗘𝗘𝗗 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗦𝗣𝗘𝗘𝗗!
Bendemeer cowboy Braith Nock has always liked to go fast! Here he is at Stroud in 2013 in the 11-U14 Barrel Race

24/05/2026

An 85pt spur ride on board 'Ridetuff Get Rich Quick' saw Blayne Parkinson win the open Bull Ride at Stroud Rodeo in 2013

23/05/2026

𝗦𝗛𝗘'𝗦 𝗙𝗔𝗦𝗧, 𝗦𝗛𝗘'𝗦 𝗚𝗢𝗢𝗗 !
Stroud, 2013, this cowgirl rips around the barrels in 17.435 secs to take the title. Nichole Fitzpatrick will tell me the name of the horse under her saddle, all I remember is hands and heels and bloody fast!

23/05/2026

𝗡𝗢 𝗪𝗢𝗡𝗗𝗘𝗥 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗞𝗜𝗗 𝗖𝗢𝗨𝗟𝗗 𝗥𝗢𝗣𝗘!
Jenny Bone is quite the cowgirl.
Her son, Jock Bone-Langdon is quite the cowboy and there's no doubting where this multi-time Australian Champion got his roping skills from ...

Mama's do let your babies grow up to be cowboys!