For as long as she can remember, Margaret Oakden has been involved in a love affair with horses.
From seeing her first live equine at the age of two years, Margaret badgered her parents for one until they finally relented and bought her first pony for her when she was nine.
Following the usual equestrian route, Margaret went through the pony club ranks then on into EFA competition before setting her eyes on an early Quarter Horse import, Town Crier, in 1968. Her fascination for the newly founded Australian western horse industry grew and, in 1970, she acquired a buckskin and white tobiano colt that was duly registered with the Paint Horse Association of Australia as Benwerrin Moonshadow PHAA # 96.
From that time onward to the present day, Margaret has been absorbed by the western horse industry; initially as a competitor and breeder of both Paints and Quarter Horses, later as a journalist and photographer for, then editor and publisher of, equestrian magazines.
A trained professional commercial artist and illustrator for all of her working life, it seemed a natural progression for Margaret when, in 1978, she went to work for Teepee Publications - a company that produced the bulk of the quality western breeds magazines of the time. After all, moving into the equine magazine sector combined both the passions of her life – art and horses.
Having worked as editor for another national equine publication for 12 years, in 2001 Margaret felt it was time to strike out on her own. She formed her own graphics, photography and publishing business, Equi-Graphics. In 2003, she and her friend and associate of many years, Mel Cruden, became partners in MacoMedia with the single purpose of producing a top quality annual magazine for western horse breeders and enthusiasts. After two successful editions of the Western horse Breeders Annual, MacoMedia’s aim for the publication remains two-fold – for it to be an effective current advertising vehicle for the industry’s breeders and associated businesses and, in years to come, an historical chronicle of reference for breeders of the future.
Margaret is very proud of the body of work she has contributed to the western horse industry over the years. However, she feels that, no matter what one has achieved, there is always room for improvement and, accordingly, she strives for a better work product at all times.
Margaret lives with her partner of 19 years, Charles Caulfield, in Coolum Beach on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast. She continues to take an active interest in western competition and is the co-owner of a young Quarter Horse reining mare, Mingolena, and a halter-bred Quarter Horse colt, Demonee. Also, Margaret is proudly owned by her pied Staffordshire bitch, Buffy, and her ginger cat, Benito, both of whom make sure that she loves them dearly.

27 year old Mel breeds & shows paint horses.
Mel has been an active member of the PHAA for over 10 years & has contributed much to the industry by way of promotional activities.

A qualified graphic designer, Mel creates & maintains websites for some of the leading western breeds studs through her own business, Crazy Horse Designs, and runs the new Western Horse Forum, which has proven to be extremely popular. Her aim is to design innovative advertisements & lift the standard of advertising graphics here in Australia. She has worked in America with leading equine photographer & designer - Gail Bates & has an open invitation to go back to work with Gail at any time.

Mel lives in Brisbane, on her four acre property with fiance, Sean, who together breed pure bred staffordshire bull terriers as a side line to their other hobbies. They live with their three dogs Deva & her daughter Sauce (Staffys), Yoshi (Mini Foxie), Joon (Cat), & broodmares JVQ Simplicitee (QH) and paint mare Kinda Shameless.