* Rural

FROM the age of nine Kate Pither knew she wanted to be a showjumper. Now the renowned horsewoman is making another equally fundamental decision: she’s selling up her operations in Western Australia and heading east to NSW, where her long showjumping career will take a new turn.

Oakdale Farms, one of the country’s leading showjumping centres, is on the market for $750,000.

If it were anywhere near Sydney, Oakdale would fetch several times that figure.

The property at Maida Vale, east of Perth, was acquired by Pither in 1988, when, on her own admission, “it was a dump”.

In between travelling the world, she has turned Oakdale into the five-star equestrian complex it is today, which has taken 14 years to achieve.

There was a lot of money in showjumping in the 1980s and Pither rode that wave, always having an astute eye as a buyer and seller of horses.

The property features an international arena with viewing area, 21 jarrah-lined stables, seven fully reticulated paddocks and a fully renovated house set in landscaped grounds.

It is only 20 minutes from Perth.

The primary business of Oakdale is training show jumpers, agistment and horse sales.

Pither has decided not to replicate the operations on the east coast, but instead will be jumping and training for well-known industry figures Rod Brown and John McMillan, who for many years have been the country’s biggest sellers of showjumpers to Japan and South Korea.

The move east is, in a sense, a homecoming. The Pither family originally had a farm at Robertson, in the NSW Southern Highlands, in the 1960s when they decided to sell up and head west. They crossed the unpaved Nullarbor with five children under eight.

This adventure is recorded in the soon to be published book, Go West Young Man, written by Kate Pither’s mother Hazel, herself a great horsewoman, who was honoured for her services to equestrian sport.

Hazel Pither was among a group of women who mapped the tiny beach tracks along the the coast line of NSW during World War II as part of the defence planning against the Japanese. The family of high achievers also includes Kate Pither’s niece, Commonwealth Games swimming gold medallist Leisel Jones.

Kate’s move east is not without regret, perhaps the biggest regret coming from the sale of Oakdale which is being handled by John Garland International

“It is a hugely emotional decision to leave the business and the people.

“But it is time to move on.

“This is a beautiful property if you have children, if you have a husband to fix things. It is not so much a one woman property,” she says. “It is incredibly enjoyable, a fantastic place to live, a dream place, like living in the middle of a glorious park, but I am not a married person with children, so it is a little bit big for one person.” As for that decades-old decision to be a showjumper first, last and always, that hasn’t changed.

“In NSW I will be working with people who are at the top of their sport, and it’s a fantastic sport. There is nothing in the world like jumping big fences on a great, responsive horse. It’s exciting.”

Other leading properties for sale which are suitable for equestrian activities include:

Blue Gum Springs: Located in the Chittering Valley less than an hour from Perth, this 63ha property has an international standard dressage arena, a heated indoor swimming pool and stone four- bedroom residence with sweeping views.

Brogheda: Located in the Hunter Valley three hours from Sydney, features 83 picturesque hectares overlooking Wybong Creek and was owned by the famous Hordern retailing family for more than 100 years.

Pembroke: Described as “the complete package for the family who love to keep and ride horses”, the owners of this property in the Adelaide Hills are hoping that the buyers will keep on two of their old horses and an ancient cat living in the stables as part of the purchase. Property includes luxury Federation-style four-bedroom home and two stables.