March 2013 has been an exciting month for Trakehners Australia and AWHA Ltd members with the 2013 Trakehners Australia and AWHA Ltd Assessment Tour with assessors Matthias Werner from the Trakehner Verband in Germany and Silvia Ahamer from the Australian Warmblood Horse Association Limited. The Australia wide tour commenced in Perth, Western Australia, on the 3rd of March at Kate Barton's Narbethong Equestrian Park and concluded in Kempsey, New South Wales, on the 17th March at Chris Green's Dulwich Stud. The interim days consisted of lots of travelling around the various states at both stud stops and venues.
The camaraderie between Trakehners Australia and the AWHA Ltd has to be commended. These two Association's committees have worked tirelessly to ensure that the Australia wide tour would be well organised, professionally run, have very high standards and presentation of horses, and that everyone involved, both participants and those assisting at stud stops and venues, would all have a wonderful experience. This could not have been achieved without the tremendous efforts by Tanya Hosford of Trakehners Australia and Silvia Ahamer of the AWHA Ltd. The tour has been an amazing success with both Matthias and Silvia thrilled with the quality of horses presented and the truly wonderful hospitality of the Australian people.
It is now an anticlimax with the tour now over, after having met so many horse lovers and proud 'Aussies'. It has been such a wonderful dose of motivation, talent, and pride in our Australian accomplishments in breeding top quality horses that the end of the tour brings with it a question of "What Now?" We are extremely pleased to announce that in consultation with Matthias Werner, the Trakehner Verband, Trakehners Australia and the AWHA Ltd, the combined tour will be conducted annually due to the outstanding success and camaraderie between these two unique Australian breed associations. The 2014 tour is scheduled to commence on the 21st February 2014 and conclude on the 11th March 2014. More information will be provided as it becomes available.
On behalf of the Trakehners Australia committee and AWHA Ltd Federal Board, I would like to thank all Trakehners Australia and AWHA Ltd members for participating in the 2013 Trakehners Australia and AWHA Ltd Assessment Tour. Matthias and Silvia were thrilled with the quality of horses presented and the effort gone to for the turnout of horses, handlers and riders. Matthias and Silvia both stated this was the best tour they have seen. Australia has shown the world the standard of our horses and that they rank with the best!
On behalf of Trakehners Australia and AWHA Ltd members, I would like to thank Tanya Hosford, Matthias Werner and Silvia Ahamer for sharing their knowledge and passion for breeding, and bringing with them their laughter and smiles. Thank you to both committees for working together to bring this joint tour to fruition. It has proved to be an invaluable investment for breeders that was greatly appreciated by all involved.
Matthias would like to congratulate the AWHA Ltd on our organisational motivation, common goal and objectives over the last ten years for achieving such outstanding quality Warmblood horses for presentation and breeding. Matthias openly supports Trakehners Australia in their goal and objectives to also achieve outstanding breeding programs for Trakehner Warmbloods in Australia.
We are thrilled and humbled that Matthias has taken part in this joint tour, giving his valuable time for free to Australian breeders. Thank you Matthias and thank you Silvia! Matthias would like to once again thank the Australian people for being so open and honest, and for presenting him with top class horses to assess and classify. He has been left with impressions of very high quality Warmblood horses bred in Australia. He appreciates all the effort that went in to the presentation of the horses that were presented to him and the wonderful hospitality shown to him.
Australia has won Matthias' heart!
Day 1
The 2013 Australia wide Tour commenced in Perth, Western Australia, on Sunday the 3rd of March at Kate Barton's beautiful property Narbethong Equestrian Park. The bench mark was set high from the very beginning with outstanding turnout of horses, handlers and riders. The atmosphere was charged with excitement from the wonderfully friendly Western Australia Warmblood community as Matthias Werner and Silvia Ahamer were asked to assess or classify fifteen beautifully presented horses.
Trakehners Australia committee member Kassie McKerras organised a lovely evening for everyone to join Matthias and Silvia for a meal and drinks in Ellenbrook. Participants were able to get to know Matthias and Silvia and ask questions in regards to breeding Trakehners and Warmbloods in Australia. The get together was enjoyed by all!
Narbethong Equestrian Park: www.narbethong.com.au
Day 2
Bright and early for Monday's venue at the beautiful Brookleigh Equestrian Centre where Matthias and Silvia were treated to another seventeen remarkably presented horses, handlers and riders. This left lasting, high quality impressions on both Matthias and Silvia.
Day 3
Tuesday morning saw Tanya, Matthias and Silvia drive to Michelle James' beautiful Penny Hill Park Stud where more beautifully presented horses were displayed. Matthias and Silvia thoroughly enjoyed the amazing hospitality and are looking forward to seeing more of Michelle in the future.
