THIS PUBLICATION PROUDLY SPONSORED BY THE SHIRES OF LUSCOMBE
SHIRE HORSES AND THE PEOPLE INTERESTED IN THEM
Volume 3, Issue May 2003
STUD PROFILE—THE SHIRES OF LUSCOMBE
The Shires of Luscombe was established in early 1992 after a search of more than 10 years for shire horses available for sale in Australia. Coming from a horse orientated background this was my life dream, to own one of these majestic horses. I am now the proud owner of 8 purebred Shires, and have bred many during the past 10 years.
The Shire Horses being bred by The Shires of Luscombe, just north of Tamborine in Queensland are from very famous shire bloodlines. Our breeding mares are “Cedars Annabella” a black 18 hand mare. “Cedars Natasha” a brown 17 hand mare. Our Imported English Mares are “Aldreth Lady Jane” and “Middlecott Victoria”. Jane is a bay with four white feet and stands 16.2 hands, while Victoria is grey and stands 19 hands.
Our stallion is ”Luscombe Whats Wanted”, Ted for short. His dam, Middlecott Victoria was imported in foal with him in 1996. His sire is the black shire stallion Ruskington Harvester. Ted is the only grey shire stallion in Australia and stands 18 hands. He has sired many superb shire foals since he started standing at stud 2 years ago.
“Annabella” and “Natasha” are both out of imported mares and by the imported shire Stallion “Ladbrook Edward”, who stood 19 hands and was a winner of many titles and ribbons at the Sydney Royal. Now deceased “Ladbrook Edward” was imported as a nine month old colt from England. He was the first of the Shires to be reintroduced into Australia.
Their Grandsire “Ladbrook Aristocrat” was sold to the U.S.A. for a record price. Their Great Grandsire “Ladbrook Invader” was listed in the 1980 Guiness Book of Records as the Worlds tallest living horse standing 19.2 hands.
“Jane” was imported from England as a six month old foal in the mid eighties. She can trace her family tree back many generations. Her sire came from a stud that had been breeding shires for over 200 years.
“Victoria” was imported in foal from NZ in June 1996. She was born in England and transported to NZ in 1990. Victoria comes from a very old line of shires and has won at shows in England, NZ and Australia. She stands 19hands tall and is the only grey shire mare to be imported into Australia this Century. Victoria gave birth to her first colt foal “Luscombe What’s Wanted” on 30th December 1996.
Our intention is to continue to breed quality shire horses as well as look at importing some more shire’s to assist with the breeding program here at Luscombe.
We still remain the only Shire Stud in Australia who has horses of Black, Brown, Bay and Grey, which are the only acceptable colours for Shire horses. We are very proud of this, it took a quiet a few years to achieve this. For a number of years The Shires of Luscombe was the largest breeder of Shires in Australia and continues to produce at least 3 Shire foals each year. As well as breeding purebred Shires, our stallion covers thoroughbred mares to produce heavy riding horses suitable for eventing and jumping. We also offer fresh semen with chilled semen and frozen semen shipped anywhere in Australia and are currently in the process of obtaining semen for export.
Our Stallion Ted is a lovely quiet horse who lives in the paddock like the mares do. He is treated like a ‘normal’ horse and has physical contact with the mares and foals on a daily basis. This, we believe, makes him happy and keeps him part of the herd. Of course not all stallions would be able to live this lifestyle due to their temperament.
Our stud is the largest in Queensland; we have shown Shires at the Sydney, Brisbane and Toowoomba Royal Shows, very successfully. We also attend other local shows where we compete in the mixed draught horse classes, again successfully.
Our mare Middlecott Victoria was the subject of a series of postcards, available in Japan in 1997. The Shires of Luscombe have also made numerous appearances on the TV program “Totally Wild”, Local news and Good Morning Australia just to name a few. They have also been covered by national and international magazines and have been featured in many local newspapers. Each year we have Uni students visit the stud while they are touring the Brisbane Royal Show. They come as part of their equine studies.
