Every so often in the show ring, a special horse comes along that captivates judges and captures hearts alike. Rolex II is one of those horses; ever since he partnered with young rider Kaitlin Labahn-Meyland back in 2017, the elegant grey Thoroughbred has been a regular fixture in the winner’s circle.

“He was originally trained as a racehorse by Liam Birchley in Queensland, which is where his paddock name of ‘Liam’ comes from,” explains Kaitlin Labahn-Meyland of her champion show hack, Rolex II. “He raced as Grey Assassin (Bradbury’s Luck x Annunciation) and had one win from 10 starts, which was on the Sunshine Coast in 2014.”

Liam finished racing in 2015 as a rising five-year-old before joining the Universal Stables show team in southeast Queensland. Kaitlin explains that in 2017 her family had sold some of their pony team they had competing in the show ring – Whitmere Royal Consort was sold to Megan Plucknett and Owendale Beesting to Kate Kyros – and it was agreed that it was time for Kaitlin, then aged 15, to graduate to a hack.

Based in Victoria at the time, Kaitlin tried a few horses that were for sale locally, but they didn’t click. “We were then told that Liam was for sale and a good friend of Mum’s convinced us to fly up to southeast Queensland and ride him, as she was confident that it would be a great match – and she was right. From the first circle, Liam was attentive, gentle, and extremely comfortable; my perfect match. However, because we were in Victoria, and he was preparing for the Queensland State Titles – he was based at Universal Stables – we debated the decision for a while until eventually he could come home to us.”

From the beginning, Kaitlin and Liam were a successful partnership. “Since then, Liam and I have been all over the country together competing at numerous State Titles, Off The Track events and Royal Shows. He and I have won two Pope Cups [a class that recognises show hacks with the best Thoroughbred qualities], one at Sydney Royal and the other at Melbourne Royal.

“Following our win in the Open Hack class at Barastoc HOTY show in 2019, we won the Open Large Hack at the 2019 EA Nationals [EA Australasian Show Horse & Rider Championships]. We then qualified for the 2020 EA Nationals; however, the event was postponed due to Covid restrictions.”

Kaitlin moved to Toowoomba at the beginning of 2021 to study at the University of Southern Queensland, as the Covid lockdowns had restricted her studies in Melbourne. The move also allowed her mum, Michelle, to resume training racehorses at Toowoomba Turf Club – something she had put on hold to help her daughter with the show horses.

Kaitlin and Liam competed at the 2021 Equestrian Queensland HOTY, and then when the EA Nationals were finally run in March of 2022 (as the 2020/2021 titles), they competed and won the Open Large Hack title. “In between these successes we also won the Vince Corvi Memorial at Canberra Royal, two Champion Hack titles at Sydney Royal and a Reserve Champion at Melbourne Royal,” adds Kaitlin. Not a bad run!

EXCELLENT AT EKKA

Their most recent success came at the Brisbane Royal Show – aka Ekka – in August, where Rolex proved that he’s lost none of his show-ring shine as he approaches his thirteenth birthday later this month. With 21-year-old Kaitlin in the saddle, he claimed his fourth Highbury Cup and took out the Champion Hack of Queensland title – bettering his Reserve Champion sash from last year. “He was incredible [at Ekka], he never put a foot wrong in any of his classes on Hack day and tried his heart out,” says Kaitlin.

Together six years and counting, Kaitlin and Liam have built a special partnership. “Liam is without a doubt my heart horse. He and I know each other through and through. He gets very attached to his people and his routine; I do almost everything with him and he gets very jealous when he sees me handling or riding another horse near him. He will often greet me at the gate to my parents’ farm when I am leaving of a morning, just for a quick cuddle and hello.”

Behind every amazing partnership is a good team, and Kaitlin says there are so many people that have helped in her success with Liam. “Probably too many to name! However, big influences on the partnership have been Ali Berwick and Mark Kiddle, all of whom have supported me throughout our competition seasons, whatever state we may have been in.

“Out of everyone, my mum has been my biggest supporter with Liam; without her I wouldn’t have had the amazing opportunity to form such a great bond with the horse, and I definitely wouldn’t be the rider I am, nor Liam the horse he is, without her being the eyes on the ground to guide us.” Kaitlin adds that her dad is also a great support in helping her achieve her equestrian goals and is always there to hold down the fort at home when she’s away at competitions.

When it comes to Liam himself, Kaitlin puts their success in the show ring down to the gelding simply being a great showman. “He listens to whatever I ask and performs the workouts judges give us with precision and accuracy. Thoroughbreds can have very big personalities, but I think I was lucky in that his is combined with such a gentle nature that works for his human.

“I love all of him, but most probably his cheekiness. He always tries to steal hats off my head, nibbles my ponytail and sucks on the ends of his lead when I bring him in from the paddock. I also think that he has this adorable ability to be the ultimate professional in the ring and my best friend when I’m with him every day on the ground.” EQ

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