About Greg Powell

Greg Powell is recognised as one of Australia's leaders in horse handling. Greg has identified that a special relationship with a horse can only be achieved through mutual trust and understanding and not fear and intimidation.

Greg's philosophy in his work with horses has been to develop mutually respectful partnerships; whereby positive and engaging techniques are used with the horses to establish a trusting and dually beneficial partnership between horse and handler. In working with the sector, Greg's commitment has involved educating and informing the sector to put into practice better ways to treat and work horses.

In his ongoing commitment to horses, Greg has also emphasised his passion regarding the treatment of Australian wild horses (brumbies). As the brumbies continue to grow in population across rural NSW, authorities have implemented culling practices in attempts to reduce the brumbies' impact on the native surroundings. Rather than culling, he relocates the brumbies to his NSW properties located at Marulan and Cooma, where he transforms the wild brumbies through respectful methods and techniques to transform them into functional contemporary roles.

Greg Powell's work with wild horses in the Snowy Mountains high country generated much interest and profiled in the documentary film - "The Horse Handler" in 2001. The documentary film went to air on the Channel Nine network with great reviews. The first film inspired a program with "Youth Off the Streets" charity. The final statement in the film being that Greg would love to work with more wild horses in Australia unknowingly seemed to be quite prophetic.

The second documentary "Wild Horses, Wild Kids" features Greg's work with Father Chris Riley, the founder of Youth Off The Streets, and some young adults chosen by Father Riley to participate in the brumby project. The brumby project attempts to help those chosen to develop a relationship with their own brumby, encouraging life and social skills that will help them combat life.

Greg saw the value that was in the sharing of skills he used when handling a wild potentially threatened brumby horse with troubled youth and became very excited by the prospect. Greg sourced some brumbies from the Kosciusko National Park and bought them together with a group of troubled kids. This became the second documentary film made by Powell Entertainment. Jack Thompson a good friend of Greg's appeared in the film showing his support of the program. It too was aired on the Nine network and received good reviews.

In honour of his father he started a charity to aid in helping troubled youths called the "Kalandan Foundation" and put his horsemanship skills to more use. He felt there was more he could do with his skills, working with people and horses inspiring and motivating these young people to gain the most out of their lives.

Greg's life mission is to grow and develop this charity to its fullest potential sharing his experiences with his horses with others. Greg has since featured on prime time TV shows including "Random Acts of Kindness" and "60 minutes" with Jack Thompson interviewed by Karl Stefanovic. These shows covered the work he does with troubled brumbies in the high country.

Greg has worked with Hugh Jackman to prepare the actor for his role as the Drover, in Baz Luhrman's "Australia".

He has performed at Equitana since 2002 and looks forward to competing in Way of the Horse at Equitana Sydney where he will also be demonstrating his techniques in education sessions in the Riverina Pavilion over the event's dates 10-13 November 2011.

He runs horsemanship clinics regularly from property, Kalandan in Cooma, NSW and private lessons from Marulan, NSW.