The foals bred by The Shires of Luscombe have gone to Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria. We have bred Black, Brown, Bay and Grey foals, most of which are sold long before birth. In the early days we were one of the few studs who actually worked their horses. They are broken in to harness and work, though these days the mares are used only for breeding.
We are only too happy to help anyone interested in obtaining a shire for work or pleasure.
Sue Bailey: THE SHIRES OF LUSCOMBE (07) 55 464 106 [email protected]
Luscombe Whats Wanted Middlecott Victoria (IMP UK) & Cedars Annabella
Luscombe Whats Wanted Luscombe Albert Luscombe Lady Grey
Many Thanks Helene
Four times in the last week alone, when people have realised that we own Shire Horses, we have been asked the question: “Do you own Archie?” – by our butcher, a local bus driver, a business customer and in a casual conversation at a service station on an inland hay trip! Also during our stay at Sydney Royal we must have been asked about Archie’s whereabouts literally hundreds of times.
This all came about through a chance encounter Helene Scarf had with a Royal Agricultural Society (RAS) of NSW staff member who saw Archie, Helene’s big gelding Cedars Archibold. Helene, always seeking to promote Shire Horses, suggested a promotional idea for this year’s Sydney Royal Easter Show, using Archie. The RAS took up the idea and the rest is history.
The result was a phenomenally successful promotion of Archie at the Sydney Royal. I don’t think even Helene would have anticipated the overwhelming response Archie’s promotion received. Indeed the Shire Horse breed received enormous promotion through Archie. Along with the flying pigs Archie was undoubtedly the most well known attraction at the Show. And it only cost the RAS basically Archie’s keep!
Articles on Archie were in the Sydney Morning Herald and The Land in prime positions. He was on the Royal Easter Show web-site front page. He was also on most Sydney television channels and Helene was interviewed on 2GB radio. He is obviously now a State wide celebrity.
Helene gave up 5 days of her own time to man a stall where Archie was on display to the public at the Show, an exhausting exercise. This was as well as exhibiting 5 horses in the Shire Horse classes herself, a mammoth effort. She made all this effort in order to promote our wonderful breed, and it was amazingly successful.
For the last 12 months Helene has also worked to help set up our own Shire Horse info internet site. All Shire Horse breeders can use this site for the payment of a very reasonable fee.
I felt compelled to write this article in order to sincerely thank Helene and Greg Scarf for being such fantastic supporters of Shire Horses in Australia. After first importing pure bred Shire Horses in 1981 they have been tireless promoters of the breed. Now, 22 years down the track, Helene is still so enthusiastic that she is prepared to work so hard, and to give up so much time, in order to let more people experience and learn about Shire Horses.
I’m sure all Shire Horse enthusiasts will agree, a tribute to Helene is well deserved. Also many thanks to Archie who took the constant attention in his stride, remaining friendly and calm, doing his bit for the reputation of Shire Horses in general.
Helen Kuiper
Readers may be interested to note, Helene and Archie media coverage reached Queensland. They appeared on Sunrise and the 6pm Nine News.Well done Helen and Archie for flying the Shire flag.
English idioms about horses
To eat like a horse. To eat a great deal.
To work like a horse To work very hard.
Straight from the horse's mouth From a person closely concerned with the subject discussed
Hold your horses Stop, wait.
To flog a dead horse To keep trying to get satisfaction from something that cannot or can no longer give it.
A dead horse matter No longer of concern
Get on one's high horse To become offended in an angry and proud way
Horse sense Common sense
A dark horse A person or thing whose true character and worth is unknown but may be better than is thought
A horse of another colour Quite a different matter
Lock the stable door after the horse has bolted Take action too late
A nod is as good as a wink to a blind horse Indirect suggestion is all that is necessary, no need to spell it out.
Put the cart before the horse To do things in the wrong order
A willing horse A keen worker
You can lead a horse to water but you can't make it drink You can make it easy for a person to do what you want, but you cannot force them to do it if they do not want to. . Change horses midstream Change one's opinions in the middle of some thing
Horses for courses Each person or thing being employed for the purpose for which it is best suited.
