WELL-KNOWN N.T campdrafter Ben Tapp with Kylie Barnett were at the opening of the ‘Spirited: Australia's Horse Story’ exhibition which is currently on display at the National Museum of Australia in Canberra.
Included in the exhibition is a plaque detailing the Black Toyota Warwick Gold Cup won by Tapp riding Cool Dust in 2012.
It reads: “Considered the Melbourne Cup of campdrafting, the Warwick Gold Cup attracts competitors from across Australia. In 2012, Katherine competitor Ben Tapp, riding Cool Dust, won in a sudden death round against Goondiwindi rider Terry Hall on Hazelwood Conman. Recognised as a ‘brilliant mare,’ Cool Dust is related to a large family of warwick finalists.”
The exhibition examines the special bond Australians have with horses and celebrates how these animals have enriched our lives, built our society and shaped our environment.
Over 500 objects includes a massive wool wagon; the Junius Cup (the oldest known Australian-made racing trophy); the 1866 and 1867 Melbourne Cups; the typewriter used by Elyne Mitchell to write the iconic Australian horse tale, The Silver Brumby; and the equipment used by Emilie Roach in 1929, when she and 'Dungog' set the Australian ladies high-jump record, by clearing 2.16 metres.
The exhibition also includes intriguing specimens of portions of heart wall, aorta and pericardium, believed to be from legendary Australian horse Phar Lap.
A section of the exhibition also explores the role of the High Country stock-workers in the national imagination, and the history of the over 300,000 brumbies who now roam the country. The role of Indigenous stock-workers are also an exhibition feature.
The ‘Spirited: Australia's Horse Story’ exhibition runs until March 9, 2015. The 2014 Warwick Gold Cup will be held on the weekend of October 25-26.
