THE LONG WAIT – AN EI STORY

When equine influenza slipped through our national quarantine protocols, few of us could imagine the ‘ripple’ effect of just one infected horse.  Whilst the racing industry took up page after page of newspaper headlines, other equine disciplines and recreational pursuits seemed to just fade into the background, even though these horses and riders make up 80% of the Australian horse industry.

There are thousands of stories about the repercussions of EI and the subsequent lock-down and zoning strategy.  Mine is just one, and, as a new member of the Highland Pony Society, I thought I would share it.

After breaking my hand in a minor fall from the flighty thoroughbred I had owned for two years, I decided that, at 58, what I really needed was an Andalusian with its legs cut down.  For 18 years prior to buying Berry the thoroughbred, I rode a ‘gentleman’ Andalusian gelding named Mac for both dressage and trail riding.  When I said this to a friend, she said “You need a Highland Pony!  I have two so come over and meet them”.  I did.  I was so impressed that I resolved to have one as my next mount.  It is not so easy to buy a trained up Highland as I found out that most are snapped up as yearlings or before their education starts and then are often kept for life. Such are the qualities and appeal of this great breed.

Then, a breakthrough….. I heard about Croftnoc Campbell in Victoria.  A well-bred, in-work Highland Pony!  After a few telephone calls to Victoria, I was invited to fly to Melbourne on August 11th to meet and ride him.  The weather had been atrocious but it cleared enough for Anna Thirkell to facilitate my needs – and, yes, I fell in love with the handsome, comfortable Campbell.  He is perfect for me.

The sale was sealed and the excitement rose as I made transport arrangements.  But, as it turned out, the EI lock down occurred just days before the truck was due to collect him for the long haul to Byron Shire in Northern NSW.  Thank goodness this pony was not collected to be stuck somewhere along the way.  He could remain safe and in good care on the stud where he was born.

We all thought EI would burn itself out but now, after 4 months, more than 40,000 horses have succumbed, resulting in a very small number of deaths and the lock down continues in NSW and Qld.  I check the DPI site every few days and the general consensus in horse circles is that it may be late February before this current outbreak is cleared and we have green zones state wide.  Even though my area has not had any cases of EI, local riders cannot leave their home paddocks and cannot even take their float to the dump with rubbish in.

So I wait.  Campbell waits.  Everyone waits.  Oh for a large magic carpet!  Then I could swoop down to Gippsland, pick up my ample steed and glide smoothly back home to fulfill my dreams.

Raylee Delaney – Mullumbimby NSW

PERFORMANCE HIGH POINT AWARDS 2007

Congratulations to the following winners of our annual Highland Pony Performance Awards

Part Bred section: Croftcnoc Cognac and Rae Madden Runner up: Croftcnoc Campbell and Anna Thirkell Pure Bred section: Harkaway Lodge Kinross and Nicole Coombs by Barrymoor Dorian

National Buckskin Society Awards 2007

High Point Performance Horse –Winner Croftcnoc Cognac Owner Rae Madden.
High Jinx Performance Horse Trophy – Croftcnoc Cognac

PERFORMANCE TOP FIVE

Callanish April
Tambella
Croftcnoc Cognac Winner 2007 Season
Prospect Blue Bronte
Shadu Park Quahla

NEW HOMES

Benacre Blairgowie has been leased for a couple of breeding seasons to Jacinta Watson to be put to her stallion Harkaway Lodge Ben Nevis by Barrymoor Dorian.

Croftcnoc Chloe has also been leased to Lesley McKay to be a riding and competition mount at HRCAV events.

Croftcnoc Corrinella update

She has now been broken in and she is ready to start ARC competitions with her owner Marie Van den berg.

Thought I would send you some updated photos of Corinella (aka Molly). We have now started going to ARC rallies, we have our 2nd this Saturday at Sunbury and I have entered her in Level 4 at Whittlesea on August 11 for her first time out. I am keen to get her out and about at some APSB/Highland shows soon.

GLENGARRY AGRICULTURAL SHOW (VIC)

The sole Highland Pony representative was Croftcnoc Campbell, results as follows:
1st Led male
Champion Highland Pony
1st Ridden Highland
Champion Ridden exhibit

AOPB PONY DRESSAGE DAY

Croftcnoc Campbell was the sole representive for the Highland Pony Society at this great pony dressage event. There are all sorts of pony breeds from Shetlands to larger pony breeds. I think we broke the drought at the National Equestrian Centre as I rode both my tests in rather wet conditions, but no complaints, as we need the rain. This was Campbell’s 3rd dressage event and he improves each time. Results as follows:
Test 4A 7th place
Test 4C 3rd place
We also took along two Shetlands and Travice rode in the Tiny Tots Dressage to gain a 5th place on Grevaldi Falcon, while Ellen cheered us all on sitting on her pony Chantilli Park Replica (Tilly).

APSB GIPPSLAND PROMOTIONAL GROUP ACTIVITY DAY (VIC)

What a great day! Dressage, Showjumping, Novelties and Handy mount for all ages also classes for the non showy kids at lunchtime in the Fun ring.

I rode Croftcnoc Campbell and had lots of fun along with my two children and their Shetland ponies. I even tackled our first showjumping round with a clear! Not bad for a pony who had never seen a course of coloured jumps. Results as follows:

Dressage 3A  3rd
Dressage 3C  2nd
Showjumping clear round.

SCOTTISH HERITAGE DAY 27TH MAY 2007

What a terrific day for the annual Scottish Heritage Day held by the Dandenong Agricultural Society in Victoria.  Lovely sunshine greeted 10 Highlands for judging by Mark Goodwin.  Mark is from the UK and used to work for the Queens cavalry.

