Conmello was born on the 25th of October 2016 at ‘Farnham’ in Taroom, Queensland, bred and owned by Kylie Graham. She was the result of an embryo transfer between Mello Oak and Hazelwood Conman and arrived as a leggy, dun-coloured filly with a quiet presence about her.
Raised with care and attention by Kylie, Conmello grew into a strong, well-developed young horse. At 18 months of age, it was decided she was ready to be broken in, and she was sent to Will Durkin for her initial education. After this, she was turned out again to continue growing and maturing naturally.
Once ready, Conmello began working on the property, where she showed a natural ability for cattle work and a sensible, athletic style. Seeking to further her development, Kylie sent her to Jon Templeton for four months of training during her two-year-old year, a regular practice at the time. Jon found her to be intelligent and quick to read her cattle, moving with a low, supple style and showing a strong aptitude for working in the campdraft setting.
As her training progressed, Conmello revealed another special quality. When chasing cattle, she showed a natural stride reminiscent of her sire, Hazelwood Conman, and handled her work with an easy, balanced way of going.
In her Futurity year, Conmello had four starts, placing in each event and demonstrating good potential for the future. After a period off due to injuries, she returned to competition in 2023 with Kylie’s son, Tom, in the saddle. Together they began to capture the attention of those watching, with many noting her steady style and ability. While still early in her career, Conmello has continued to show promise with each outing.
Recognizing her immense value, Kylie made the decision to begin flushing embryos from Conmello early on. As a broodmare, she has already proven exceptional, producing five foals with another on the way this season. Not only is she a dream to work with reproductively, but she is also ensuring her legacy will live on for generations to come.
The story of Conmello is far from over—her talent, heart, and impeccable bloodlines promise an exciting future ahead.