If wishes were horses, beggars would ride. If things could be obtained by wishing, poor people would not be poor. This expression is often used to bring down to earth, someone who is not being particularly realistic.
Wild horses couldn't keep me away Nothing could keep me away.
Horse feathers! An exclamation of disbelief
Horse Opera A cowboy movie
Horse player A gambler
Horse trading Making business deals after hard and skilful bargaining
A one horse town A very small, insignificant place
Red horse Corned beef
The iron horse The railway
A war horse A seasoned and reliable veteran
Horse around To fool around
After a receiving a couple of requests on the most prominent Shire stallions in Australia a quick search or the Shire stud book revealed the following. Coincidently owners have submitted some of the following, which has been collated to formulate this article Hope you enjoy reading it.
Unfortunately not all stallion owners submitted any information. Numbers of foals is taken from the SHS Stud books. Any omissions are an oversight.
The stallions are listed in the order progeny appearing in the Shire Horse Stud Books.
Ladbrook Edward The number of foals Ladbrook Edward sired in Australia is very impressive, especially as they were all natural services. Three of his progeny were exported to New Zealand to become the foundation breeding stock to a stud on the South Island. They remain the only Shires exported from Australia to date. He was Australia’s first imported Shire, reviving the breed, as there had been no imports since the First World War. He arrived here in 1981 at just 9 months old on a jumbo jet especially converted to carry livestock. He held the fort, you might say, for four years before the arrival of three fillies in 1985. It was not until 1987 that our next stallion Cowhill Sovereign arrived in Australia, a good six years later!! Since then the breed has been hugely successful thanks to Ladbrook Edward’s early presence as a display horse attending shows, appearing on T.V each year for the horse’s birthday (Aug 1) and being available for various parades etc - which made him a great ambassador for the breed. He comes from a line of impressive horses, his mother Ladbrook Poppett as a two year old had won 10 major first prizes and five other firsts in England. His father Ladbrook Aristocrat, a many times Supreme National Champion in the U.K was sold to the States and Ladbrook Invader (his grand sire) also sold to the States was in the 1980 Guinness Book of Records as the tallest horse in the world. Ladbrook Edward won many major prizes in Australia:- Best Shire Exhibit at Sydney, The Wares Trophy for best driven horse in a vehicle, (also at Sydney Royal), Supreme Champion Exhibit over all the draught breeds at the Heavy Horse Field Days in Queensland just to mention a few. Two of his progeny have won Best Shire Exhibit at Sydney Royal. For those who had the good fortune to know Jock (Ladbrook Edward) they would know that he was the gentlest of all giants. Standing at 19 hands he had the kindest nature you could wish for. There is a stone memorial and bronze plaque resting in his honour on his favourite hill facing the view, commemorating his wonderful life of 20 years at his home in Kangaroo Valley with Helene and Greg Scarf.
