When I am not showing dogs I am blessed with the time and good luck to be riding horses. Being a member and riding with the Melbourne hunt is a passion that once wholly consumed my life.  I was lucky enough to have had  three very wonderful horses on which I rode out to hounds and competed at Royal Melbourne show upon. these were "Harry" (courtesy of Ian Diamond) "Rocky" (Raquar Bay Courtesy of Pam Carvill and Mark Budgeon) and "Almamana" Pictured left, courtesy of Mic Fox and Leanne Pelling. As well as the kind loan of "Captain" courtesy Of Helen & Peter Mc Donnell) After having our two beautiful daughters Lauren and Maddy, I drifted away from the club. It was much easier to show dogs than ride horses with two small children but after the tragic death of my friend Pamy I returned to the fold so to speak and am once again enjoying my days out on the beautiful properties we are so  privileged to ride across. Last season I was  "Rocky" acquired from Helen Mc Donald pictured below left, or  Bruce & Diane Crowther's "Cordelia." she is pictured below jumping.

This is my daughter Lauren and her beautiful new mare Cheeky. We enjoy riding out together. Lauren graduated from "Hope" the palomino mare very kindly loaned to us by Dorothy Alexander, to "Cheeky" a 14.3 Quarter Horse mare bred by Tara Gordon the Editor of "The Horse Downunder" magazine. We were very pleased to acquire cheeky from Nicci Foster and brilliantly spotted for us by my Hunting friend Kylie Griffiths. Thanks to all three ladies for their wonderful help and support.

The Chestnut pictured is my hunter "Barney" who the whole family adores. I was very fortunate to acquire him from Paul Cofield of the Hume Hunt. Barney can be a handful on the field some times and others he is like an old school Hack, but he is a very safe and reliable jumper and this is my main consideration in acquiring a hunter. He is a loved member of our family, my girls adore him and I feel very safe jumping over every panel on my honest barney.

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Lauren is pictured on her beautiful palomino pony "Hope" who was very kindly loaned to us by Dorothy Alexander from Annador Kennels. Hope is an oldie but a goody who has basically taught Lauren how to ride. We are very lucky to have just acquired the beautiful Standardbred Clydie X Mare, Oopsa Daisy from Cheryl Bunting. Unfortunatley for us Oopsa has not yet been able to hunt a season with us yet we hope this may change in season 2011.

My pyres love having the horses around. They love the daily chores associated with them and enjoy the interaction and the whole farm dog scene. It benefits me because my horses are not frightened of dogs because of our Pyres and if a dog runs out to have a go at the horse whilst riding down the street I can chase the dog away with the horse which is very handy. the pyres also enjoy when I bring the puppies from the Melbourne hunt Kennels over for a visit and a play.

We have just finished season 2010 with Melbourne Hunt. Cheeky went very well for Lauren thanks to help from Rosemarie Thiele and Doug Isaccson for helping Lauren with Cheeky and my self with Finn.

 Due to Barney injuring himself just before the start of the season I purchased our fourth horse a thoroughbred called "Finnagon Jones" He was really thrown into the deep end being taken out and hunted from the moment I got him home. Finn was a very kind horse to hunt and always tried hard to please even if he does jump me out of the saddle. He is very content to just stick like glue next to his security blanket Cheeky,and is an easier ride in the field than Barney but not as an experienced jumper as he is.

We have a lot to be thankful for and are very grateful to our friends for their help and support. We are looking forward to the season 2011 with Melbourne Hunt.

More Info On Our Horses.