Community & Business
6 July, 2023
Local Sergeant take national reining titles
You might know him as the officer in charge at Pittsworth Police Station, and as a regular on the local golf scene, but did you know Sergeant Tim Hoffman is also a super star reining champion?
And he has the gold buckle to prove it, after a successful few days at last month’s Australian National Reining Championships in Tamworth.
Sgt. Hoffman and his horse NPH Dunitall (Dillon) scooped a swag of titles including four national championships - the Michelle Halliwell Memorial Non Pro, Prime Time Non Pro (riders over 50), Intermediate Non Pro and Level 2 Non Pro Derby (Aged horse event).
The formidable Pittsworth combo also took out Reserve Champion in the Intermediate Open and Level 3 Non Pro Derby.
Tim also secured the Reining Australia National High Points Award – Non Pro Rider and the Reining Australia National High Points Award – Intermediate Non Pro Rider.
It was all a combined team effort with Tim’s
wife Kerrie there as
number one supporter and strapper.
Finalists for the Championship qualify through points earned at reining horse events throughout the year.
Tim says he has always been around horses and enjoys reining as a precision sport that relies on complete communication between man and horse.
“The signature of the reining horse is the sliding stop and also the turnarounds or spins, it’s unique to our sport... and running fast circles into
slow circles, changing the lead leg of the horse on the fly, all on a loose rein, one-handed,” he said.
Reining originated in America and Mexico where ranchers back in the day would prove the athletic ability of their horses, and the practice eventually evolved into a sport that is popular in various countries around the globe.