Ladbrook Edward (45987) Foals Record born 1980---- died 2000
Foals born at The Cedars (*Registered Shire)
Progeny & Dam 1986 Cedars Edward* - Beauty 1987 Cedars Archibold* - Peplow Princess 1987 Cedars Albert* - Snelson Louise 1987 Cedars Jack - MountainBrook 1987 Cedars Annabella* - Peplow Lady Christinna 1988 Cedars Terrance* - Peplow Princess 1989 Cedars John* - Peplow Lady Christina 1989 Cedars Joyce* - Gronant Joy 1989 Cedars Jewels - Rosie 1990 Cedars Queenie* - Peplow Princess 1990 Cedars Charlie* - Gronant Joy 1990 Cedars Valley - Rosie 1990 Cedars Shadow - Rita 1990 Cedars Bubbles - Mountain Brook 1991 Cedars Tic Toc - Rosie 1991 Cedars Dutchess* - Peplow Princess 1991 Cedars Natasha* - Gronant Joy 1991 Cedars Monarch* - Peplow Lady Christina 1991 Cedars Sampson* - Snelson Louise 1992 Cedars Tandia - Mountain Brook 1993 Cedars Empress - Peplow Princess 1993 Cedars Charlotte* - Gronant Joy 1993 Cedars Majestic* - Snelson Louise 1993 Cedars Escalaber - Mountain Brook 1993 Cedars Crystal* - Peplow Lady Christina/ 1994 Cedars Blossum* - Peplow Lady Christina 1995 Cedars Victoria - Mountain Brook 1997 Cedars Matilda* - Snelson Louise
Registered Shire Foals born to outside mares
1987 Longcopy Caslon* - Cumeragh House Kate 1987 Longcopy Joanna Italic* - Fennswood Sunrise 1993 Woodstock Jacko* - Aldreth Lady Jane 1994 Toby* - Aldreth Lady Jane 1994 Wyee Bonnie Lass* - Aldreth Becky
Ladbrook Edward serviced several other outside mares which helped to improve The Australian Draught Breed.
Summary A conservative estimate of Ladbrook Edwards foals is as follows: Total: Registered Shires……………..…….. 25 Thoroughbred/Shire……...8 Australian Draughts.…. 10 Total 43
Cowhill Sovereign ( 46099 ) Foals Record
In the few years that this magnificent stallion was bred to Shire mares, he produced a good number of Shire foals. His premature death left Longcopy Shire Horse Stud without their prized imported Stallion. Luckily he had produced a couple of very good colts who were used to carry on this unique bloodline. His son Longcopy Cheltenham Old Style became the resident stallion in the following years. Dobbin as he was called was imported in 1987. He was the absolute epitome of the gentle giant. He stood 18.3 hands and weighed in at around the 1000kg mark. As a yearling he won the Peterborough Spring Shire Horse Show, perhaps the most coveted of all shire classes. He stood 3rd as a two year old and Reserve Junior Champion as a three year old before coming to Australia. So important was he believed to be to English breeding that we met with some stiff opposition to buy him, and attempts were made to thwart his export. Dobbin comes from old and distinguished bloodlines, having such notable horses as Fenswood Primrose, Quixhill Whats Wanted and Alneland Masterpiece. He stood 2nd at the 1989 Sydney Royal in the single horse business turnout class. The first time a shire horse had been shown at the Royal since the 1920’s.
Cowhill Sovereign (46099) Foals Record born 1983---- died 1980’s Foals born at Longcopy (*Registered Shires)
Progeny & Dam Longcopy Cheltenham Old Style* - Fenswood Sunrise Longcopy Bernhard Roman* - Fenswood Lady Audrey 1988 Longcopy Aster Black* - Fenswood Lady Audrey 1988 Longcopy Veronse* - Wishful Pearl 1989 Longcopy Blado* - Cumeragh House Kate 1989 Longcopy Bondi Old Face* - Fenswood Sunrise Longcopy Sovereign Kate* - Cumeragh House Kate Longcopy Sovereign Pearl* - Wishful Pearl
Registered Shire Foals born to outside mares
Wyee Anthony* - Aldreth Becky
Summary A conservative estimate of Cowhill Sovereign foals is as follows: Total: Registered Shires………..9 Cover of Australian Draught mares was not recorded. A number of purebred Shire foals were not registered. Total 9
Ingleside Might'n Power (46791) Foals Record
Ingleside Might'n Power is a jet black registered Shire stallion with three white socks. He is highly athletic with a wonderful temperament. At only 5 years of age, his progeny have made successful appearances in the Show ring at the 2002 Sydey Royal. Might'n Power won the inaugural Ridden Shire Class at the 2001 Sydney Royal. He is registered with the Shire Horse Society and also with the Australian Warmblood and Sporthorse Association as a Sporthorse Sire. He has produced 5 Shire fillies, and 3 Sporthorse foals - 2 fillies and 1 colt. Unfortunately one of the Shire fillies and one of the Sporthorse fillies are now deceased. Progeny: Shire Fillies Ingleside Pearl 2001 deceased Ingleside Felicity 2001 Ingleside Emily 2001 Ingleside Kaitlyn 2002 Ingleside Elise 2002
Sporthorses Standardbred/ Shire Ingleside Trixie 2000 deceased Thouroughbred /Shires Ingleside High Voltage 2001 Ingleside Zali 2002 Total 7
Luscombe Whats Wanted (46771) Foals Record
Luscombe Whats Wanted is the only grey Shire Stallion in Australia. His Dam was imported from England to New Zealand then Australia in 1996. His Sire is also an English imported Shire. Great care was taken to select his Dam, as we wanted a stallion that was not related to any other Shire in Australia. Being imported in utero, Ted (as he is known) is essentially an imported horse. Ted stood his first open season last year and sired 5 foals that year. Making him the most used Shire Stallion that year. While Ted is a grey horse he sires all of the acceptable Shire horse colours, black, brown bay and grey. We remain the only stud in Australia with mares of all of these colours. Ted stands 18 hands and is very eyecatching. He is an excellent example of a Shire stallion.
