Conmark's journey began at Wungum, south of Tamworth, when long-time clients Kempsey Quarter Horses entrusted the young colt to Chris Ware as a late yearling. The plan from the outset was always to retain him as a stallion. His dam had already established herself as an exceptional producer, and her owners believed strongly in the depth and consistency of her maternal line.
Under Chris Ware's guidance, Conmark was started carefully and allowed to develop at his own pace. He spent his entire two-year-old season at home before a minor injury as a three-year-old delayed the start of his competition career. Despite the setback, he showed immediate promise when he stepped into the arena, placing fifth at the Stock Horse Futurity at his first major outing.
Recognising his potential as a performance horse, Chris made the decision to send Conmark to respected horseman Scott Schoo in Central Queensland to commence his Challenge career. The partnership was a deliberate choice, with Chris believing Scott's training style and approach would complement Conmark's natural attributes and allow him to reach his full potential.
The transition into Challenge competition came quickly. Having worked relatively few cattle due to his earlier injury, Conmark's natural cow sense and athletic ability rapidly came to the forefront. After only five to six months in training with Scott, he qualified for the final of the Cloncurry Stockman's Classic Challenge as a four-year-old and went on to enjoy a remarkably consistent season, reaching the finals of nearly every Classic Challenge he contested. Following a successful Classic campaign and Derby Challenge season, the decision was made to focus his future entirely on Campdrafting.
Since making the transition, Conmark has continued to build an impressive record. Multiple Challenge victories across Central Queensland, breaking through to Open Campdraft status, and placing at prestigious events such as the Warwick Gold Cup Stallion Draft have further reinforced the belief that his best years are still ahead of him. His performances demonstrate the same qualities that have defined him from the beginning, natural balance, exceptional athleticism, a powerful stop, and an innate ability to travel to and read cattle.
Much of Conmark's appeal lies in the strength of his maternal genetics. Chris believes the depth of quality on his dam's side is one of his greatest assets, producing generation after generation of high-performing horses. Those qualities are already becoming evident in his progeny.
Although his oldest offspring are only three-year-olds, they have already generated significant attention in the sale ring. Progeny have sold for up to $55,000 and $50,000, while his averages continue to strengthen year after year. Buyers consistently describe them as balanced, athletic, cowy individuals with exceptional temperaments and strong trainability. The growing number of repeat breeders and repeat buyers is a reflection of the confidence the industry is developing in Conmark as a sire.
Chris and Taylor Ware have personally bred a number of their own mares to Conmark, particularly within Stock Horse bloodlines. They believe his maternal genetics complement traditional Australian Stock Horse families exceptionally well, contributing both physical athleticism and outstanding temperament. The resulting foals have consistently displayed maturity, trainability and quality from an early age.
Today, all major decisions regarding Conmark's career are made collaboratively between Kempsey Quarter Horses, Chris Ware and Scott Schoo. Together, they remain focused on establishing Conmark as an elite Campdraft competitor while continuing to build his reputation as a proven sire.
Standing at Wungum during the breeding season, Conmark offers breeders a unique combination of proven performance genetics, commercial market appeal and outstanding temperament. Whether the goal is to produce a future Campdraft competitor, Challenge horse or a highly marketable sale prospect, he continues to tick all the boxes for modern Australian breeding programs.
With an increasingly impressive competition record, a rapidly emerging progeny profile and some of the strongest maternal genetics in the industry behind him, Conmark is only at the beginning of what promises to be an exciting and influential career. As both a performer and a sire, all indicators suggest his impact on the Australian performance horse industry will continue to grow for many years to come.
