Grassbrook Equine

Gunnedah All Breeds & Hack Spectacular

Tue, 10 Apr 2012 03:55:00 +0000

Well, we attended on the weekend with 3 horses, and came away with ribbons! Our 2 Waler mares, Juliet's Pride, and CM Desert Traveller were 1st and 2nd, then Champion and Reserve Champion. Not bad for our 1st Waler class.

Having won ribbons for our Walers, we are excited about the next show, at Moonbi, here we will be taking just the one horse, Colby this time, and trying to win a few with him. He is currnetly under ridden work, and we hope to have a few more classes to take him in, instead of just the leds.

Change is Good.....

Mon, 20 Feb 2012 04:30:00 +0000

After much contemplation, we have decided to offer up our young ASPA/BH (3/4 ASH, 1/4 Welsh) stallion Grassbrook Colby, for sale. Due to our wish to concentrate on our Waler breeding, and streamline the stud's focus, he is being advertised in the March Horse Deals . We will continue to work with him, and hope to take him to some local shows, but if he is sold before then, so be it. The mental strain of having to have a minimum of 6 paddocks for separate herds and stallion paddocks is all getting a bit much. We currently have 2 mature stallions and a fast maturing colt who also thinks he is the bees knees....

On a happier note, we have aquired another lovely mare through Circle M- Onyx is a jet black, with 2 white hind fetlocks and a nice long blaze. She stands at about 14.1, and is a very lovely lady, hopefully in foal!! I can't wait til this time next year...we should have a brilliant crop of babies on the ground!!

MESA Fancy Free Twilight Gymkhana

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 22:55:00 +0000

Well, the 21st January weas our 1st ever show date. We took the pally Pia, and CM Desert Traveller- We had a ball. Pia took out a 2nd in the coloured mare/filly class (& even though she was super excited, and kept looking for Travy) and Traveler spent 99% of her day asleep. Not bad for a station bred, foundation mare.. We are incredibly happy with her, and look forward to getting our horses out this year..the Gunnedah All Breeds Spectacular is in a fortnight, and although we would love to go, we have a few comittments to complete, and some things here at home that we need to get sorted, and we can hopefully get into the showing pretty well and get our Walers into the rings. Given Travelers good behaviour, I am really looking forward to getting some of our others out, and Walkabout is high on that list, as is Colby, for the ASP classes.. He will be for sale, towards the end of the year, so that we can focus on Walers..

Remembrance Day

Fri, 11 Nov 2011 08:50:00 +0000

Today is Remembrance Day, and the last day of Waler Week. Facebook has been fantastic today, with many uploads of fantastic images from WW1- I have included a few for you.

LEST WE FORGET

Open Day over for this year!

Tue, 08 Nov 2011 00:55:00 +0000

Well it dawned sunny, warm and bright; a beuatiful day for shopwing off some of our lovely Walers!

It was a great day, with people interested in talking horse, seeing a "real, live Waler" and meeting some new poeple. Morning tea was a hit, with the lovely food and the more lovely lodies who served and kept the urn hot, and the plates full..

All in all, we are quite happy with the outcome...and watch this space, because we are already planning another for next year!!!

some photos are loaded in the photo album..

Open Day, November 5th. starting 9:30am, with morning tea. Come for a coffee and a chat!! Look in the Location page, for Google directions..(in the drop-down list under Grassbrook Home in the menu).
Monday 31st of October was Beersheba Day, in memory of the charge of the Australian Lighthorse into Beersheba, in 1917. 11th November is Remembrance Day, marking the anniversary of the armistice which ended the First World War (1914-1918).

Accommodation in Manilla

Wed, 02 Nov 2011 07:40:00 +0000

I have had quite a few enquiries about accomodation in Manilla, for the coming weekend, so I have some detail following:

Ambleside B&B - 0267851517,

Manilla Motel - 0267851306.

There are also pubs who have accomodation and rooms available in the main street. The B&B is on Rushes Creek road, same as us.

Beersheba Day

Sun, 30 Oct 2011 21:10:00 +0000

Some of you may already know, but it is Beersheba Day today : in memory of the charge of the Australian Lighthorse into occupied Beersheba, Beersheba Day commemorates that Charge at Beersheba, on Oct 31st, 1917, for the gaining of the wells for the allied forces was a pivotal point of WW1; the subsequent end to Turkish occupation of Israel, and the surrounding areas, named Palestine, by the British.

