From time to time you see a great relationship between horse and owner. Something akin to a friendship, based on mutual respect and affection. Most of us never get to experience that kind of connection, that feeling where the horse becomes an extension of the rider, and everything feels effortless.

These are once-in-a-lifetime horses for the lucky few that find them. Ben Loades is one of the lucky ones. He has that horse in Koonamara Spoonfula Badge (aka “Roanie”).

Ben’s dream to own a cutting horse stallion began when he was 12 years old. Most young boys aren’t making big life plans, but Ben’s circumstances were unusual. He was looking for a long-term dream and hoping he would be around to see it come true. At 12, he was diagnosed with a type of Leukemia called AML, and his chance of surviving was just 8 percent. His chances were so slim that the Make A Wish Foundation offered Ben a ‘last wish’. He asked for a horse. Unfortunately, an animal wasn’t deemed a suitable request for someone who was unlikely to be around long to care for it. Instead, he was given a motorbike.

Ben would get his horse though, from his grandfather Alfie Taylor. Alfie, who was a respected horseman, made Ben a promise, “survive and I will buy you a ‘proper Quarter Horse’’’. Ben beat the odds and Alfie came up with the goods. That first mare, Warumbul Pricess, aka “Sally”, would later produce a filly foal by Roanie called Spoonfula Sweets.

Not only did Ben survive but he grew up to become a highly regarded and successful horse breaker, trainer, and competitor. He did eventually get his cutting horse stallion, and a good one at that!

Ben bought Roanie as a weanling from Kevin Noble. At the time, Ben was buying young colts, breaking them in and selling them on to go on to whatever discipline they suited.
“I bought 3 colts that year. I was really looking for a cutting horse and wanted one I could keep”.

Of the 3, Roanie was the best and there was never a doubt that Ben would keep this horse for himself.

Kevin Noble, owner of Oaks Jackhammer (maternal grandsire to Roanie) knew that Ben was looking for a colt. “He called and said, ‘I have a really nice one here and I think he will suit you’. I made the 5 hour drive, and I really liked the look of him”. Ben quickly decided to buy the roan weanling and took him home.

When it came time to break Roanie in, Ben could not have been more impressed. From day 1 everything came easily. He accepted training effortlessly; he was smart and talented. Ben didn’t hesitate to buy a full sister, who he said was extremely talented. She was injured however and Ben kept her as a broodmare.

Roanie’s foundation was certainly unique. As with most horses Ben starts, he was broken in to harness, which he says is great for their minds. Due to a shortage of cattle at the time, Roanie would get another unconventional start.

“I had a lot of goats at that time, and I worked him on those and the flag. Straight away I thought, ‘wow this horse is fair dinkum’. He just never put a foot wrong, even if I wanted to, I wouldn’t have been able to set him up to do anything wrong. It was so natural and easy for him.

I only ever had to show him the way”.

Ben describes Roanie as being very soft, a beautiful traveller, smooth, with a massive stop. He is a horse that could do anything. He makes a tough cow look easy, and he can mesmerise a cow, in a way that only truly great and dynamic horses can do.

Ben admired Corey Holdens training and thought he would do a great job training Roanie from that point. He made a call to Corey telling him what a great young horse he had, assuming he would be thinking something like, ‘oh yeah I hear that one all the time’. In this case it became quickly evident that Ben was right and Roanie breezed through the rest of his training.

Ben said that Corey did an incredible job preparing him. Corey showed Roanie during his Futurity year, making the NCHA Open Futurity Final.

After a good spell, Roanie would go to Jamie Creek to be prepared for the Derbys. This ended up being a great pairing, with Jamie and Roanie winning the NCHA Open Derby.

Ben started showing in Non-Pro events that year. At that time, he needed to restructure his breaking business to keep his Non-Pro status. He decided to get a good foundation showing in Non-Pro events before turning Pro, which was a necessary path for Ben to continue his business the way he preferred to prepare horses for his clients.

He showed Roanie in Non-Pro events until he was Reserve Champion in the NCHA Non-Pro Classic Challenge, then turned Professional. All the while, Roanie made both Open and Non-Pro finals for all his aged events.