Luscombe Whats Wanted—Foals Record born 1996
Foals born at Luscombe (*Registered Shire foals)
Progeny & Dam 1999 Luscombe Prince Charming*— Cedars Annabella 2000 Luscombe Lord Tobias*—Aldreth Lady Jane 2001 Luscombe Lady Grey*—Cedars Annabella 2002 Luscombe Albert*—Aldreth Lady Jane 2002 Luscombe Joyful Return*—Cedars Natasha 2002 Luscombe Nodram*—Cedars Annabella 2002 Mingare Madellaine*—Mingara Lady Rose 2002 Macey*—Cedars Matilda
Total 8
Longcopy Cheltenham Old Style (Major as he is known), is perhaps one of the best represented Shire Stallions in the showring. A close look at the Royal Easter Show catalogue will reveal the number of progeny this well known stallions has. After the death of his sire Cowhill Sovereign, Major became the resident stallion at the Longcopy Shire Horse Stud, until its dispersal in the 1990’s.
Longcopy Cheltenham Old Style—Foals Record Born 198?
Foals born at Longcopy (*Registered Shire foals)
Progeny & Dam Longcopy Charlotte*—Fenswood Lady Audrey (IMP UK) Longcopy Elite* - Fenswood Lady Audrey (IMP UK) Longcopy Fenice* - Longcopy Joanna Italic Longcopy Gil Sans* - Fenswood Lady Helen (IMP UK) Longcopy Goudy Catalogue* - Cumeragh House Kate (IMP UK) Longcopy Helvectica Black* - Cumeragh House Kate (IMP UK) Longcopy Franklin Gothic* - Longcopy Blado Ingleside Matilda* - Wishful Pearl (IMP UK) Wyee Princess Grace* - Aldreth Becky (IMP UK) Luscombe Victoria* - Cedars Annabella Inspiration Valley jessie* - Longcopy Blado
Summary A conservative estimate of Longcopy Cheltenham Old Style foals is as follows: Total: Registered Shires…….. 11 Cover of Australian Draught mares was not recorded. A number of purebred Shire foals were not registered. Total 11
Cedars Albert— Albert was the first Shire colt to come to Queensland since their reintroduction into Australia. Albert was a working stallion who was used for ploughing and in a vehicle. He and his half brother Cedars Charlie often traveled to shows to compete in ploughing matches, They were also the first Shires shown at the Brisbane Royal since 1936.
Cedars Albert foals recorded—Foals Recorded Born - Died 1990’s
Albert never sired any purebred shires, due to his premature death.
Cedars Charlie- Charlie was one of the first Shires to come to Queensland. He was often worked in a pair with his half brother Cedars Albert.