Later that afternoon, the team arrived at Alexander Park Performance Trakehners where Matthias thoroughly enjoyed catching up with his good friend Sharon Haddock. Sharon put on a lovely afternoon tea which was enjoyed by everyone where old friends could relax and chat. Sharon presented her impeccably turned out horses which scored excellent marks and continued the very high standard of horses previously set.
Penny Hill Park Stud: www.pennyhillpark.com.au
Alexander Park Performance Trakehners: www.trakehner.com.au
Day 4
Early Wednesday morning saw Tanya, Matthias and Silvia flying to South Australia to Amanda Evins' Winmallee Classical Riding Centre where, once again, the team was treated to fabulously presented horses and handlers. Again the hospitality was amazing with more wonderful people met, making new friends in South Australia. Everything was running smoothly up to this point.
The team, full of tired smiles, headed to their apartment in Adelaide where the NAVMAN insisted on taking them via the scenic route in the dark, demonstrating how long an Adelaide winding road can be! Finally they arrived safely at their beautiful apartment where dinner was had and much needed sleep.
Winmallee Classical Riding Centre: www.winmallee.com.au
Day 5
Arriving in Queensland early morning, the team headed to Shanna Antrim's Harris Park Warmbloods where they were once again treated to a beautiful lunch. Queensland was still trying to dry out from all the floods and continued rain, but Shanna's horses showed us that they would shine through, regardless of the weather. Absolutely wonderful!
Harris Park Warmbloods: www.harrisparkwarmbloods.com.au
Day 6
Driving through the Scenic Rim through Beaudesert, Tanya, Matthias and Silvia arrived at Claudette and Gary Johnson's property Beau Cheval Warmblood Stud. Wow! Again treated to more of Australia's finest hospitality and more amazingly presented horses, handlers and riders. The scenery was picture perfect and Matthias and Silvia made many more new friends. All wanted to stay longer at this beautiful property surrounded by so many beautiful and wonderful people! The Friday evening saw them flying to Victoria where an early night was had.
Beau Cheval Warmblood Stud: www.beaucheval.com.au
Day 7
Saturday and on the road by 4:00 am to reach Gritje Franzeneurg at Ballangeich Run where more wonderful Australian hospitality and beautifully presented horses were on show before heading back to Melbourne.
Day 8
Sunday morning saw Tanya, Matthias and Silvia drive to Nicole Downes' lovely property Mellizo Park Equestrian Centre where once again they were treated to absolutely beautifully presented horses and handlers. A lovely time relaxing in wonderful company with more new friends! Onwards to C.J. Park Warmbloods where more stunning horses were presented and a wonderful time had with Chris and Travis who lavished the trio with fine food and laughter! Matthias and Silvia thoroughly enjoyed their hospitality and are eagerly waiting to return to see Chris and Travis again.
Mellizo Park Equestrian Centre: www.mellizopark.com.au
Day 9
Monday morning saw them back on the road visiting Sharon Stone and her family, and then on to see Glenis Dyason from International Horse Breeders where more beautifully presented horses were presented for inspection. Tanya, Matthias and Silvia had a lovely morning tea with Glenis with everyone having a wonderful time!
Back on the road and off to Sarah Rawson-Harris' Film Livestock Australia in Murchison, where they were treated to a whole range of wonderful performances. Two beautifully presented horses for the tour from Jill and Sarah with the highlight of being shown movements from a beautifully, softly 'film trained mare' who showed us piaffe, waving and then her galloping up to us and rearing on command! Thrilling to watch! Tanya, Matthias and Silvia thank both Cody and Sarah for putting on this performance for them. They all thoroughly enjoyed it. From Murchison it was off to Thornton to meet up with Rebecca Parth at her vet clinic to see even more lovely presented horses for the tour! The scenery was breathtaking.
International Horse Breeders: www.ihb.com.au
Film Livestock Australia: www.filmlivestock.com.au
Day 10
Tuesday, once again up by 5:00 am heading off to Yellingbo when the trio encountered a flat tyre leaving the motel. They finally arrived at Yvonne Speekman's beautiful property and were incredibly grateful for coffee and morning tea followed by more beautiful horses! On the road again and down to Hollingrove Stud where Bruce and Debbie Williams presented so many lovely turned out horses. Tanya, Matthias and Silvia were lavished with a lovely lunch and a very special Magpie who stole their hearts!
The last stop for the day was Mary Mumford's property where she presented more lovely turned out horses! It was then off to the apartment for dinner and bed, exhausted, but very happy with how the tour was progressing. So many lovely, friendly people and so many outstanding horses!
Hollingrove Stud: www.hollingrovestud.com.au
Day 11
Very early Wednesday morning, Tanya, Matthias and Silvia visited Sharon Streeter's property where so many beautifully turned out horses were presented, both in hand and under saddle. Again treated to another beautiful lunch before heading off to the airport to fly to New South Wales. Tanya was thrilled with the way the tour was going and Matthias and Silvia were raving about how good the tour was, the very high standard of horses and how friendly everyone had been to them.