Ben was deliberate in his decision to never over-show Roanie. While both he and the horse both loved showing, for Ben the main goal was longevity, having a great show horse that he could continue to enjoy for many years.

Following the aged events, and with Covid limiting shows, Roanie was able to have a big break. In 2022 he was prepared for a come-back after a 3-year spell. Ben will show him in Open events, and his partner Chloe will show him in Non-Pro events. They plan to keep competing with Roanie for quite some time, while also putting him over their mares and standing him at stud.

Ben describes Roanie’s temperament as being quiet but a whole lot of horse. “He is a V8. There is a lot in the tank. He can read a cow and is unbelievably smart. But under all that he is a big softy, and he gets a bit of pampering. He loves Krispy Kreme’s and Chicken Crimpy’s. He notices everything that is going on and he loves work. He is happiest when he is working.

He enjoys big crowds and the show atmosphere. You can feel it when you walk over the timeline on him. He loves performing”.

Even though he has a big personality, Roanie has no nastiness at all. Ben’s young stepdaughter can handle him. Ben says he is ‘all around cool’.

Roanie is certainly proving to be a great sire, passing on many of his strengths to his progeny. Including his sharp, trainable mind and willingness to learn and perform. “They are cowy, good minded, travel really good and have the ability to excel in any sport”.

While Ben has had plenty of interest from prospective buyers over the years, he said he will never part with Roanie.

“He means the world to me. He is my best mate, one of a kind, and I would never part with him.

“He has made this an amazing journey for me”.

2025

2023

2022

2021

2018

2014

See many more photos of this highly photographed sire in the results tab above.

2018

Standing photos taken 2014

2015

2014 NCHA Futurity

2014 National Finals

Koonamara Spoonfula Badge

2015 NCHA Breeders Incentive Open Classic Final with Ben Loades. [View Video on Youtube]

2014 NCHA Non Pro Classic Final with Ben Loades – 148.5 points [View Video on Youtube]

2014 NCHA Open Gold Cup Res Champion with Jamie Creek – 147.5 points [View Video on Youtube]

Progeny

Bulla Tattoo

• 2025 Juandah Plains Open Rd1 [View Video on Facebook]

Spot The Duck

• Warwick Gold Cup Rd1 with Kylie Barnett (88.5) [View Video on Facebook]
• 2023 Willinga Juandah Plains Open Rd1 with Kylie Barnett (88.5) [ View Video on Facebook]

Bulla Souvenir

• 2023 Scone Equine Open Snaffle Bit Futurity GR1 with Peter O’Neill (220). [View Video on Facebook]
• 2023 NCHA NP Snaffle Bit GR1 with Peter O’Neill [View Video on Facebook]

Jack Reacher

• 2025 Keeroongooloo Cup with Shari Knudsen
  • Ladies Cup Cutout winner after a run off (23) [View video on Facebook]
  • 2025 Keeroongooloo Cup Rd1 & cutout run off.  [View video on Facebook]
• 2023 Nutrien Classic GR1 with Mark Buttsworth (219). [View video on Facebook]

Spoonfula Hope

• 2023 NSW Cutting Horse Two Bob Saddlery Open Reserve Champion with Aaron Wheatley [View Video on Facebook]
• 2022 NCHA Futurity with Aaron Wheatley
  • Open Classic GR1 (223).  [Watch on Facebook]
  • Open Classic GR2 (219.5).  [Watch on Facebook]
• 2022 Autumn Spectacular Classic Challenge Champion with Aaron Wheatley.
  • Final (228)  [Watch on Facebook]
• 2020 Glastonbury Farms $15,000 Novice Final (75).  [Watch on Facebook]

A Chick With A Badge

• 2022 NCHA Futurity GR2 (219) with Trent Smith. [Watch on Facebook]

TLP Walkie Talkie with Rafe Ritchie

• 2025 Armidale 5, 6, 7yo final (216.5). [View Video on Facebook]
• 2023 NCHA NP Classic Challenge GR1.  [View Video on Facebook]
• 2022 NCHA NP Derby GR2 (218.5). [Watch on Facebook]
• HVCC Cutting Bonanza Rookies Champion (75).  [Watch on Facebook]
• Q22 Novice Non Pro (73.5).  [Watch on Facebook]