Next month, on the 11/11/2011, is Remembrance Day, marking the anniversary of the armistice which ended the First World War (1914-1918 )The 10 day period between those dates is Waler Week. Waler week was instigated as a mark of respect, to the great Australian horses who were of as much importance as the brave men who rode them- for they were the vehicle by which the charge was made and succeeded. Waler Week also affords the opportunity for those who don't know much about the Waler, to go along to an event or open day, and expand your horizons!!

"All Things Waler", is also next weekend, down in the Snowy- If you are down in that area and are wanting to see some lovely horses, head down! Next Saturday is also our studs own Open Day, right here; our horses will be on display, and we'll have some great displays and info on the Waler.

I hope you can go out, get some great information, and meet some of the amazing horses that are Walers- they truly are horses of distinction!

POI

Fri, 14 Oct 2011 22:20:00 +0000

http://www.walerhorse.com/whsa/statement.htm

WHSA statment on foundation selection, breed evolution, and breed continuance.

Rain, Rain...

Wed, 28 Sep 2011 21:50:00 +0000

It's Pony Camp time again, and at the risk of being a killjoy for all the older kids, I am a bit glad at the drenching we copped through the night and so far this morning..Pony Camp with Willa is going well, with her 4th birthday shared by lots of kids yesterday. I'm so glad the littlies only have the morning of classes and sessions; she is so exhausted through the afternoons, that she conks out on the lounge and sleeps for hours. Since today is thoroughly wet, and there looks to be no respite, I am taking today to enjoy the rain, the NOT being attached to a hairy shetland on a leadrope, and maybe even do some housework...if I get really bored.

It's only early yet, so PJ's are still the dress code, and it really does feel good to not do the breakfast rush, then take off down to the showground for the saddle-up. It's really been good fun, and I don't know if its the suger bribery or the continuity in the saddle, but Willa is picking things up and becoming more assertive with the stubborn litlle Charlie Pony.. They make a cute pair, when all is going well and he isn't attempting to make the sneaky dash back to the stalls... Hence the lead rope..

It's great just to watch so many of the kids really take on instruction, and become better riders and handlers- it's just as interesting watching the older kids try out their horses and skills with something new- We joined up with an older troupe yesterday, just to try some Horseball basics (mind you, it's a bit of an experience when half the kids in your troupe have yet to learn to catch.....). It is great that we have some truly fantastic instructors, with the Rowlands (Mike and Kylie) and their wealth of knowledge on Horseball, tentpegging and all the fun equine games- Despite the lack of catching and even aiming skills, our little Jackeroo troupe did have fun, and liked being part of the "Big Kid" group.

Next year, we will be taking the lovely Miss Legend as our mount- after her taking the bit and saddle with such maturity and understanding, the next 12 months she will be educated and worked, and since the little kids start on leads, i think Legend will make a fantastic PC mount. She always has been the pony that has to be with you, whenever there is some action- she takes to new things like a duck to water (good thing in this weather) and just tries her heart out (good 'ol Waler heart!!). A very inquisitive little lady. I really do think we are very lucky to have a nice up and commer mare in the wings and even though Hamish was adamant that he just wanted to play and not ride at Pony Camp, I do think he will be on board next year..(Willa has been getting so many lollies and treats, he really feels left out).

On the Stallions not, Colby is fast aquiring new (and some old) girlfriends- if you are requiring a service, please contact me, so I can plan out his servicing and keep him in good condition and at peak fertility.

National War Museum

Thu, 22 Sep 2011 23:10:00 +0000

There are many WW1 photos, available to look at on the War Museum's online archive. I have been sifting through the photos, and have found some beautiful examples of mounted cavalry horses. I encourage anyone with an interest in either horses or Australian history to have a look.

http://cas.awm.gov.au/item/C04795

http://cas.awm.gov.au/item/PS0671

http://cas.awm.gov.au/item/DAOD0028

follow the links to get you there easily!

Pony Camp, School Holidays...lots happening!!

Thu, 22 Sep 2011 22:55:00 +0000

Well, it is steaming on into October- Pony Camp starts on Sunday afternoon, and I'm slowly getting more organised. Gear to check, bags to pack and all that!.. In the meantime, generally working hard towards the Open Day we have planned for the 5th of November. I'm really looking forward to school holidays again, Camp with take up a lot of the first week, but the second week I'll be working on Walkabout a bit, and with Pia, as she will be for sale soon. We'll bring the both of them in and do a bit more ground work, then Pia will be offered for sale, at the Open Day, if I'm not organised enough to have her advertised before then! She's lovely and athletic- such a shame she doesn't fit into the breeding plan. I have uploaded new, recent photos of Colby, Walkabout, Label and some other bits and pieces- I will get some Pia photos on, after I wash the red mud out of her coat, and get her mane and tail back to the white they should be.

