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Campdrafting exemplifies the basic work which was carried out by stockmen on cattle properties in the bush and to some extent is still carried out to this day. Friendly rivalry between stockmen, betting as to whose horse was the best, saw the conception of Campdrafting, which has grown to be a recognized sport with its own set of rules.

Campdrafting seems to have started between1880 and 1890 in Australia .  Horses, drovers and stockmen played a huge part in the opening up of this young country and the inevitable competition over who had the best horse and who was the best rider would have been the reason for a more serious and formal contest to evolve.

Basically a campdraft competitor starts by selecting a beast from about ten head in a cut out yard, called the "camp". He then proceeds to work the beast forward, proving the he can hold the beast clear of the mob, and calls to be let outside.
The gatemen then release him from the yard, and he begins the course work in the open arena, which involves directing the beast around pegs in a figure of eight pattern, and then between two pegs, referred to as the "gate".

For the work in the cut out yard, the judge allocates a score out of a possible twenty-six points, depending on the pressure applied to the beast and the resultant turns which the horse must perform to block the beast. The outside horsework is scored out of a possible seventy points depending on the speed around the course, and the ability to control the beast and keep the beast on the most direct course. An additional two points are added when the first peg has been completed, one point on completion of the second peg and a further point for achieving the "gate", thus the judge allocates a score in three sections for a possible one hundred points in total.

The sport requires a horse with cattle sense, athletic ability in the camp, and the ability to gallop fast, do small circles on the course and yet remain responsive to the rider's control. The Australian Stock Horse is the ideal mount, particularly when fitted with an Australian Stock Saddle and an ordinary bridle with a snaffle bit.

An intending competitor does require an understanding of cattle, the ability to ride well, and a horse which is under control at all times. It is an advantage if the competitor can predict a beast's intentions and if the horse has been started on cattle work.

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