When his first run didn’t go to plan, 14-year-old Hayden Tubman found something else to get stuck into: helping out.
By the end of the 2026 Ariat High School Campdraft Percentile Cup at Pittsworth, he had recorded his highest score yet on his horse Annie and taken home the RFTTE Stand-Out Student Award.
A Year 8 student at Boonah State High School, Hayden lives in Harrisville, Queensland. His story has a bit of everything: an enthusiastic start, a wrong-way gate, a horse that smiles and a willingness to pitch in wherever he can.
And we reckon that makes him a terrific young person to introduce to the RFTTEJOBS.com community.
How this story began: RFTTEJOBS.com proudly sponsored the Stand-Out Student Award at the 2026 event, held at Pittsworth Showgrounds from 2 to 4 October. Read our original story about backing the next generation at the High School Campdraft.
Anyone who has helped run a campdraft knows there’s plenty happening outside the arena. Hayden was keen to lend a hand.
He often asks his mum whether he can help out the back at events. This time, she suggested there were other ways he could contribute, so he offered his help on the first morning.
“I felt so welcomed and appreciated that I just kept going back when I had the chance.”
Hayden Tubman
Helping became a rewarding part of the weekend, giving Hayden a chance to learn more about what goes into running an event.
And when his first run didn’t come together, he had somewhere positive to put his energy.
“My first run didn’t go to plan, so I focussed on helping out instead and got ready for my next run, where I ran an 88.”
That’s a pretty good comeback!
Hayden kept contributing, regrouped and returned to the arena ready to have another go. It’s an approach that served him well across the three days.
Hayden’s interest in cattle sports began when he was eight, after attending a team penning event with his mum and some of her friends.
The excitement of cutting out a cow had him hooked. A conversation with his mum soon introduced him to another possibility.
After he made a tail-turn at one of those early events, she explained that he couldn’t do that in a campdraft.
His response was simple: “What is a campdraft?”
Once she explained, Hayden decided it was something he wanted to try.
His first opportunity came at Millmerran Pony Club in 2022, where enthusiasm was certainly in good supply.
“I was so excited that I managed to get the gate on my first ever try… only to be told I had gated it the wrong way.”
Hayden Tubman
There have been plenty of lessons since, along with some terrific achievements.
In 2023, aged 11, Hayden won his first state Pony Club campdraft. His focus began shifting from sporting and barrel racing towards campdrafting.
Then, in 2026, he entered his first maiden-for-maiden run at Pittsworth aboard Dandilla Collann and came away with a win.
He’s proud of his progress, while recognising there’s always more to learn.
“I have come a long way since then. However, years later, I am still making errors and learning along the way.”
Of course, Hayden’s story wouldn’t be complete without his equine teammates: Kooloombah Recoil and Dandilla Collann, known as Annie.
Recoil brings plenty of personality to the partnership.
“Recoil is a bit of a class clown and every ride on him is an adventure. You never quite know what you’re going to get with him.”
His favourite trick? Smiling, something Hayden taught him to do.
Behind the antics is a horse Hayden trusts.
“He always looks after me and we have a great partnership.”
Annie is the newer member of the team, having been with Hayden for a little over a year. They’ve already achieved plenty together, including his favourite moment of the High School Campdraft weekend: their run of 88, his highest score on her so far.
For 2027, he’s setting his sights on building their partnership further and achieving some high camp scores.
When Hayden’s name was called for the RFTTE Stand-Out Student Award, he felt nervous, excited and honoured.
“There were a lot of people that helped out, so to receive the award was very special.”
That acknowledgement of the other helpers is lovely to hear.
The award recognises qualities we value throughout the RFTTE community:
Hayden’s willingness to keep returning to help, while managing the ups and downs of his own competition, reflects those qualities.
And he now has a pretty special buckle to remember the weekend by.
Behind Hayden is a supportive family, with his brothers, little sister and grandma attending many of his events.
His mum has been his biggest supporter and a steady source of encouragement.
“She always tells me to ride safe and give it my all.”
When things go wrong, they talk through what happened and what he could try next time. Her most important advice keeps the priorities clear:
“Look after your horse and cattle and always be safe.”
The advice Hayden’s mum has given him
It’s advice he can carry with him wherever the sport takes him.
At 14, Hayden has plenty of time to decide what life after school might look like.
Helicopters have long interested him, and becoming a pilot is one possibility. He also enjoys biology and could see himself exploring a career in the medical field.
There is, however, one ambition he’s already sure about.
“I, like many others, want my name on the sign at Warwick campdraft arena.”
Whatever career he chooses, campdrafting looks set to remain firmly in the picture.
Asked what campdrafting has taught him, Hayden’s answer reaches well beyond horses and cattle.
“It’s not always your day and things don’t always go to plan! Keep trying, keep persevering and eventually things fall into place and go your way.”
Hayden Tubman
He’s looking forward to the 2027 campdrafting year, with more learning, improving and competing ahead.
For us at RFTTEJOBS.com, it’s a pleasure to support a young person who enjoys his sport, appreciates the people around him and is happy to roll up his sleeves.
Congratulations, Hayden. Enjoy that buckle, keep looking after your mates and we’ll look forward to handing out another buckle to the next winner in 2027!
Find out why RFTTEJOBS.com got behind the Stand-Out Student Award and the young riders representing their schools at Pittsworth.
Read the Original Campdraft StoryBlog by Simon Cheatham | Founder, RFTTEJOBS.com
Source: Hayden Tubman’s written responses supplied directly to RFTTEJOBS.com. Quotes have been lightly edited for spelling and punctuation. Event and award background: RFTTEJOBS Backs the Next Generation at the 2026 High School Campdraft.
