Jackie Parry – author

All our boys are Standardbred, hence “A Standard Journey”  (The Standardbred should be of good athletic type with a robust build. They should have strong, straight legs, a long sloping shoulder, a croup that may be as high as the wither, and broad, sloping hindquarters. The Standardbred should stand over a good amount of ground, and therefore tend to have some extra length to the back.  They should also have a long underline, strong neck and a wide brow.  The Standardbred should have a noble, honest head with a kind eye.) – http://www.standardbred.org.au/page3.php

We have embarked on the Bicentennial National Trail www.bicentennialnationaltrail.com.au/‎ –So far we have travelled from Taralga to Crookwell, just 44 kms, which took three days. The boys are doing fabulously, although we will be glad when they are more used to Kangaroos!

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Count down begins – Departure date for the Bicentennial National Trail is 14th October.

With a few hurdles to cross – bruised foot, sore cut and grumpiness (and that’s just us  😉  ) – we are  . . .almost . . . ready.

We are amazed at the similarities in organising five horses and all the gear, and getting a boat ready for cruising . . . basically you just keep throwing money at people until you are sick of it – then just leave!

Our five gorgeous boys having an easy day.

Dom completes our string of 5, YIKES! 5 horses.

I sat in the paddock and cried. Five horses, how on earth are we going to cope with five horses? The responsibility weighed me down and crumpled me into a heap. While Noel had had previous experience with horses and was now turning into a horse whisperer, with more experience I felt more responsibility. (It had been an emotional time one way or another!)

Yesterday we’d picked up Dom, number five of our string. The episode was emotional in itself, we’d gone to collect Beach Buggy, supposedly a 15.1hh bay. He was 16.2 – far too big for us. I would bring them all home but I had to really urge my governer (my head) into action and still my heart.

We now have five Standard Breds (ex trotters/pacers):

Charlie: too big at 16hh and underweight and quite stubborn

Ned: Nervous, jumps at leaves let alone saddle packs

Spirit: So cool and laid back we can hardly wake him to make him move

Stevie: Who’s great at everything, but detests leg aids and gets really grumpy if you urge him on

Dom: around 3.5 years old, incredibly young and silly and has not yet been backed.

With these thoughts I cried a bit harder and hoped Charlie, who was watching me, would come and give me a hoof hug. Charlie’s stomach is more important so he carried on munching the grass. I stood up and mentally and physically dusted myself off and tidied the tack room. This job is good for the soul, it helps sort out the days muddle in the room and in my head. Lunging and schooling Dom was all I could think of. Dom was going to have a surprise in the morning.

PHOTOS TO FOLLOW SOON!