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