Bits: Warrawee calls it a day, Quilty update and overseas news
ONE of Australia’s best known Warmblood studs is closing.
Warrawee Stud’s Pat and Dick Ryan say the time has come to step away.
“After more than 50 years, the time has come to bring Warrawee Stud to a close. Unfortunately, age catches up with all of us and we now look forward to following and supporting the Warrawee horses that we have bred,” they said.
The stud at Lancefield was originally set up to breed purebred Arabians but in latter years, more emphasis has been placed on Anglo Arabians and Arabian Warmbloods.
It has produced some magnificent performance horses for the show ring, Olympic disciplines and endurance.
Remaining stud stock will be sold. Click here for details on the dispersal.
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THE Australian Endurance Association (AERA) is now calling for expressions of interest nationwide to host the 2023 Quilty Gold Cup after Victoria officially pulled out of the running.
The Quilty was to be held at the same venue as the Victorian state championships at Tonimbuk but the organising committee decided after running the event under extremely trying conditions, with minimal help, it did not have the manpower to go ahead with the national competition.
The situation highlights a growing problem in equestrian sport – a small number of people willing to put their hands up to help in a sport many enjoy the benefits of.
The Victorian committee asked for assistance from volunteers to help run the state championships but saw little response other than people able to help on the day.
A few weeks after the call for help, the organising committee decided to disband and no longer run the Quilty.
Victorian Endurance Riders Association member Paul Nugent summed up the situation:
“At the end of the day this is your sport and being more involved is the only way it is going to continue here in Victoria.
“Our AGM is coming up which is your opportunity to come along and get involved.
“With the current committee severely understaffed, even after a call for help, we need people to come onto the committee and give back to the sport.”
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YOUNG dressage rider Jessica Dertell has a new ride.
Mary Hanna’s Syriana has been sold to Brett and Samantha Thomas of Sabble Farm and will join the team of horses the 18-year-old competes with. Mary Hanna coached Jessica during her recent win at the Australian dressage championships.
* TWO top equestrian groups found themselves in need of help during the floods. Northern Victorian Show Jumping Club thanked the troops that helped clean the mess left at the grounds in Shepparton.
“It was a huge effort by everyone involved and we are so appreciative. Unfortunately, we have lost quite a lot, as the water was high enough it was even over table height in the office. If anyone has any old fridges (that still work), an old desk, two-way radios they don’t use, office chairs etc they’d be willing to donate please do get in touch.”
The Mildura Horse Trials committee was in real need of help as water approached their grounds.
“We have 110+ portable cross country jumps that need to be relocated to higher ground before the flood water reaches us.
“Please bring a large shifter and/or large impact driver and socket (if you have them) to help un-screw the ground anchors on the jumps. We think the size is 29mm (but bring other bigger sizes if you have them).”
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FRESH from winning his sixth Four-in-Hand World Championship a month ago, Australia’s Boyd Exell set out to take a 10th FEI Driving World Cup title by emphatically leading from the start to win. Former champions Ijsbrand Chardon, second, and Koos de Ronde, third, completed the top three placings.
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SHOW Horse Queensland is holding a survey to better understand what is important to members of the show horse community and to ensure their services remain relevant.
Responses are voluntary, confidential and will take approximately five minutes to complete. Responses will not be identified by an individual, rather compiled together for trends to help inform our elected committee and assist them in fulfilling their responsibilities with evidence-based decisions.
The survey will remain open until COB Friday 4 November 2022.
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PREPARATIONS for the equine extravaganza Equitana are underway, with the team onsite at the Melbourne Showgrounds and starting the build.
The event has not been run for four years due to Covid.
Ticketed shows are already selling fast, with the Thursday Full Flight Jumping, Saturday Mane Event and Sunday Horsemanship now sold out.
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FANCY a job as a Post Arrival Quarantine Stable Hand? Equine International Airfreight at Mickleham has a vacancy for a an experienced stable employee who can work in a strict quarantine environment assisting with the day-to-day care and feeding of horses after they have arrived in Australia. This role requires following strict biosecurity rules and regulations and dealing with many different breeds and temperaments of horses. It involves working as part of a team over a two-week post arrival quarantine intake, which usually takes place on a monthly basis.
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