Cedars Charlie—Foals Recorded (*Registered Shires)
Progeny & Dam Luscombe Elizabeth*—Cedars Annabella Luscombe Lord George*—Aldreth Lady Jane
Summary A conservative estimate of Cedars Charlie foals is as follows: Total: Registered Shires…….. 2 Total 2
Longcopy Caslon
*Registered Shires sired
Progeny & Dam Longcopy Centaur* - Fenswood Lady Audrey Longcopy Bonnie* - Fenswood Sunrise
Summary Total: Registered Shires…….. 2 Total 2
Wyee Anthony
*Registered Shires sired
Progeny & Dam Hunters Moon Polly* - Fenswood Lady Audrey Ingleside Might’N’Power* - Ingleside Matilda Mingara Lady Rose* - Longcopy Elite
Summary Total: Registered Shires…….. 3 Total 3
Cedars Terence
*Registered Shires sired
Progeny & Dam Murwarra Prince Supreme* - Longcopy Sovereign Pearl
Summary Total: Registered Shires…….. 1 Total 1
Longcopy Franklin Gothic
*Registered Shires sired
Progeny & Dam Inspiration Valley Francine* - Longcopy Blado Inspiration Valley Shannon* - Longcopy Joanna Italic Inspiration Valley filly* - Inspiration Valley Jesse
Summary Total: Registered Shires…….. 3 Total 3
Trelow Father Abraham
*Registered Shires sired (while residing in Australia)
Progeny & Dam Wyee King Solomon* - Longcopy Sovereign Kate Wyee Jessica* - Fenswood Lady Helen Champange Charlie* - Ingleside Matilda Mingara Masterful* - Longcopy Elite Southern Cross Merabella Rose* - Longcopy Centaur Southern Cross Princess Polly* - Hunters Moon Polly Southern Cross Westfield—Berega Hannah Southern Cross Kylie—Phalaris Lilly
Summary Total: Registered Shires…….. 6 Cross Shires…………………….2 Total 8
N.B. Abraham sired 2 Registered Shire fillies using frozen semen imported from England.
Cedars Majestic *Registered Shires sired
Progeny & Dam Myocum Ebony* - Luscombe Victoria Cedars Lady Poppett* - Cedars Blossom
Summary Total: Registered Shires…….. 2 Total 2
SYDNEY ROYAL EASTER SHOW 2003
The Royal Easter Show once again was the premier show to see Shire horses in action in 2003. This year there was 18 Shires entered which must be a record. The Shires also proved themselves once again as a working horse, doing very well in the harness classes.
After judging there was a presentation by the judge Mr Philip Moss. Which from all accounts was rather interesting. Photos will be included in the next newsletter.
Listed below are the results for 2003
Shire Colt or Filly, 2yrs & under 1. Ingleside Felicity—H & K Kuiper 2. Wyee Jessica—W Lambert 3. Southern Cross Merabella Rose—P McKeon 4. Mingara Masterful—J Miles & S Shoobridge
Shire Colt or Filly 3yrs 1. Southern Cross Celestial Pearl—P McKeon
Shire Stallion 4yrs & over 1. Cedars Majestic—H Scarf
Shire Mare, 4yrs & over 1. Ingleside Elizabeth—H & K Kuiper 2. Cedars Blossum—H Scarf 3. Ingleside Matilda—K McKay & G Hosa 4. Cedars Dutchess—H Scarf
Shire Gelding any age 1. Cedars Archibold—H Scarf 2. Longcopy Garamont Regular—J Thompson
Best Shire Exhibit 1. Ingleside Elizabeth—H & K Kuiper
Ridden Shire 1. Cedars Archibold—H Scarf 2. Mingara masterful—J Miles & S Shoobridge 3. Longcopy Elite—J Miles & S Shoobridge 4. Ingleside Elizabeth—H & K Kuiper
Congratulations to everyone who participated at the 2003 Royal. The time and effort required to present the horses at their best was not lost on the crowd.
Looking forward to competitors sending in some photographs of themselves at the Royal.
SOME OLD TIME SHIRES.
