Matthew, Nakia and Baylee Evans came to own Combatant more by chance than design. The horse they didn’t set out to buy has blown away any expectations they could have had for him.
In 2023, Nakia and Baylee went to the Nutrien Supreme Sale in Toowoomba to buy a yearling future challenge prospect. They came home with a yearling, and a 4yo colt.
Baylee and Nakia were sitting in the stands watching and Matthew was watching the livestream from home. When Combatant came into the ring, Baylee and Nakia paid attention because they knew his dam well and thought a lot of her. They could see that Combatant was a lovely type and had a lot of promise but he was very green.
“Dad was on the phone telling us to buy him. Mum wasn’t convinced and asked, ‘are you sure?’. We could see he needed work”.
Combatant was passed in to the Evans family. Baylee and Nakia went to see him in his stable and were struck by his presence but also by how placid he was. “He is the kindest horse you could ever meet. Just super sweet”, Baylee said.
Before committing to the sale, they quickly did some homework and found his full sister Westlake Lady Flow had sold for very good money the year before. They knew the bloodline appealed to breeders and buyers. They also realised if things didn’t pan out, and he didn’t suit their needs, he could be trained and resold. It took very little time for the family to realise they would not need to sell this horse and that they had in fact made a very good decision.
Baylee was happy to take things slowly and decided a month mustering would be the best thing for him. It did him the world of good and the family knew he had something. When she brought him home and progressed with his training Baylee was surprised by how much talent he had and how quickly he came along.
“He took to the training easily. He is just unbelievably clever. Bringing him along from nothing has been a really cool experience. I never had to ask much of him, and he came along so quickly. Sometimes I wondered, ‘Am I doing a really good job or is he just that easy?’ ”
“Sometimes he would do something, and I had to stop and think if I had even taught him that yet. Some things you just can’t teach.”
Just three months after bringing him home from the sale, Baylee took Combatant to some Ag shows to get him out and about, where he won led classes. Nothing phased him.
In his first season Combatant proved to the Evans family that he was worthy of the chance they took on him. He made finals in five different challenges over just a few months, including winning the Novice at Rocky Rush and coming 2nd in the Derby at Paradise Lagoons.
He then came out firing at The Congress Challenge at Dalby in September 2024, where he and Baylee won the Under 25’s Challenge, and finished 3rd in the Open Derby. From green sale horse in April 2023 to challenge winner just months later is an unbelievable achievement and demonstrates the sheer talent and intelligence of this incredible young horse.
Combatant has become well known for his calm, somewhat sleepy nature and is fondly referred to on the challenge circuit as Wombat. He is a calm individual until it’s time to compete. While he remains relaxed, he knows his job and Baylee said he always tries to do his best.
“You can feel him trying hard to get into a stops and get fast into his spins. He listens to me really well. He hardly ever puts a foot wrong and if he does, he fixes it pretty fast. Whatever he does he does it well”.
Baylee said that it is when working a cow that Combatant feels his absolute best. He is the perfect combination of Quarter Horse and Stock Horse. “He gets in the camp and works like a Quarter Horse, then he gets outside and flattens out. It feels great, I really like that about him”.
He might be quiet, but Baylee said he likes to show off. Combatant has a presence, and he knows it.
Matthew and Nakia have also competed on him, and he goes well for all three riders. He and Matthew won the Bangalow Buckle Encouragement Challenge.
Wombat was bred to some of the Evans family mares in 2023 and the first filly foal arrived in September 2024 with more due to arrive. He served mares live and it made no difference to his demeaner. He takes to everything without fuss and Baylee still ties him next to mares while he waits to be worked each day.
Going forward the Evans family will focus on campdrafting with Combatant, but he will also continue to compete in Challenges.
They Evans family could not be happier with the horse they bought by chance.