This coming year, we are planning to be very busy showing some of our horses. We will have a full time strapper/trainer/apprentice on board, to help out with the daily horse work; I'm really excited at the prospect of getting our Walers out there, and for Colby to get the exposure he deserves as a lovely natured, and stunning looking stallion. Ong Bak, also will be in the limelight, and as yet we are undecided on what lovely ladies we'll be showing, but we will work on that and hopefully, Traveller might be out there, and popssibly Juliet. We have made some adjustments to our float, so it is stallion ready, and we will also work on the crate for our small truck, so that we can get quite a few horses out into the showrings.

Ong Bak is coping well with his little herd- very happy and relaxed, looking like he's quite at home in the rye grass with the ladies! Colby has 2 mares with him, and a couple more planned for servicing soon-.

Christmas holidays are going to be no holiday for us, with lots of hard work planned, lots of riding...and lots of flatwork!

Tis' the Season to be Breeding!

Sat, 03 Sep 2011 22:15:00 +0000

Well, it is the 4th of September- my husband's birthday, and to a point, Christmas for Onggy! This last week has been a long one- We've had trade cattle to sort and get organised for sale, Lambs to draught and also get organised for sale... I have managed to ride 3 times in the one week!!! Which is generally completely unheard of! Between paperwork/officework, kids and school, the normal goings on of a week..Somehow, I squeezed in some very satisfying quiet grooming moments with Ong Bak, and that has ended up with being in the saddle and down the paddock riding. My last blog post was rather glowing, regarding my first experience riding him, but nothing was an exaggeration, and after Michaels' comment (thank you so much for that!) , I've been getting a much better picture of how special this stallion actually is.

I rode him again Thursday, to bring in some Brahman trade cows (mad eyed lanky things that they are) and that was a relatively sedate morning- getting from the house to the paddock was not the usual time wasting effort. Once you get into that trot, the extended stride eats up the ground and makes the ride really enjoyable. Even though all the scenery and general farm junk was new to him, having never been beyond the fences of the stallion paddock, he was unfazed. We brought the cattle up, yarded them, and then wandered home again. 2 hours of beautiful spring day on a big kind horse. Not a bad way to spend a morning.

Given we needed to bring more cattle in yesterday, I saddled up again, and out we went, though this time, he knew exactly where we were headed. We brought the cattle in with the help of a motorbike and 2 vehicles, Onggy taking all things in his lovely big stride- He didn't care about the vehicles at all, and when we charged around after the occasional breakaway, he was on the ball, and had his big ears trained on the beast the instant that they made the break.. I'm a bit leary of tearing around the countryside after beasties; I have too many aches and pains, am too fat, too slow, and generally not the rider I once was, therefore chasing snotty cows at a wild gallop across the countryside isn't a huge drawcard for me-The ground is too hard and I keep having mental video of the splat I would be if I lost my balance or control... but I forgot myself out there yesterday, and with such a solid, responsive horse under me, got into the spirit of things and was ACTUALLY HELPFUL, as opposed to being the tail-person who spends the muster poking at calves and the dodgy injured animals, trying to get them to walk after the mob, as opposed to lie down and hide...

So, after having a pretty satisfying week, and now knowing that Ong Bak is the lovely horse he has proven to be, he has been given "Christmas", and let in with 2 of our very on-heat mares, being Juliet's Pride, and CM Midnight...the other 2 are yet to be "on" enough for him to go with...maybe tomorrow morning..

Ong Bak under saddle

Wed, 31 Aug 2011 21:15:00 +0000

After many months of being sick, being away, being busy and the weather being crummy...I finally got sick of not knowing what my gorgeous big stallion is like to ride..we started with the usual burr removal, brushing , cleaning, hoof tidying...then saddled him up and then did the lungeing- first in the round yard then out in a bigger area- As soon as you have this horse' ear, you have him. It is easy to draw his attention, and he is a very responsive horse.

