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Killara Lodge Oops (aka Double S Eclipse) & his champion rug
From Ami Anderson: “Had a wonderful little reunion this
afternoon (Monday 19 January). Aura Dell Robyn has spent
the last 10 years at the RDA giving able-bodied and severely
disabled children the chance to ride horses. She has been an
amazing girl and loved by many. Unfortunately at the beautiful
age of 33, turning 34 in April, she can no longer bear weight
on her back. My daughter Josie, son Indy and the RDA carer,
Michelle, came with me down to the yard where she was. We
called her and she looked up and came straight over to me,
nuzzled and gave me kisses. OMG, how horses remember. I
bought her as a 2 year old from Mary Reed. She has been with
me, Di Howard (Wirraway Sport Morgans), and the RDA. She
will retire and live the rest of her life peacefully.”
News from Wilga Park Morgans: “Well, December 2014
started with a bang at Wilga Park. Darling Downs Western
Dressage Club held an event at Wilga Park that included group
instruction on Western Dressage, morning tea, and then lots of
fun hours in the Trail Paddock.
The event was to finish at around 12 noon, but the participants
were so keen to try the Trail Paddock one more time that we
waved goodbye to the last group at around 2.30pm. It was a
fun day all round.
News from Craig & Lea-Anne Willett: “Well another show
year is about to start and we should be prepping Jay (Wilga
Park Jacobinia) for that, however, we have had flooding rains
now for a month. Mud and palominos don’t go so well! Update
on Jay’s recovery is his fetlock is coming along nicely. We are
always chopping and changing supplements, but I think we’re
on a winner at the moment. Trying to keep it less chemical
based with turmeric and green lipped mussel powder. We are
also trying a new vitamin supplement for overall wellness. It
has been 12 months to the day we had the surgery that went so
horribly wrong that it nearly took him from us. I feel blessed
to still have our boy and that we have gotten him this far. Look
forward to catching up with a few of you at Allora Show!”
It was wonderful to see lots of old friends and make lots of new
friends at this event. Many said they had been hanging out to
try the Trail Paddock and just could not miss the opportunity
when they saw it advertised. Linda Shore, on her RanchBoss
Cortez part bred filly, Boulevard Gabrielle, ran the event as a
‘fun, learning experience for horse and rider’.
Some horses had never stepped on a blue tarp before; others
had never opened a gate or side-passed over logs. Moving the
forequarters and then the hindquarters to manoeuvre through
particular obstacles was a new experience for many. Climbing
on a tractor tyre filled with dirt was certainly a new experience
for all – and seemed to be the most challenging for the horse,
but the most exhilarating for the rider.
We were very excited when Rhonda Menzies-Moreland brought
along her young mare, Shibui Cilla Black. Cilla was a little
nervous of her new surroundings at first but, under saddle,
showed she was a smart, thinking mare.
We were pleased to have Keleigh Newman (who, with her
business partner, organised Total Equine Expo 2014) attend.
Keleigh was one of those waiting for an invitation to try the
Trail Paddock. It was a totally successful day all round!
Wilga Park Jacobinia enjoying the sprinkler which was his
Christmas present
The Trail Paddock is also a very useful training ground for the
youngsters. Tammy-Lee Penney took her yearling boy, Wilga
Park Summer Storm, around the trail to investigate all the strange
obstacles. He was a super cool dude. He managed the bridges
without drama and was keen to investigate the ‘livestock’ in our
pen. Uncle Oscar (Mt Tawonga Oscar) was there as his safety
blanket, but within a short time, Storm was out in front braving
all the new things, without the moral support from Oscar.
We enjoyed the company of visitors John and Nerolie Gate for
half a day – in between showers of rain. John, who is from north
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