Archive for the 'Horses' Category

Equus Inspiration

What a wonderful weekend we had at Tasmania’s Equus Inspiration. We had great feedback for Jen’s wool blend Joddies, our T&T Fastgrass horsefeed, my books and Heath’s Girls, Girls, Girls trick riding show and saddlery. Here’s some shots from the show taken by Krissy Harris. Come back soon for your sneak peak preview of a behind the scenes photo shoot I did with Heath and photographer Peter Stoop, featuring his amazing trick riding girls looking authentic and beautiful on fair dinkum horses.

Click here to view more photos from the day.

Impulsion!

Up until recently I’ve never had good gear to ride in. The hard crappy saddle and old jeans did the job. I didn’t even have a decent horse to call my own until my buckskin ‘Dreams’ found me. I now have the most amazing saddle designed in Australia by internationally renowned movie horse trainer Heath Harris and handcrafted in Mexico as part of his Hawkesbury River Saddlery Company. Up until recently too, you would NEVER catch me in a pair of joddies! No way known! Too posh for me. That was until Jen moved to our district. She’s come up with a fantastic design that suits the bush riding I do. To top it all her Impulsion Jodhpurs (www.impulsion.com.au) are a wool blend and because we are woolgrowers I am even more excited about this luscious Levendale product! I know this sounds like an advertisement, but I’m all for supporting my friends who are creating exciting lives and top Australian gear. Hope to see you all soon at equusinspiration.com where you can also meet Jen and Heath.

Sweet Dreams!

This morning I may have had pre-publicity work to do on the computer for the release of my new book, but when this big truck rolled in, that was the end of my work!

My new quarter horse, Dreams arrived from Heath and Krissy Harris’ place near the Hawkesbury River in NSW.

She’s so far proving a dream. We’ve been for a ride and found a cast ewe so she’s already done her share of farm work on her first day!

Forty Fantasies

I’ve decided that during my fortieth year I’m going to set 40 fantasies in motion for myself and my family.

Meet Rachael’s fantasy number four; A quarterhorse Buckskin mare called Dreams. She truly is a dream come true for me.

We bought her this week from a lovely family near Canberra. As a child I loved everything to do with cowboys and Indians so I think that’s where my desire for a Buckskin began. I love a good Western.

I can’t wait for sweet Dreams to arrive in Tasmania where, after loads of rain, I’m having wet dreams!?!

Come to daddy!

This outstanding Sprint-bred quarterhorse stallion, Blazing Image, belongs to our friend Luke Brayshaw. He has excellent temperament is fast, athletic, spunky and brilliant on cattle – and that’s just Luke.

The stallion has all these traits too and is throwing some cracking foals.

That’s why we picked this boy to shag our lovely Australian Stockhorse mare, Marigold!

Luke also inspired a scene in my new novel The Cattleman’s Daughter and provided me with a name for my hero in the book.

If you are in need of a classy stallion to service your mare, call Luke on 0403 087 429. You can also see more details of Blazing Image in the Stallions August 2009 Edition of Horse Deals on page 78.

Super Saddles

One fantasy I’ve had all my life is to own a really beautiful saddle. I’ve still got the one I had when I was 14 that I bought with my first pony Tristan. It is an Indian-made saddle and is still like a block of concrete to ride in.

Now look! We visited our friends Heath and Krissy Harris in Sydney and while we were there I bought one of Heath’s beautiful Hawkesbury River Company saddles.

I rode in it on Zac, one of Heath’s incredible trick riding horses, and I felt like I was sitting on a comfy lounge.

If you are interested in Heath’s saddles go to The Hawkesbury River Saddle Company.

They are practical, beautifully-crafted and one of the safest saddles you can buy.

Anzac legend

It felt extra special last Saturday to watch two young steely-grey Walers in our front paddock galloping about in the morning light.

Whipcrack and his little brother Smoko seemed to know their forebears were being celebrated and remembered today during ANZAC day.

Whipcrack is now a rising three year old and has enough experience as a ridden horse for us to offer him for sale.

We are asking $2,000. Cheap considering the iconic heritage that runs through his veins and the fact he was educated by Luella Goggin – one of Australia’s most talented horse masters.

For expressions of interest email John.

Green, but great!

Our little Waler gelding, Whipcrack has graduated from greenbroke horse to little legend. These school holidays, our friends, the Dare girls, took Whippy for a whirl and our first born Akbar foal has proved to be a star.

Quiet, sensible, obliging and with a sense of humour, Whipcrack has been a gem from the start. Georgie rode him out with us as we searched for lost sheep on the plantation country surrounding our farm.

He bowled over ploughed ground, pushed through scrub and Georgie, who is still a weanling herself, handled him with all the skill and confidence a country girl can have!

Despite riding the ranges we didn’t find our sheep. There’s more country to cover and with school back this week, it’s my turn to ride Whippy out and I can’t wait!

It’s a boy! No, a girl! No a boy!

While I was away at the Writer’s Centre Edith had her second foal to our Waler stallion, Akbar.

The foal was born on a really windy night and with almost snow conditions forecast, John decided to take mother and baby to our neighbour’s stable.

Despite the close contact, I was told the foal was a girl.

When I got home and went to look at her with my friend Leeanne definitely noticed something that female foals don’t have!

Due to the windy night and the initial gender confusion, we have decided to call this little foal, Willy Willy, because we are now certain it’s a boy!

Tribute to Tristan

Tristan came into my life when I was 14 years old and has been my best mate ever since.

I turn 40 this year, so you can imagine how old he was. Healthy right up until last week, he had a great life.

It’s been a hard day, saying goodbye to the old boy today, but the vet has just come to put him down as his old heart was failing. His death has prompted a flood of memories, tears and gratitude in me.

This little horse was my anchor for so many of my tumultuous teenage years. He came with me on my first job as a jillaroo and has been loved by one and all throughout Tasmania. Our little brumby blessing will be missed by us all. Thanks little Tris.