I finally got tired of safety groundwork, general preflight checks etc (because he had gone to sleep, was resting a hind, and had his nose leaning on the side of the roundyard) went and got a kitchen chair, and scrambled on... His ears went forward, and away we went, sedately around the round yard, so I opened up the gate (off him) and we went out into one of the holding paddocks for some flatwork. It doesn't take long to determine what sort of horse you have, when you start flatwork. You have the impatient horse: who tries to canter, no matter how hard you keep him back to a trot, and a reverse means a slightly backwards trot that heads sideways..You have the lazy horse, who cannot fathom that trot may even be in the asking- and don't even think about asking for a reverse!!..You have the "I'll do it for 5 minutes then I'm over it" horse, and he's spending all his time looking outside the exercise area, waiting for something more interesting (this horse is related to the impatient horse) and that interesting is usually either feed or plastic bags..and the plastic bags usually encourage such behaviour as pigrooting & shying- all the while proving that an hour of flatwork will be more beneficial than the horse's feeling of 5 minutes. You have the horse who grudgingly does as you ask but expects a reward at any point that he even begins to do as you ask, and if no reward is instantly given, gets sulky and refuses to try anything new...and then you have the horse that just calmly accepts that this is riding time, therefore, human time, and heads into any and every request with the same interest that he would give a biscuit of prime green hay....Well, Ong Bak is the latter horse. All requests, prompts, aides....you ask and he delivers- and the things he doesn't deliver, cause he doesn't know....he picks up fast. I am incredibly impressed by this big footed boy- he is sweet in the paddock, comes to the call with his big-hoofed, feathery canter, but as a mum to 4, and with more things on my plate than one can poke a stick at, I seriously expected a "bit of a handful" , and it is so amazing that he is not THAT horse. His movement and handling under saddle is softer again than it is on the ground, and today we will be moving cattle- I know he knows about stockwork; I've seen him watching the cattle longingly over the fence and as soon as the dogs go off at stock movements, he gets as close to that stock as possible. He watches over the fence and shoulders with great interest, when there is cattlework being carried out in the yards, and I'm really looking forward to heading down the paddock. His nature is truly one of calm, balanced interest. I think I may have a new favorite...

Totally WIld (channel 10) and their Waler segment.

Mon, 22 Aug 2011 22:50:00 +0000

http://ten.com.au/watch-tv-episodes-online.htm?movideo_p=41457&movideo_m=122514

This link is for a Australian kids show, and the segment they did on the Waler horse. Check it out and see some lovely specimans in action (Including their owner!).

Breeding Season Info

Mon, 15 Aug 2011 01:45:00 +0000

Hello people, breeding season begins in only a few short weeks, and I have been busy organising ads etc for our 2 boys. It is always exciting to get to spring and the time of year when the babies are dropping, the mares are bulging and the stallions...well, the stallions are pacing the fences!!

Our pony stallion, Grassbrook Colby, is expecting some sons or daughters this season, so we await their arrivals and will post photos when that happens! Last seasons' baby boy, Black Label, has been gelded and will soon be weaned from his mum, who is expecting again, but not til early in the new year.

This season, Ong Bak will be covering our 4 Waler mares! Yes, next season all NEW Waler babies, since we haven't any dropping for this season, and sadly were not as organised as this year! We are going to be early birds for the next. Ong Bak is available for outside services and will prioritise Waler breeders to 1st in line.

Both service fees are GST inclusive, however do not include Vet (if needed) or Agistment, which will be charged at at rate of $15wk (Closed quarters servicing) or $10wk for (paddock service)

We look forward to any questions and correspondances!

ANZAC MEMORIAL ON ISRAELI-GAZA BORDER

Tue, 26 Jul 2011 12:40:00 +0000

For those of you who don't know, Bruce and I are currently in Israel, on a business trip relating to the broiler farm we operate.

We are lucky enought to have some wonderfully hospitable hosts, and have been sightseeing in between the presentations, meetings and excursions. One excursion took us to a Kibbutz, and since the host knew we were interested in ANZAC related things as well, took us nearby on a sightseeing expedition to the ANZAC memorial on the Israel-Gaza border, that has a Eucalypt forest as well as a solid concrete structure that was the main memorial; we felt so lucky being taken to this spot, reputed to be one of the main spots that the ANZAC's broke througt the lines. This memorial is about 20klm from Be'er Sheva, (commonly known to us Australians as Beersheba). We have photos, and these will be uploaded at first opportunity.

Our guide & host also informed us that while they were digging for house buildings, they found the remains of an ANZAC and of a British soldier. There was a formal invitiation to the descendants and families to attend the funeral in Israel.

The effect this memorial had, was much more significant than any other I have seen. Perhaps it was because it was within rocket-range of Gaza- perhaps it was because the Eucalypts were healthy and abundant..But I think it was mainly because the concret memorial was unkempt, pockmarked ... to many, it would be a travesty that it be so- but it IS within a war zone. It IS in memory of a war and those who fought. It had a very real, very strong emotionally charged feel- Our boys fought on this very soil... And I'm standing on it.