STROXTON TOM
Erfyl Lady Grey was the mare of the ‘twenties. Though life is brief and beauty is briefer still, this grey lady, more than any other, left a memory which remained fresh as long as men alive who saw her. Her vivacious action is the more remarkable in view of her enormous size. She stood 17 .1½ hands and her measurements were recorded as: girth was 9 ft: forearm 23½ inches: thigh, 22½: bone 12½ below the knee and 13 inches below the hock: fore-feet 9 inches across the bare foot. (The Shire Horse, Keith Chivers)
Rex and The Blazer
Always going the distance and pulling his weight was the whole of his creed and his might. On the farm sinking tanks, in the bush snigging logs, Blazer made a magnificent sight. Blazer—horse among horses, Rex—man among men, With the team they crossed Queensland and crossed it again Finding work when the season was right.
On the dry Diamantina they lifted baled wool from the shed on a hard-bitten run With a shire horse team and a saddle backed dray where their record was seventeen ton. They turned back to the Downs and the harvester’s flail Shipping oceans of wheat from the farm to the rail. Through the dust and the pitiless sun.
Rex’s team was a legend of heavy-horse teams and a byword where bullockys drank. While himself was a man to be counted with those who by nature are top of their rank. Heavy horses loved Rex with his heart of a lion. Man and beast neither faltered nor shrank.
There’s a town on the Condamine not far below where the team jobbed an ironbark mill. When the timber cut out of the contract was done all the roads and the stations were still. For the drought was a curse and a blight on the land. Rex could not find a job for the strength of his hand While the feed turned to dust on their hill.
On a morning when all the earth’s anvil was struck by the hammer of Thor from the sky. Rex harnessed his team to the dray once again, for the spring on their hill had run dry With a mouthful of dead bitter grass for a feed Blazer bullied the team from his place in the lead; Weary steps, but his head was held high.
As they entered the town noon had passed—by an hour—and the road was a shimmering haze Where the farrier needed no forge for his trade for the road was as hot as his blaze. Rex called out to them all “We make for the coast road And we have to run light, so I’m seeking no load” But the danger was there in his gaze.
It was Cunningham’s Gap where they came to their grief where the road down the pass is a track. Rex had hitched a great log to the dray as a brake and used long reins to hold the team back. On a steep muddy pinch Blazer stumbled and slid And the team bolted off when they felt the dray skid While the break log felled Rex with a crack.
It is said, on a darkling night, moonless and crisp, you can hear Blazer’s swingle chains ring, As the ghost of the team thunders down to the death which the rocks in the gorge were to bring, The lost voice of Rex calling “Up, Blazer, get on!” Is an echo half heard in the dawn, then is gone - As the Bell-birds are starting to sing.
Doug Hutcheson 2002 Winner Golden Horseshoe Competition, Beaudesert, Queensland 2002
If anybody else has any poetry that mentions the Shire I am sure others would enjoy it.
You can contact me at:
Sue Bailey Ph/Fax (07) 55 464 106 E-mail: [email protected]
FOR SALE
LONGCOPY JOANNA ITALIC LONGCOPY BLADO LONGCOPY CENTAUR Please contact Peter McKeon on 02 9144 6939 for information on the above horses he has for sale.
ALDRETH LADY JANE (Imp UK) in foal to Luscombe Whats Wanted. Please contact Sue Bailey on 07 55 464 106 or [email protected] for information on this imported mare.
WEBSITE NEWS The Shire Horse Breeders website is up and running check it out at www.shirehorses.info this site is supported by the breeders of Shire Horses in Australia.
THANK YOU I would like to express my thanks to all of those who attended the Shire Breeders meeting at the Sydney Royal for their kind and unsolicited donation towards the production of this newsletter. It was greatly appreciated. I hope you will continue to enjoy it.
SHIRE HORSES AND THE PEOPLE INTERESTED IN THEM THIS PUBLICATION PROUDLY SPONSORED BY THE SHIRES OF LUSCOMBE