Thank you for your service
Dan
Dan passed away on January 16th 2023, after serving with Grey Horse since 2008. He was special. Here is his Grey Horse profile.
'Dan is an Arab gelding, fifteen hands high and twenty-three years old. With his long dark mane and tail, and dark legs contrasting with his lighter grey body, he used to command immediate attention from visitors to Grey Horse. As he has aged, his mane has turned to silver, lending a him a more mature but equally striking air.
His strong need for closeness and affection gives those people who work with him an opportunity to share a nurturing relationship. However, he is not beneath taking advantage of people’s good natures by demanding more affection than they are sometimes ready to give. His responsiveness to people’s requests makes him a valuable member of the Grey Horse team.
He started his career as a show pony with his previous owner, and had a small amount of success displaying his Arab elegance in the show ring.
At five years old, he came from his home near Port Fairy to Smiths Gully and began a different career as an Endurance horse. He successfully completed a series of forty-kilometre training rides with Rascal.
He has competed at Dressage and joins in on the occasional Navigation Ride, and enjoys the work he does as part of the Grey Horse team.'
Rascal
Rascal passed away in early December 2022. He will be missed by RDA St Andrews riders and volunteers. He loved his work and the young people he worked with. He worked with Grey Horse Growth and Learning from 2008 to 2022. Like many grey horses, as he grew older he developed a number of tumours, both internally and externally. Despite the care offered by our veterinarians, and surgery to remove the worst, he died shortly after Tiny. They were good pals. Here is his Grey Horse profile.
'Rascal, like Dan, is twenty-three years old and an Arab gelding. At fourteen hands three inches, he is an inch shorter than Dan, but height is made up for by personality in Rascal’s case. Named before he arrived at Smiths Gully, he continues to deserve the title.
He is the boss of the herd, the alpha, with a sharp ability to dominate the other two to his advantage. He is lean, wiry and athletic and can equally play the sullen adolescent and the perfect gentleman.
His early history took him to Pony Club, and after his arrival at Smiths Gully he continued his work at Adult Riding Club, alongside some serious Endurance work. With a number of forty-kilometre training rides under his belt, he became a fully qualified Endurance Horse after completing his third eighty-kilometre ride in November 2008.
Always interested in food, Rascal also enjoys exploring any interesting item that he can chew or move around. His wry “Make me!” attitude gives people the opportunity for both fun and assertiveness at the same time.'
'Rascal, like Dan, is twenty-three years old and an Arab gelding. At fourteen hands three inches, he is an inch shorter than Dan, but height is made up for by personality in Rascal’s case. Named before he arrived at Smiths Gully, he continues to deserve the title.
He is the boss of the herd, the alpha, with a sharp ability to dominate the other two to his advantage. He is lean, wiry and athletic and can equally play the sullen adolescent and the perfect gentleman.
His early history took him to Pony Club, and after his arrival at Smiths Gully he continued his work at Adult Riding Club, alongside some serious Endurance work. With a number of forty-kilometre training rides under his belt, he became a fully qualified Endurance Horse after completing his third eighty-kilometre ride in November 2008.
Always interested in food, Rascal also enjoys exploring any interesting item that he can chew or move around. His wry “Make me!” attitude gives people the opportunity for both fun and assertiveness at the same time.'
Tiny
Tiny passed away in early November 2022. His contribution throughout his life was outstanding, having served as a trail riding horse in Kinglake for many years before moving to Riding for the Disabled, first at Viewbank, then at Bundoora. He continued to work with Grey Horse Growth and Learning until his late 30s, but his advanced age and failing health finally caught up with him. Here is his Grey Horse profile.
'After a period of semi-retirement in Arthurs Creek, Tiny joined the team at Smiths Gully to help out with some occasional low-key Equine Psychotherapy work. Showing a distinct flair for it, he continues to bring his wisdom and philosophical approach to sessions, demonstrating a calm and tolerant attitude to clients and helping many to find the stillness they are seeking. Solid and implacable, his age and experience makes him the archetypal wise-old-man of the herd, while still demonstrating an ability to make his needs clear. Tiny is enjoying an active old age and looks forward to occasional trips to RDA St Andrews to chill out with the other horses.'
'After a period of semi-retirement in Arthurs Creek, Tiny joined the team at Smiths Gully to help out with some occasional low-key Equine Psychotherapy work. Showing a distinct flair for it, he continues to bring his wisdom and philosophical approach to sessions, demonstrating a calm and tolerant attitude to clients and helping many to find the stillness they are seeking. Solid and implacable, his age and experience makes him the archetypal wise-old-man of the herd, while still demonstrating an ability to make his needs clear. Tiny is enjoying an active old age and looks forward to occasional trips to RDA St Andrews to chill out with the other horses.'
Visiting horses - Thank you to all the visiting horses who have offered their service and friendship over the past few years.
Moo
Moo, the perfect gentleman, ex-Endurance horse, spent 2009/2010 helping out children and adults at Riding for the Disabled in Bundoora. Tall, grey and elegant, Moo's Arab lineage shows in his intelligence and bearing. A kind horse, who loves humans, Moo lived at Strathewen with his owner, Hazel, and travelled to Smiths Gully only occasionally for sessions. (Sadly, Moo passed away in 2019, at the ripe old age of 32. Much loved and missed.)
Rosie
Also from the RDA team comes Rosie, part Clydesdale, solid as a rock, unflappable and generous. Her patience was unending and she was always good-natured. Thank you Rosie for the times you visited. Rupert and Rowan thought you were fabulous.
Howie
Howie, highly trained in both English and Western riding, but unfortunately left with an old injury from an accident, worked with Riding for the Disabled and visited Grey Horse part-time. Also a great lover of humans, she snuggled and cuddled as children buried their faces in her rich brown hair. Thanks to you, too, Howie for your presence in the past.
Trooper
Trooper, a palomino gelding with a heart of gold. An old-timer, he always remembered his manners, and his willingness to please meant even the tiniest clients were safe to move with him around the arena. Unable to cope with the digestive upsets he experienced when moved from one pasture to another, Trooper's advanced age eventually prevented him from helping out at workshops. (Trooper too, has since passed away, after a long and active life as the epitome of the all-round horse, from Pony Club through to therapy work.)
Minty
Minty a pony club pony, with many years of experience under his belt, has now returned home. On loan from his owners while the next family member grew up enough to take him on, Minty, at twelve hands, was the smallest member of the herd. What he lacked in height was made up for in personality, and his feisty attitude showed in the paddock when he stood up for himself in the company of the bigger geldings. His expressive ears were a great barometer of emotion, and his facial expressions provided a delightful introduction to horse body language. Thank you Minty for your work with Grey Horse.
|