We hope to head to Be'er Sheva at the end of this week or beginning of next week, as well as to the British WW1 cemetary in Jerusalem. This country has some amazing sights, and since both Biblical history and Australian mitliary history interests us greatly, we are very much enjoying our trip. I shall keep you updated into the future.

WALER STALLION!

Wed, 15 Jun 2011 07:54:00 +0000

People, we have a stallion!

We are proud to announce, we have purchased Ong Bak ("for the fighting"), rising 7 yr old Waler stallion, from M Chaplin. He arrived via transport on Monday, spending the night in Moonbi, and we brought him home yesterday morning. He is a rideable stallion having taken part in an Anzac March, some re-enactments, tentpegging, stockwork.... we look forward to putting him to work here on the farm, and showing him off to some of the locals. After he quits rolling in the mud.

He is a well put-together stallion (see the Waler Stallion page for more info) and we are glad to have him here now. Plenty of time to settle in, get used to things before breeding season starts. At 15.2hh, when he stands upheaded in the traditional Waler stance, he has amazing presence. He is strong and has the intelligent head and noticeable ears of the Waler, with lovely feet and feather. He is a great example of the workability, chunk and simplicity that is the Waler. As Dad put it, he was built to carry and pull! We feel that he will greatly compliment our mares, and we really look forward to breeding him to them, and seeing the results! He will stand here, for the season and outside mares are more than welcome- give us a call and we will work it through. For those of you who didn't know, breeding him to ASH stock is also accepted by the ASH Society- your progeny is registerable as foundation stock, and with the typey nature of Ong Bak, you are sure to be happy with the result.

Sandi Simons Confidence Clinic

Sun, 05 Jun 2011 23:19:00 +0000

What a great weekend! I'm sure that everyone who attended had a great time and really enjoyed Sandi, Annie, Liane and Leeanne's presence! Great education, great conversation, great company! Truly enjoyed myself, to the hilt and am looking forward to the next one! This particular clinic was the first ever Sandi Simons clinic for Tamworth, and I count it a privilege to have attented with Juliet.

We learned ground basics that are lifesaving skills, and considering the stories I had heard from some of the attendees, I was amazed that some of these gutsy women were really wanting to overcome some pretty frightening experiences and life changes, to get back up on board their horses. I felt a little out of place until it was pointed out to me that a new horse after having children of my own, is just as much a life change as an accident or emotional fear. Throughout the clinic I found I was continually learning, focussing much better on the signals my horse was sending me, and perfecting the signals I was sending her- And she responded so very well. She is a clever pony and wants to do as I ask- I just need to ask the right way. I really appreciated Sandi's down to earth approach, her realism, as a mother to 5 children she has a wealth of experience alone right there- then adding to the fact that she is married to David Simons, Australia's ONLY John Lyons accredited trainer...well, she is certainly a woman on a mission- and her mission is to keep riders safe first, skilled second. There is no whispering, no magic, no bull. Just down to earth real basics and they will completely change how I handle EVERY horse from here on out.

Keep an eye out in the Local Horse magazine, for an article on Sandi, and also The Land , as they also will likely have a piece on her . She is a great lady, truly tapping into the female psyche, fears and ego- she can teach, ride and be funny all at once, and I cannot recomment her highly enough.

Manilla Muster Endurance ride

Wed, 27 Apr 2011 01:22:00 +0000

Well, they tell me it was a great success and everyone had fun!

The kids and I enjoyed watching the horses come all the way around the road, and then head up through the paddock out onto the back road as they filled their circuit throught the farm. The kids spent all their time hanging off the front fence and yelling "HELLLOOOO" to the riders (who I doubt would have heard the kids, being a bit too far away!). It was nice to see so many horses on the farm and many thanks to Kim Hagon, for the bottle of Kahlua!! We would be more than happy, into the future, to supply access to riders; being so close to town with so much land available- it seems to be the natural progression of things!

Manilla Endurance Ride

Fri, 22 Apr 2011 10:34:00 +0000

This is a big weekend- Easter, ANZAC Day, and the local Endurance ride here in Manilla. We are happy to have become part of the local Endurance riders' trail path, with their latest ride taking 5 klms through the centre of our farm. We are giving some access that keeps riders away from tarred and busy roads. Its a great opportunity to be involved, however small, in the Ride, and we're looking forward to contributing into the future. As we have not yet any Walers that would be suitable to take part in any competitive riding, it is still a great chance to be involved, and when we do have a mount that can handle such a ride, and we get to take part in such rides both for our own and for our horses' experience. I look forward to updating, after the weekend!