Peak Performance Horses
Where the horse comes first.

Luke Bennett is recognised as one of our country’s finest horse breakers and one of the industry-respected horsemen in starting young horses.  His low key approach to his trade is uniquely his and he enjoys turning his hand to the different competitions within his fields, such as Colt Starting & Horsemanship Challenges.

Luke Bennett's story
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Luke Bennett & Playin Harmonica, Monto Gold Buckle
Luke Bennett & Playin Harmonica, Monto Gold Buckle

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.

Luke Bennett riding This Barbies Smart, 2013 Snaffle Bit Futurity.
Luke Bennett & This Barbies Smart, 2013 Snaffle Bit Futurity Champions.

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.

Photo by Jo Thieme PHotography. Ella & Timmy with Sandi Bennett, Saxby Round Up 2017.
Photo by Jo Thieme Photography. Ella & Timmy with Sandi Bennett, Saxby Round Up 2017.

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.

Program
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Luke Bennett working on the sale horses.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.

Luke Bennett working the sale horses on the bison.

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.

Achievements
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Lil Miss

2019

  • KPH Tamworth Golden Guitar Campdraft
    • =2nd Overall (leading AGR score going in to the final)
    • =2nd in the Cutout with 23.5 (beaten by just 0.25pt)
  • Warwick Gold Cup (89 88 86.5) – =5th
  • Inaugural Peter Gesler Highest AGR Cutout in the the Warwick Gold Cup – 2nd in the (23 23 22). Just 0.5pt off the win.
  • Kununurra Maiden – 1st (86 91)  |  Novice – 6th

Central Highlands Colt Starting Challenge

  • 2015 Winner

Find out more about this exciting event  >>.

Mintona Nic Nac

  • Owned by Roger & Maree Bennett
  • Sire Millionnic Chic  |  Dam Mintona She’s Cool

2017

  • Nowendoc Maiden – 1st

2016

This Barbies Smart

2015

  • Paradise Lagoons Stockmans Challenge – 5th

2014

  • Cloncurry Challenge – Reserve Champion.
  • Monto Gold Buckle Challenge finalist.
  • Rocky Rush Challenge finalist.

2013

  • NCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity Champion.

Boonara Billy Black

  • Owned by Peak Performance Horses

2019

  • Qualified for Rd2 of the Canning Downs (88)

2017

  • Mt Isa Novice A – 2nd (91,89)

2016

  • Nowendoc Open Finalist.

Millungeras Moon Beam

2023

  • Man From Snowy River
    • 1st OPEN Campdraft highest scoring Australian Stockhorse
    • 3rd FEATURE CUT OUT, after 3 way runoff!

2022

  • Inverell Res Open – 2nd

2021

  • Paradise Lagoons Open – 6th (90 83 92)
  • ACA National Finals Top 30 Shootout – 4th (90)
  • Nutrien Classic Stallion Shoot Out – 8th

2020

  • Nutrien Classic Stallion Shoot Out – =8th

2019

  • Gold Cup finalist (88.5 86)
  • Qualified for Rd 2 of the Canning Downs (88)
  • Cloncurry Challenge – 2nd Open
  • Mt Isa Stallion Draft – 5th
  • Man From Snowy river Challenge – Just missed Top 10.

2018

  • Warwick Barnes Trophy Winner
  • Warwick Gold Cup – 9th (88 88 87).  [View 3 Rd compilation Video]
  • Monto Silver Buckle – 2nd after run off.
  • Cloncurry Open Draft, scored 92 in Rd 1.
  • 1st – Bundarra Maiden draft (88 89)

2017

  • Dundee Novice = 4 & 5th
  • Saxby Round Up = 8/9th
  • Saxby Round Up Novice finalist
  • Mt Isa Draft Novice finalist

Shurli Geller

2018

  • NCHA Open Snafflebit Futurity Co-Champion (221). [View Video]
    • GR1 – 3rd

Bandito Spin

2017

  • Cloncurry Stockman’s Challenge Finalist

Baroque

  • Owned by Sunkissed Quarter Horse Stud

2017

  • Dundee Open – 1st
  • Pinkett Res Open – 3rd
  • Saxby Roundup Open Finalist

 

Cantaur Park Daddy Who

2019

  • Kununurra Maiden – 2nd (88 88)
  • Pussy Cat Bore U5 Challenge Champion, with 11.25 point margin
  • Coonamble Challenge Rd 1, Wet Work Section – Winner (90)

2018 Red Range Maiden

  • His first ever draft and he scored an impressive 85 & 82 to place 5th.

2018 NCHA Open Snafflebit Futurity

  • Just missed the final by one point. He marked 2 very respectable scores of 209 & 215.

Playin Harmonica

  • Rocky Rush Challenge – Rookie Rider Winner.

Tamarang Destiny Reality (AKA Squirt)

2015

  • Purchased by R&M Bennett at the 2015 Dalby Stock Horse Sale

2016

  • Dalby ASH Sale Under 4 Incentive Challenge Champion.

Gentle But Lethal (AKA Bling)

Luke’s first Futurity horse Bling was sold to Mick & Lenore Cole at Landmark for $22,000.  She is now successfully campdrafting.

Luke's Greatest Achievements:

Stereocatt

2020

  • Bundarra Open campdraft – 1st & winner of the Cutout.
  • Glen Innes Show Maiden – 1st

Rosa Del Rey

2021

  • Nutrien Classic Challenge – 4th

Miss Kit Kat

2018

  • NCHA Open Snafflebit Futurity – 4th

Chics Covergirl

2021

  • Nutrien Supreme 2 & Under Challenge Champion.

Heathfield Tarn

2022

  • WINNER Inverell Res Open (91)

2020

  • WINNER Dundee Bushmans Carnival J.O. Sloman Memorial Open Campdraft (88 90 & 90 in the runoff)
Video Gallery
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2021

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

Riding Millungeras Moon Beam:

2021 


2020

Nutrien Classic Stallion Shoot Out


2019


2018

Riding Tanami Performance Horses mares:

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

2020

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.
  • 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 

Chinchilla Grandfather Clock

NCHA Open Snafflebit Futurity

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]

Contact

Luke & Sandi Bennett
2764 New England Hwy
Dundee  NSW  2370

Mob: 0408 007 526
peakperformancehorses@gmail.com


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