News
We will be holding a Swap Meet / Sale at our May Rally (26th May 2013) during the lunch period.
So have a look in that dark corner of your tack shed - you never know, you might make some money on those forgotten items, or simply items that you no longer want.
Jen's Story - The Sequal
Tullys day at the beach.
Okay its December 31 and I decide its time to take Tully (5yo just broken QTR horse) to the beach, I tell Col (long suffering hubby) it wont be busy at Goolwa as I am certain (I am psychic you know) most people will be sleeping in, in preparation for the nights New Years festivity.
Tully loads like a dream…from here on in I know its going to be a great day (refer above psychic knowledge) we load the dogs into the car as this was intended to be a family beach day and set off around 7.15 am, a little later than I originally planned but still a good time, the weather is perfect for a beach ride and I babble excitedly all the way down to Goolwa. (I believe Colin wasn't listening…no need to be psychic to know that!)
My first warning that all was not going to plan was, when I found it difficult to park the float, due to the full car park! Undeterred I squeezed in between two race horse trucks!!!! My second warning came when I took Tully off the float…he seemed to have grown to around 17hh and when I heard one of the race riders say Whoa big boy I began to become a little concerned!! Unable to stand still, Tully did a few laps around the car park with me in tow, managing to avoid any moving or parked cars, he then fancied himself with a pretty black TB, I managed to avert any nose to nose meetings and decide to get the horse on the beach ASAP. (No longer very psychic, as if I had been, this would not have been the choice I would have made!) Trying to walk alongside Tully, down to the beach was nearly impossible in the deep soft sand…I was hoping this would have slowed him somewhat but alas it did not, I ended up grabbing some mane and letting Tully drag me down onto the beach! (You'd have thought I would have paid attention to the voices screaming in my head to turn around and go home…but noooooo I'm not psychic!) Once on the wide hard packed sand Tully came to a dead stop, so my arms got a little reprieve and I'm sure he only stopped out of shear terror at what confronted him, cars, kite surfers, surfers, dogs and people running, walking, fishing, splashing in the water, screaming with joy!!!! There was not much beach left to share with one blonde pony and his even blonder mum! Not to be beaten, I think to myself as I have him here I might as well take him into the water; we achieve this by Tully running one or two circles around me every time I take a step forward! We narrowly miss a couple of joggers who have potty mouths and advise me to shove the horse into a part of my anatomy that would be impossible!!! We get to the shallows and just when I think I may have him settled a wave comes crashing in scuttling Tully sideways like a crab…..everyone heard him snort!!! By this time the beach goers have become bystanders, morbid buggers just waiting for Tully to do something stupid, I see Cols face in the crowd……he looks horrified….he has the dogs in tow or rather they have him in tow! (This is becoming a family trait!) And its then the lone racehorse comes galloping straight for us……….
Expecting to be dragged for miles after my frightened pony, I do the only thing I think is safe, spin him around, mouth to Col lets go and head him back up the beach to the soft sand that will lead us to the float. This time I not only grab a handful of mane I lie across Tullys broad back and let him run us up the sand…..(from behind I think I may have looked quite the stunt girl!!! Or maybe just some bloody idiot that can't control her little horse?) Just as we neared the top, some little kids with balloons came running straight at us screaming horsey, horsey, I could hear their father yelling at them to stop, but kids NEVER listen to their parents, now Tully had something else to frightened of, fearing he may bolt across the road (full of traffic!) I do the only thing I know ….YELL……. STOP RIGHT NOW, at the top of my lungs and in my best instructor's voice, well it worked ….. everybody stopped!!!! (Including the blasted horse)
Feeling everybody's eyes upon me I calmly walk T across the road to the float, Col is ready with tailgate down and breaching doors open (always the one for a quick get away in embarrassing situations…..or was he just being psychic????) Tully deciding a quick getaway was not his style then proceeded to refuse to load, unwilling to show the suburb of Goolwa my famous temper I take three deep breaths and clench my teeth, Tully ( obviously psychic!) decides he better walk on and Col quickly closes up the float.
Safely on our way home, not a peek from the passenger in the float and having replenished our nerves with a stop at the Strath bakery for a double shot coffee and a toastie, Col and I look at each other and burst out laughing….Col ever supportive pats my knee and says, "stick to riding in the forrest”!