The Highlands all looked terrific and was great to see 5 in the saddle class.  We have some super shots from the day available on the website. Championship winners were awarded beautiful rosettes from the UK. Melanie MacLachlan & Jan Gallagher’s gelding Harkaway Lodge Hawthorn was used in the after noon by commentator Wayne Loughnan who rode Hawthorn around giving a running commentary of events taking place.  This even featured in the Victorian newspaper the Weekly Times!

Highland Mare 4yrs & over
1st Haven Gabby – Julia Grave
2nd Ballinton Islay Skye IMP – Scott McGregor
3rd Steffiedene IMP – Scott McGregor
4th Harkaway Lodge Velvet – Brittany Coombs

Champion Female – Haven Gabby
Reserve - Ballinton Islay Skye IMP

Led Gelding 4yrs & Over

Supreme Champion Highland Pony Harkaway Lodge Kinross

1st Harkaway Lodge Kinross – Nicole Coombs
2nd Tammy Norrie of Fairlaw IMP – Scott McGregor
3rd CroftCnoc Campbell – Anna Thirkell
4th Harkaway Lodge Hawthorn – Melanie MacLachlan & Jan Gallagher

Led Gelding 3yrs & under
1st CroftCnoc Argyle – Anna Thirkell
2nd Senlac Beinn Laddie – Sharon McDonald

Champion Gelding – Harkaway Lodge Kinross
Reserve – CroftCnoc Argyle

Junior Handler
1sy Brittany Coombs & Harkaway Lodge Velvet

Ridden Highland Pony
1st Haven Gabby & Julia Grave
2nd Steffiedene IMP & Maurice 
3rd CroftCnoc Campbell & Anna Thirkell
4th Harkaway Lodge Hawthorn & Rebecca Holland

Highland Pony in Costume
1st Haven Gabby
2nd CroftCnoc Argyle
3rd CroftCnoc Campbell
4th Harkaway Lodge Hawthorn

Croftcnoc Argyle

Has just broken in and starting to attend Riding Club (pictured two days after coming home from the breakers), he was only away for two weeks!!!!

NEW HOMES

Croftcnoc Alannah a pure bred filly has been leased to Jan Gallagher of Victoria to be used in the next show season. We wish Jan and Melanie well.

Carnegie Vision a ASB TB mare has been leased to Scott McGregor of Jolley Farm Vic, she has been successfully pregnanct tested in foal to the imported Highland stallion Fyfedene.

Magnolia Vale Oddessy has been leased to Jacinta Watson of Victoria to be used as a brood mare this next season with her young stallion Harkaway Lodge Ben Nevis, by Barrymoor Dorian.We hope Jacinta has lots of lovely foals out of her as we have.

MT CANNIBAL ADULT RIDING CLUB DRESSAGE DAY FEBRUARY 2007

I had a great day riding Croftcnoc Campbell at the dressage day in the level 4C and 4E tests, we finished in the top ten in both tests with a 7th and 8th place, not bad for his first official dressage tests.

BARASTOC HORSE OF THE YEAR SHOW 2007

A really successful show with both Croftcnoc Argyle and Croftcnoc Campbell gaining ribbons in their classes.

1st Argyle in the led Highland  gelding
3rd Campbell also in the led Highland gelding

ROYAL MELBOURNE SUMMER HORSE SHOW

Another Royal Show has been and gone again in scorching heat at the National Equestrian Center. Four Highland ponies presented before the judge Patsy Mashiter from Victoria. Croftcnoc Campbell was placed 2nd in the led gelding class and also received a 2nd place in the ridden Highland Pony.

SOMERVILLE OPEN SHOW

The Native Pony Show run by the New Forest Group was held on the weekend as a part of the New Forest Pony of the Year Celebrations. The show was held as a part of the Somerville Horse show in Vic. Six Highlands competed which was great and four of them under saddle.

The Mare class was won by Jasminedene & 2nd to Tathradene both owned by Scott McGregor. 3rd went to Haven Gabby and Lesley McKay.

The gelding class was won by Harkaway Lodge Hawthorn (Melanie MacLachlan & Jan Gallagher), 2nd to HL Kinross & Nicole Coombs & 3rd to CC Campbell & Anna Thirkell.
The Champion Led went to Jasminedene with Tathradene Reserve.

In the Ridden section the Ridden Female was won by Haven Gabby & Lesley McKay
The Male class was won by HL Hawthorn, 2nd to HL Kinross & 3rd to CC Campbell.
Champion Ridden Highland to Hawthorn & Reserve to Kinross.

Hawthorn then went on to take out the Supreme Champion Ridden M&M Exhibit which was a real thrill for Rebecca his rider.

In the show Hunter led section Kinross was 4th & Campbell 3rd in the over 14hh class. In the saddle class I think the results were the same if I remember correctly! None of the Highlands place in the 13-14hh class, the judge went for all the fine types.

There were some other results for Highlands in some of the other rings but I can't remember what everyone got. Needless to say I think all had a pretty good day. Scott got Supreme small M&M with his Dartmoor Filly and Anna got Reserve champion Shetland with one of her Shetlands Grevaldi  Falcon and Reserve Buckskin with her other Shetland Chantilli Park Replica. Ellen her 3yo daughter also rode Tilly in the Ridden Shetland and was Champion but she was the only one in it. Needless to say I think she did a pretty good job for a 3yo! She was very cute when she said "Congratulations" to the judge!

HRCAV TTT Showing Championships

CroftCnoc Campbell (click here for details on sales page) and Anna Thirkell competed at the HRCAV TTT Showing Championships on the weekend of 14th January 2007.

Campbell's results are as follows:
4th Smartest on Parade Level 4
3rd Led exhibit under 15hh
3rd Ridden Exhibit Level 4
3rd Level 4 Mount Most Suitable for HRCAV (including obstacles and two jumps!)

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