In a performance that will be talked about around campfires for generations, Cootamundra’s Emma Webb has achieved what no other competitor has managed in the 31-year history of the prestigious Man From Snowy River Bush Festival Stockman’s Challenge: a 10th Ladies title.
Riding her talented six-year-old stallion Western Acres, Webb delivered a masterclass across the four demanding days of competition, amassing an impressive 711 points to claim a commanding victory. She finished well clear of the runner-up on 632 points, with the margin underscoring her dominance in one of Australia’s toughest tests of horsemanship, cattle work, and bush skill.
Webb also excelled in the Ladies Wild Horse Catch, further highlighting her precision and courage under pressure. Her win not only cements her status as the most successful female competitor in the event’s history but also reinforces the strong representation from the South West Slopes region, where horsemanship remains a way of life.
The 2026 Man From Snowy River Bush Festival, held from April 16 to 19 in the picturesque high country town of Corryong, Victoria, once again drew record crowds eager to celebrate the spirit immortalised in Banjo Paterson’s iconic poem The Man from Snowy River. The event transforms the foothills of the Snowy Mountains into a living tribute to Australia’s bush heritage, featuring high-stakes cattle mustering, obstacle courses, buckjumping, campdrafting, working dog trials, and the heart-pounding wild horse catch that tests riders and their equine partners to the limit.
At the core of the festival lies the Stockman’s Challenge, a gruelling multi-phase competition that demands excellence in every aspect of stock work. Competitors navigate timed cattle handling, obstacle navigation, and the signature wild horse catch, where points are awarded for speed, control, and horsemanship. The challenge honours the rugged individualism and skill of the mountain stockmen who once rode these ranges.
For Emma Webb, this milestone victory caps two decades of extraordinary dedication to the sport. She first burst onto the national scene in the mid-2010s and secured eight consecutive Ladies titles from 2014 to 2022, a streak of dominance rarely seen in any equestrian discipline. After a brief hiatus due to having children, she returned strongly in recent years, adding further victories—including her ninth in 2025—to reach the historic double-figure mark in 2026.
Her partnership with Western Acres, a promising stallion by which she also runs a breeding business through her career has been particularly fruitful in the past three seasons. The pair claimed their first joint title in 2024, defended it successfully in 2025, and delivered another commanding performance this year.
Observers noted the seamless communication between rider and horse, with Western Acres displaying the athleticism, temperament, and cow sense required for elite-level stock work.
Webb and her husband Morgan Webb operate a professional horse training and breeding business from their base in between Coota and Gundagai. Morgan, himself a multiple Open Challenge winner and the youngest-ever victors in the event’s history, placed second in this year’s Open Stockman’s Challenge. The Webb family’s success underscores the depth of talent emerging from regional New South Wales, where practical horsemanship is passed down through generations and honed on working properties.
In post-event comments, Emma reflected modestly on her achievement, telling sponsors and supporters: “It’s not just about the points – it’s about the journey and the horses that get you there. This one felt special because I had to chase it a little more this year. It was good!” Her words captured the relentless pursuit of excellence that defines competitors at this level.
Emma spoke to the South West Slopes Times, “I’ve just taken out my 10th Man From Snowy River title. They weren’t consecutive because I had a pregnancy in there, so I did eight titles and then I did two.
“My husband Morgan also did very well. He was just very, very unfortunate to have his first horse come out and fell over on him. And he had to take a re-ride and then the re-ride horse threw him and now he’s laid up. He’s hurt his shoulder from that. So that was very disappointing. He hit the ground twice and ended up second by just 13 points. He only needed a small score to win his title.
“Morgan has won the men’s section four times. He’s the youngest to ever win it at 19. He’s won it four times and his goal was he just wanted to equal Scott Bandy at five times and he was going to hang his hat up too, we all have to go to work on Monday.
Emma said, “Morgan has been very hard on his body. Works very hard all the time, so his body is telling him it’s had enough.”
When asked about her own exploits, she said, “I think it’s just consistency in your training and dedication and always never thinking that you’ve done the best you can do, always thinking, I could do better. You know, we come home from every challenge, whether we win, lose, or draw and we’ll go back over what we’ve done and there’ll be something that you think you could have done a bit better at. So you work on stuff all the time in absolutely everything, just trying to better yourself all the time.
Never thinking that you’ve got it made and you don’t need to try harder. We’re always still trying to be better all the time.
“My horse is at the start of his career. He’s only a six year old. We talked about him coming home and he did a phenomenal job for me in the finals all week, all weekend, but in the finals, he was really there every step of the way. And, you know, we talk about bringing him home and slowing him down and just bringing it all back to basics for him so that it’s just maintenance, really.
“As far as our business of horse breaking and training, we do get a ridiculous amount of people contacting us to ride their horses, especially after something like this just to give their horses are tune up. But at our stage right now, we’ve got sort of a clientele that keeps coming back. We do take our new clients, but we do have a pretty solid clientele that we do their horses all the time.
“On the breeding side of things our stallion Western Acres is available at stud to the public for live cover and also for collection.
“I don’t think we recognise the people who help Morgan and I at a competition and at home as well, but more so when we go to such a big competition like that, I do get very nervous or anxious when I’m going into a big competition even before we leave home.
And I know when I get to a show that my family that are there and friends, I never have to worry about the kids, so that’s a huge thing for us. We can just go do our thing and we know our kids are right. They’re safe and they’re happy and everything is taken care of there.
And I don’t think we’d probably give them enough credit either for our success and not having to worry about the kids during the events.
