I
am so very pleased to be able to say that Delightfull Mr H ( A1- 9263 ) and I have now clocked up over 300 hours together ( start of June ) on the Horseback Riding Program . Doing trail riding , it ’ s quite easy to get the hours up and we have covered a lot of amazing country .
We did most of our training in the Mt Disappointment State Park for our February trip to Mt Howitt and Wonnangatta . We needed to get plenty of hillwork into his legs to be prepared for the trip and he did so very well , even being crupper trained only a week before we left , as I realised that his saddle was going to slip horrendously otherwise .
We had the most amazing weather for the week we were away . It was very hot when we drove up to Howitt Hut , but a change came through and we left a couple of our crew sitting in the horizontal sleet as we rode down into Wonnangatta . The Dry Creek Track was extremely steep in places , but my boy just carefully picked his way down . Wonnangatta was everything I imagined it would be and the sun shone for us in the afternoon . We were very lucky to have a support vehicle , which brought down all our sleeping gear , electric fences , rugs and food .
We rode back out to our campsite at Howitt Hut the next day and this is when the lovely photo was taken that I have included with this story . On this trip we also climbed to the top of Mt Howitt in perfect sunshine and with barely a breath of wind , rode to Guys Hut and Bryce ’ s Gorge , went to Kelly ’ s Hut and Mt Reynard amongst other places .
Haitch has also made two trips to Snake Island in March and April . I am a member of the Snake Island Cattlemens Association . The trip to Snake Island is unique in that you ride through the water at low tide from Port Welshpool to the island . It takes three hours to get from the yards on the mainland to the huts on Snake Island with one and a half hours spent walking through the water . Our second trip was to muster cattle and bring them back to the mainland . They aren ’ t big mobs of cattle , but the scrub can be very thick so it makes it easy for them to disappear . Haitch was a little bit too keen to push the cows , but is quick on his feet and happy to push through anywhere now . Practice will make perfect on calming him down with the cows ( I hope ).
He ’ s earned a few weeks off ( and footy season is in full swing ) and he has enjoyed some time in the paddock , while we wait for our new Barrack saddle to be made . Look out when it is finished next week ! I can ’ t wait . Big trips planned for later in the year and next year are trips with Yarram Horse Trail Riding Club to Barmah , rides around Yackandandah with friends from Snake Island and the lady who told me about Haitch , a week at Razorback with my Wonnangatta and Kosciuszko crew and time down at Valencia Creek in Gippsland .
I know just how lucky I am to have found this horse and look forward to continuing to build on the bond that we have made . I appreciate each and every time I get on and ride and never take my special boy Haitch for granted . I will wear my 250hr reward vest with pride .
Colette Apted
Page 12 • The Australian Quarter Horse Magazine • July • August • 2017