About us

Graham & Donna Amos

Graham Amos wanted to be a cowboy for as long as he could remember. As a teenager Graham spent 3 years droving in North Queensland and a further 2 years working on cattle stations.

He started his professional career in the rodeo circuit in his early 20's, achieving many wins in the saddle bronc, including the Australian title in 1969. At the Australian Championship rodeo, over several years, Graham took the saddle bronc, bareback and bull riding titles. Also at this time in his life he took on contract horse breaking in the hunter valley and the north west for Reg White Timor Station, Ian Murray at North Star and Sinclair Hill, starting polo ponies at Terling's Moree.

In 1976 Graham decided to establish his own horse training complex: the A1 Training Stables. Over the next 30 years Graham trained and successfully showed many great horses, some of his favourites being Arraminta's Red Boy, Clover Star Wars, Doc's Spinster, Freckles Bohemia, doc's Freckles Oak and of course Catskills. To Graham's collection, a champion of working cow horse futurity, reigning futurity, 3 NCHA futurities, most recently champion of the 2007 futurity, numerous Derbies and in 1980 being awarded Quarter horseman of the year.

Donna Amos riding A1 Guess, finalist at the Warwick Gold Cup 2000

Graham has conducted horsemanship clinics in Brazil, USA, Canada, New Zealand and many all over Australia. He has tutored some of the world's most successful cutting horse trainers including John Mitchell, Roger Wagner, Neil Roger, Robert Mackay, Scott Graham, Andrew Coates and Spud Sheehan.

Graham's wife Donna is also a dedicated horseperson who, before meeting Graham, worked on cattle stations, feedlots, droving and horseshoeing. Donna's sports included polocrosse, campdrafting and now cutting.

In the year 2001 Graham and Donna ventured to the USA. In the five years there Graham achieved consistent success with his ultimate accommplishments being highest aggregate in the 2002 NCHA world championship futurity and in 2005 placing 4th in the final of the NCHA world championship futurity. Donna placed in the 2004 NCHA world championship futurity in the non-pro division riding a mare they later imported home to Australia, Wendy's Weed. The couple also achieved their goal in finding the stallion they ultimately imported home to Australia. Both Graham and Donna believe, after 5 years experience in the USA, that Catskills has the bloodlines and the personal ability to produce great cutters and camp drafting horses.

Graham amos riding in the Sydney Royal Easter Show

Not only being a trainer and tutorer Graham has spent a lifetime breeding up a broodmare band. These bloodlines consisting of Freckles (son of Sugar, Jewels Leo Bars) and Doc's Oak, also their imported mare Wendy's Weed which back lines to Doc's Oak.

The couple is now looking forward to starting their new horse training complex in Killarney south-east Queensland with the first crop of Catskill's babies.

We look forward to hearing from you.

Graham & Donna Amos