Our Story

Hi, we're Hayley Smith and Milissa Phillips-Payne, the best mates behind Show Prep CQ. Our journey began in the small rural town of Glenden, a mining community a couple of hours west of Mackay, Queensland. We first met through Milissa's mum, Penny, who owned and operated the local Glenden takeaway shop. Hayley, a familiar face in the community, often visited Penny's shop, and it was here that our paths crossed.

In our early 30s, we both had young children. Hayley's son, David, and Milissa's son, Todd, were the same age and quickly became fast friends. Our real bond, however, was forged through our shared love of horses and our participation in Queensland Western Performance events, which include categories like Reining, Pleasure, and Trail.

Our first event together was in Capella, just a stone's throw north of Emerald. Hayley rode her horse, Rosy, while Milissa rode her horse, Drifter. This event marked the beginning of many more, solidifying our friendship as we attended numerous Western performance events together over the years. To this day, we remain best friends. Sadly, Penny, Milissa’s mum, has since passed away, but she lives on strong in our memories. Hayley even named one of her horses Penny in her honor.

In 2016, Milissa purchased an existing business called Show Prep CQ, which stands for Central Queensland. About a year later, Hayley joined as a business partner. Initially, Show Prep CQ offered a broad range of various branded products. Today, we have significantly grown and diversified into a high-quality range of self-branded Show Prep CQ products. Handpicked, designed, and used by us, we ensure top-notch quality control, fast and reliable shipping, and a steadfast ethos: "If we wouldn't use it, we won’t sell it. Period!"