Bignells Radiant , grandsire of REALITY - FS , being ridden by Alf Bignell .
REALITY - FS and Terry Hall .
REALITY - FS
With over 17,000 descendants , REALITY - FS is the second most influential stallion in the Australian Stock Horse Stud Book . Born at Gresford in the Hunter Valley , only a stone ’ s throw from Glendonbrook where Bobbie Bruce was born , REALITY - FS was purchased by well known campdrafter , Alf Bignell , and broken in by Mel Bates of Gunnedah .
REALITY - FS was to return to Maitland after being broken-in , then he spent some time at Throwley Station at Merriwa before moving to Moree when Alf ’ s job required him to move there . It was here that he was purchased by Mel Bates , who had always wanted to own him .
Mel was to take REALITY - FS on the road with him droving , and people would marvel at how quiet he was . Although he was only 14.2 hands , Mel described him as being powerful to ride but soft . Mel had cattle on the road near Narrabri and word came out that they were short of pick up men at Narrabri Rodeo , so Mel volunteered to help . What happened next amazed the spectators , and Mel too :
‘ The whip went and I rode in on REALITY - FS to pick up the rider . The buckjumper jumped the fence and REALITY - FS went out over the fence with him ,’ said Mel .
Artie Hall once said , ‘ Mel was such a great horseman that REALITY - FS was always outstanding to handle and was always going well .’ Everyone who saw or rode REALITY - FS commented on his ability to cut out cattle and his incredible balance .
REALITY - FS was by Dimray , who was by Radium out of Doreen , who was by Sylvius ( TB ). REALITY - FS ’ s dam , Glamour , was Alf Bignell ’ s well known campdraft mare by Bignell ’ s Radiant , a grey stallion , also bred at Gresford by Lester Brogan and purchased by Alf Bignell when he was a two year old . Bignell ’ s Radiant was by Radium , out of a mare called Mac Whites Dawn . This mare tapped REALITY -FS into the Saladin line of horses . Mac Whites Dawn was also the dam of another well known sire at that time , Dinkum .
Like ABBEY - FS , REALITY - FS has this double cross back to Radium and Cecil .
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