The Open Stockman’s Challenge provided its own drama. Tooma’s Daryl Baines claimed his first title aboard the horse Banjo in a stirring comeback. Entering the final phase in third place and facing a 46-point deficit, Baines surged ahead to win by 14 points. His name now joins the event’s Hall of Fame, a fitting reward for years of consistent high-level performance. Morgan Webb secured runner-up honours with a strong showing, while Travis Bandy rounded out the podium in third.
The Junior Challenge saw Gundagai’s Jack Lindley take top honours aboard The Lethal Advisor continuing the strong tradition of young riders from the region making their mark. Other categories, including the Striplings Challenge for even younger competitors, showcased the next generation of stock riders, with notable performances from riders like Mackenzie Dunn and Claire Lindley in various divisions.
Beyond the main challenges, the festival offered a rich program of supporting events. The Working Cattle Dog Championships, proudly sponsored by Welaregang Station, highlighted the vital role of working dogs in modern stock management. Feature campdrafts, cut-outs, and the Xtreme Broncs rodeo provided thrilling entertainment across multiple nights. The traditional street parade brought Corryong to life with decorated floats, horses in full working regalia, and community participation that embodied the festival’s grassroots spirit.
Organisers praised the high calibre of competition and the enthusiastic crowds that flocked to the Corryong Recreation Reserve. The event not only honours Australia’s pastoral heritage but also boosts the local economy and promotes the High Country as a premier tourism destination. With its mix of competition, culture, poetry recitals, and family-friendly activities, the festival continues to grow in popularity while staying true to its roots.
Emma Webb’s journey to 10 titles reflects broader themes in Australian rural life: resilience, respect for animals, and the transmission of practical skills. Growing up in Queensland’s cattle country, she developed her horsemanship on working stations before moving south. Her annual pilgrimages back to Far North Queensland combine family time with horse breaking and training, blending work with heritage.
The Webbs’ operation focuses on producing and preparing horses for challenges, campdrafts, and everyday stock work. Morgan has spoken in past interviews about the advantages of their lifestyle, noting how constant exposure to practical tasks sharpens the skills needed for high-pressure events.
Emma has often been cited as a role model for aspiring female riders, proving that precision, courage, and quiet determination transcend traditional gender roles in the bush.
Her notable performances extend well beyond Corryong.
Webb has excelled in other major challenges, including the Battle on the Bidgee at Gundagai, where she and Morgan have both enjoyed success.
She has also competed strongly in campdrafting circles, where her horses frequently feature in finals. These achievements paint a picture of a rider who excels not through flash but through consistent, methodical horsemanship built on thousands of hours in the saddle.
As one sponsor representative noted, “Wherever there is a ‘big stage,’ the Acres Destiny horses and riders like Emma make an appearance.” Western Acres himself represents a new generation of performance horses, carrying forward bloodlines known for athleticism and trainability.
Looking ahead, the 2027 festival is already scheduled for early April, with entries for the Stockman’s Challenge opening in January. Organisers anticipate another strong field, with Webb likely to defend her crown and inspire the next wave of competitors.
For the South West Slopes, Emma Webb’s success is a source of immense pride. In a region known for its rolling hills, productive farms, and strong community ties, her achievements highlight how local talent can shine on the national stage. Cootamundra and surrounding towns continue to produce riders who embody the values celebrated in Paterson’s verse: bravery, skill, and an unbreakable bond with the land and its horses.
The festival’s enduring appeal lies in its authenticity. Unlike many modern sporting events, it remains deeply connected to real-world skills. The wild horse catch, in particular, echoes the mountain men’s exploits described in the poem, where riders pursued brumbies through treacherous terrain. Modern competitors face similar tests of nerve and horsemanship, albeit in a controlled arena setting that still demands split-second decisions.
Webb’s record 10 wins place her far ahead of previous multiple-title holders. Christy Davidson (née Connor) secured five Ladies titles earlier in the event’s history, while other notable riders have claimed multiple victories but none approaching Webb’s tally. Her eight consecutive wins from 2014 to 2022 remain a benchmark of sustained excellence.
Family plays a central role in her success. With Morgan’s support and their growing family, Emma balances the demands of competition, training, and business. Their story resonates with many rural families who juggle property work, off-farm enterprises, and sporting pursuits.
As the dust settled on the 2026 festival, tributes poured in from across the equestrian community. Fellow competitors praised Webb’s sportsmanship and the example she sets for younger riders. Organisers thanked volunteers, sponsors, and the Corryong community for making the event possible once again.
In an era when traditional bush skills face modern pressures, events like the Man From Snowy River Bush Festival serve as vital cultural touchstones. They preserve knowledge, foster community, and celebrate the men and women who work the land with horses and dogs.
Emma Webb’s 10th title is more than a personal milestone—it is a celebration of perseverance, partnership with horses, and the enduring spirit of Australia’s high country. For South West Slopes residents, it is a reminder that excellence can emerge from regional roots and that dedication to craft yields lasting legacy.
The 2026 champions have written another chapter in the festival’s rich history. As Banjo Paterson might have put it, the riders from the Snowy River country—and those who travel to honour it—continue to prove that courage and skill still define the Australian bush.
Additional 2026 Category Highlights
• Open Stockman’s Challenge: 1st Daryl Baines (Tooma), 2nd Morgan Webb (Cootamundra), 3rd Travis Bandy.
• Ladies Wild Horse Catch: Top score to Emma Webb (90 points).
• Junior Challenge: Strong performances from Gundagai and regional riders, with Jack Lindley among the standouts.
• Other events: Successful working dog trials, campdrafts, and rodeo action rounded out the program.
For full results and 2027 details, visit bushfestival.com.au. Tickets typically go on sale in September. The festival remains a must-attend for anyone passionate about horses, heritage, and high-country hospitality.
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