Luke Bennett had a very Australian childhood.

His dad was a bull rider and his mum was a goat tyer, so it was inevitable that he would end up at the local Pony Club in Casino, northern New South Wales. His grandfather was on the tick staff, which also meant Luke was around horses and cattle whenever there was spare time.

Therefore, when he finished school, it was no surprise as he headed straight to a ringers job at Chatsworth, a MDH property for 12 months. Rob Young was the overseer at Chatsworth and he encouraged him to be involved with horses and it was here he had his first exposure to young horses and he did his first breaker. He attended a Ray Hunt school and this got him interested in the finer points and tweaked his enthusiasm.

It was then onto Longreach Ag College, where Luke admits it was a mixture of really good and really bad. The bad being he drank too much and rode too many bulls, but the good has been life changing. He met his future wife, Sandi, and he did the John Arnold Horsemanship Course.

After Longreach he went and worked for Todd Graham for 3 months, learning the basics and finer points about timing. He also got to ride some really good horses and while there got to start both One Moore Daddy and One Stylish Pepto.

In 2004 and 2005 he worked for Huon Smith, breaking horses and learning the finer points of dry work, sale preparation and the business skills required to run a breeding centre.

An overseas holiday designed to have a break and experience new things was next on Luke and Sandi’s plan.  They moved to Canada and were doing day work on ranches when they received a call from a fellow Aussie. Could they please come to Texas to help Gerald Alexander, a highly regarded 2 year old specialist in the Cutting industry.

This short job ended up being 3 ½ years in Texas working with 2 year olds preparing them to go to trainers and sale preparation. A highlight was presenting a One Time Pepto mare which made $70,000 at the NCHA Select 2 year old sale.

Luke & Sandi now call Dundee in the Northern Tablelands of NSW home. They have been operating Peak Performance Horses since Jan 2011. They have two daughters, Ella and Harper.

Luke enjoys competing at a variety of events. Campdraft, challenges & cutting are part of Luke’s program and he enjoys Cloncurry, the Man from Snowy River, the NCHA Futurity and different events that focus on versatile horses. Luke’s main focus is campdrafting & challenges & starting young prospects for the performance industry.

Luke has become one of the industry-respected horsemen in starting young horses.

Breakers are kept for a 6-week program with alternative programs to suit individual needs. Luke believes that good horsemanship is the key to working with a young horse. A solid foundation & a horse that trusts you is more likely to go on & train into a top performance prospect.

Bison are a part of Luke’s training aids. He keeps 2 bison and recommends them for their consistency and the confidence they give to young horses. He likes to try all the new techniques and decide which fit with his techniques, but the bison are definitely a positive.

Winning the Snaffle Bit Futurity in 2013 with This Barbies Smart (see Video Gallery) and featuring prominently in Campdrafts & Challenges have promoted Luke as a serious competitor. Luke takes a small select group of horses for training & competing. Luke is used & recommended by some of the country’s top trainers & breeders to start their young prospects for drafting & cutting.

2021

• Clearchoice Contiki (1st Start): ACA National Finals Novice Rd1. (Click on, “View in Facebook”)  [View Video]

Riding Millungeras Moon Beam:

2021 

• Paradise Lagoons Open Final (92).  [View Video]
• ACA National Finals
  • Top 30 Shootout 90 (22 64 4). [View Video]
  • Novice Rd1 90 (22 64 4).  [View Video]
• Nutrien Classic Rd1 – 92 (22 66 4).  [View Video]

2020

Nutrien Classic Stallion Shoot Out

• Rd 1 (88 – 21 63 4).  [View Video]

2019

• Warwick Gold Cup Rd 1 (88.5). [View Video]
• Canning Downs Rd 1 (88).  [View Video]

2018

• Warwick Gold Cup – 9th (88 88 87).  [View 3 Rd compilation Video]

Riding Tanami Performance Horses mares:

• Rosa Del Rey: 2021 Nutrien Classic Challenge.
  • Dry Work (76.25). [View Video]
  • Final. [View Video in Facebook]

• Branchvale Miss Conduct: 2021 Nutrien Classic Challenge Dry Work. [View Video]

2020

• KPH Tamworth Golden Guitar Campdraft with Lil Miss
  • [View Rd1 Video] – 91.5
  • [View Rd2 Video] – 90
• Glen Innes Show Maiden with Stereocatt (view in full screen mode) – [View Video]

Nutrien Classic

• Lot 317 – Millungeras Marissa (by Millungeras Moon Beam), 3 yo mare sold for $20,000.  Vendor: Evan & Kim Acton.  Purchaser: Whitley’s Transport P/L.  [View Video]
• Lot 327 – Cruz Some Moore (by One Stylish Pepto), 3 yo mare sold for $23,000.  Vendor: Mark & Jo Smith.  Purchaser: Jack Kable.  [View Video]

2019

• Warwick Gold Cup with Lil Miss.
  • Rd 1 (89).  [View Video]
  • Final (86.5)  [View Video]
• Warwick Gold Cup with Millungeras Moonbeam. Rd 1 (88.5).  [View Video]
• Canning Downs with Boonara Billy  Black.  Rd 1 (88). [View Video]
• Canning Downs with Millungeras Moonbeam.  Rd 1 (88).  [View Video]
• Landmark Classic Sale – Lot 624 Shurli Geller (by RS Chisum). Sold $24,000.  [View Video]
• Landmark Classic Sale – Lot 212 – Shes On Time. $68,000.  [View Video]

2018

Warwick 

• Millungeras Moon Beam – Warwick Gold Cup – 9th (88 88 87).  [View 3 Rd compilation Video]
• Boonara Billy Black
  • Gold Cup Rd 1 (89).  [View Video]    |   Rd 2 (89).  [View Video]
  • Canning Downs Rd 1 (91).  [View Video]

Chinchilla Grandfather Clock

• Boonara Billy Black – Open Rd 1 (90).  [View Video]

NCHA Open Snafflebit Futurity

• Shurli Geller – Co-Champion (221). [View Video]
• Mis Kit Kat – 4th.  GR1 -=1st (219). [View Video]
• Cantaur Park Daddy Who – GR2 =5th. [View Video]

Landmark

• Open Rd 1, with Boonara Billy Black – 89.  [View Video]

2017

• Landmark – 2017 Landmark, Classic Draft Rd 1 with Evan Acton’s Classic Con.  [View Video]

2016

• Landmark – Prydes Easifeed Challenge Reserve Champion with Mintona Nic Nac.  [View Video]

2014

• NCHA Futurity – SDP Buffalo Ranch Open Derby, GR1.  Riding Smart Cat Sierra. 142 points.  [View Video]
• Landmark Classsic Sale – Lot 173. Susies Little Sister. Sold  $25,000.  [View Video]

2013

• Snaffle Bit Futurity Champion – This Barbies Smart.  [View Video]
• Rocky Rush – Boonara Billy Black.  [View Video]