From vineyard to performance yard.
Once one of the Hunter Valley's original vineyards — "Portion 63" — transformed from 2005 into a dedicated performance horse facility, run by two professional riders and three generations of family.
A serious yard in a beautiful place.
Werakata Farm sits on Majors Lane in Keinbah, in the heart of the Hunter Valley — a stone's throw from some of the best vineyards in Australia. It operated as a vineyard until 2005, when we began its transformation into a performance horse facility.
Our 60 acres back onto Werakata National Park, home to kangaroos, wallabies, deer and the odd goat, with trails ideal for building fitness in horses preparing for three-day events. We're 15 minutes from Maitland and Cessnock, 45 minutes from Newcastle airport, and two and a half hours from Sydney.
Internationally credentialed. Locally grounded.
Tarsha Hammond
A professional rider and Coach Educator who represented Australia on "Fuzzy Logic" in the 2003 Trans-Tasman Challenge, and was short-listed for the 2000 Sydney Olympics and the 2002 World Equestrian Games. Her passion has always been eventing, closely followed by dressage.
- NSW State Dressage Champion, Novice — 1997 (Argentille Lariat) & 2004 (Messiah)
- NCAS Level 3 Eventing Coach, Level 2 Dressage Coach & Coach Educator
- Coaching professionally for 25+ years
Andrew Barnett
A former Grand Prix showjumper turned successful eventer, with a gift for producing young horses across all three disciplines. Coaching since 2004.
- 1st Melbourne International CCI2* 2017 — Bradgate Park Fonzie
- 1st Adelaide International CCI2* 2016 — Bradgate Park Dante
- 1st Sydney International CIC2* 2016 (Dante) & 2017 (APH Sparky)
- 1st National Eventing Championships 2* 2017 — APH Sparky
- 1st Tamworth International CIC2* 2017 — Bradgate Park Fonzie
Gwenda & Ron Hammond
Werakata Farm is a family affair. Gwenda and Ron contribute an enormous amount to the running of the farm — it could not be done without them. With the addition of grandchildren Henry (b. 2012) and Phoebe (b. 2014), the family story keeps growing.