11.02.2015 Views

Messenger

Create successful ePaper yourself

Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.

Killara Lodge Oops (aka Double S Eclipse) & his champion rug<br />

From Ami Anderson: “Had a wonderful little reunion this<br />

afternoon (Monday 19 January). Aura Dell Robyn has spent<br />

the last 10 years at the RDA giving able-bodied and severely<br />

disabled children the chance to ride horses. She has been an<br />

amazing girl and loved by many. Unfortunately at the beautiful<br />

age of 33, turning 34 in April, she can no longer bear weight<br />

on her back. My daughter Josie, son Indy and the RDA carer,<br />

Michelle, came with me down to the yard where she was. We<br />

called her and she looked up and came straight over to me,<br />

nuzzled and gave me kisses. OMG, how horses remember. I<br />

bought her as a 2 year old from Mary Reed. She has been with<br />

me, Di Howard (Wirraway Sport Morgans), and the RDA. She<br />

will retire and live the rest of her life peacefully.”<br />

News from Wilga Park Morgans: “Well, December 2014<br />

started with a bang at Wilga Park. Darling Downs Western<br />

Dressage Club held an event at Wilga Park that included group<br />

instruction on Western Dressage, morning tea, and then lots of<br />

fun hours in the Trail Paddock.<br />

The event was to finish at around 12 noon, but the participants<br />

were so keen to try the Trail Paddock one more time that we<br />

waved goodbye to the last group at around 2.30pm. It was a<br />

fun day all round.<br />

News from Craig & Lea-Anne Willett: “Well another show<br />

year is about to start and we should be prepping Jay (Wilga<br />

Park Jacobinia) for that, however, we have had flooding rains<br />

now for a month. Mud and palominos don’t go so well! Update<br />

on Jay’s recovery is his fetlock is coming along nicely. We are<br />

always chopping and changing supplements, but I think we’re<br />

on a winner at the moment. Trying to keep it less chemical<br />

based with turmeric and green lipped mussel powder. We are<br />

also trying a new vitamin supplement for overall wellness. It<br />

has been 12 months to the day we had the surgery that went so<br />

horribly wrong that it nearly took him from us. I feel blessed<br />

to still have our boy and that we have gotten him this far. Look<br />

forward to catching up with a few of you at Allora Show!”<br />

It was wonderful to see lots of old friends and make lots of new<br />

friends at this event. Many said they had been hanging out to<br />

try the Trail Paddock and just could not miss the opportunity<br />

when they saw it advertised. Linda Shore, on her RanchBoss<br />

Cortez part bred filly, Boulevard Gabrielle, ran the event as a<br />

‘fun, learning experience for horse and rider’.<br />

Some horses had never stepped on a blue tarp before; others<br />

had never opened a gate or side-passed over logs. Moving the<br />

forequarters and then the hindquarters to manoeuvre through<br />

particular obstacles was a new experience for many. Climbing<br />

on a tractor tyre filled with dirt was certainly a new experience<br />

for all – and seemed to be the most challenging for the horse,<br />

but the most exhilarating for the rider.<br />

We were very excited when Rhonda Menzies-Moreland brought<br />

along her young mare, Shibui Cilla Black. Cilla was a little<br />

nervous of her new surroundings at first but, under saddle,<br />

showed she was a smart, thinking mare.<br />

We were pleased to have Keleigh Newman (who, with her<br />

business partner, organised Total Equine Expo 2014) attend.<br />

Keleigh was one of those waiting for an invitation to try the<br />

Trail Paddock. It was a totally successful day all round!<br />

Wilga Park Jacobinia enjoying the sprinkler which was his<br />

Christmas present<br />

The Trail Paddock is also a very useful training ground for the<br />

youngsters. Tammy-Lee Penney took her yearling boy, Wilga<br />

Park Summer Storm, around the trail to investigate all the strange<br />

obstacles. He was a super cool dude. He managed the bridges<br />

without drama and was keen to investigate the ‘livestock’ in our<br />

pen. Uncle Oscar (Mt Tawonga Oscar) was there as his safety<br />

blanket, but within a short time, Storm was out in front braving<br />

all the new things, without the moral support from Oscar.<br />

We enjoyed the company of visitors John and Nerolie Gate for<br />

half a day – in between showers of rain. John, who is from north<br />

22

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!