Day 12
Now on the last leg of the tour, Tanya, Matthias and Silvia landed in Canberra, where they picked up their final car for the tour, a beautiful new Mercedes. In the morning they drove to Suellen and John Saals' property Kingston Park Warmblood Stud where the horses where once again beautifully turned out, and lavished with more amazing hospitality, and a beautiful lunch! Matthias has certainly made a friend in John!
Onwards to Nienke Lucus' lovely property to see more beautifully turned out horses where they finally met the lovely Jane Paroissien and her lovely turned out boy. Then it was a long drive to Campbelltown to where they would be staying for the next three nights.
Kingston Park Warmblood Stud: www.kingstonparkwarmbloodstud.com.au
Day 13
Friday morning Tanya, Matthias and Silvia headed off to the beautiful Copabella Stud, owned by Lesley Hargreaves. They spent the morning looking at more wonderfully turned out horses and were then witness to a special treat, visiting Lesley's stallion Copabella Visage.
After driving back to the apartment for a well earned rest, they were off to a lovely dinner with Trakehners Australia and AWHA Ltd committee members at the Chinese Restaurant at the motel they were staying at. It was a great opportunity to catch up and for Matthias to talk about the wonderful standard of horses he had seen so far on the tour.
Copabella Stud: www.copabella.com
Day 14
Early Saturday morning saw Tanya, Matthias and Silvia at the stunning New South Wales venue of Alice Cameron, Oaks Sport Horses. Seventeen horses were presented with immaculate turnout of horses, handlers and riders. Their wonderful host Alice and her staff made everyone feel so welcome that no one wanted to leave! A three hour lunch break was had where everyone was able to talk to Matthias and Silvia. The day was enjoyed by all who attended and Matthias and Silvia had a wonderful day meeting many new friends.
During the lunch break, the stallion Noble Monarch put on a magnificent Prix St George Freestyle for spectators ridden by Grand Prix dressage rider Daniella Dierks. This display was thoroughly enjoyed by all! Matthias also presented a training seminar on presenting horses for classification and what the classifier is looking at. Thank you to Alice Cameron of Oaks Sport Horses and Suellen Saals of Kingston Park Warmblood Stud for allowing Matthias to use their horses for this demonstration. Matthias' knowledge and skill was appreciated by all involved and spectating. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed this session and asked lots of questions of Matthias which provided invaluable learning for all who spectated.
Oaks Sport Horses: www.oakssporthorses.com
Day 15
Up at 2:00 am to be on the road by 3:00 am Sunday morning for their final day of the tour as Tanya, Matthias and Silvia had to drive from Campbelltown to Kempsey with three Stud stops! Their first stud stop at 7:00 am was E.B. Lodge in Lochinvar where the turnout of the horses was amazing. Tracey and Andrew's hospitality was fantastic with a little surprise, showing them two of their beautiful stallions. Tanya fell in love with the pinto stallion What's Colour.
Back on the road to Port Macquarie to Kylie Ewart's property Mallyon Hills Warmblood Stud where more beautifully turned out horses were presented. They had great entertainment from "Young Ryan" where many laughs were had in the company of lovely, friendly people! Off to their last stud stop for the tour, Chris Green's Dulwich Stud in Kempsey. Here Tanya, Matthias and Silvia saw some quality purebred Trakehners out of old bloodlines as well as a special, well behaved old Trakehner mare they hope to see back in foal during the 2014 tour. One and a half hours drive up the road to Coffs Harbour, they finally reached their destination arriving at 8:30 pm. A meal and some drinks and it was off to bed for a well earned rest.
"To say we were exhausted by now is an understatement. I personally, was extremely happy and very proud with how the Australian tour had gone off. The amount of effort put on by everyone to present their horses so professionally and to show Matthias and Silvia such wonderful Australian hospitality, with offers of individual special Australian hospitality at each stud stop! Such wonderful memories for Matthias! Such amazing camaraderie from all participants of the tour, both Trakehners Australia and the AWHA Ltd." Tanya Hosford, Trakehners Australia Secretary.
E.B. Lodge: www.eblodge.com.au
Mallyon Hills Warmblood Stud: www.mallyonhills.com.au
Dulwich Stud: www.dulwichstud.com.au
Day 16
Early Monday morning saw two mermaids "in bathers" splashing around in a bubbled up spa bath as Silvia and Tanya found themselves unwinding from two long weeks! The trio then went for a lovely walk along the beach, soaking in the ambiance of the beautiful Australian seashore. All this came to an end and it was back to the airport for their trip home!
Congratulations to all tour participants and we look forward to seeing you all again next year!