Hi from Downunder

[AussieHeavyHorse]

Hi Folks,
I stumbled upon this forum after doing a search on 'heavy horses' and 'forums' to see what was out there, and it seems many heavy people don't frequent forums as much as 'riding types' do!

We have a bunch of clydesdales on the farm here in Qld, Australia (well, 10, but used to have 26) which we show, and don't work as much as we used to, due to drought, poor seasons, and Equine Influenza slowing things down two years ago.

In order to help link heavy horse people more easily, I did set up a forum down here, but I don't think I'm allowed to link to it, so I won't! It's easy to find if you wish to search, and there's a bit of UK heavy horse input there, too- we'd welcome more of that!

I've also just finished writing a book, for the Commonwealth Clydesdale Horse Society, Queensland Branch, which was launched just last week. It's called 'More than A Century of the Clydesdale Horse in Queensland" and is the result of many years' research, with over 600 photos, and is 288 pages in size.
(I hope that doesn't sound like an advert- it's meant to be part of an introduction to my interest- recording the history of these great horses, as well as working them)

Best wishes, Ian

P.S. Moderators, please let me know if anything I've said is 'illegal'- I'll apologise in advance if it might seem that way.
If I'm allowed, I'll tell you more about the book.

 

[Dobby]

Hello, and welcome to HHO

i LOVE heavy horses - get some pictures of your clydesdales for us to dribble over!

I can't remember the name of the member but someone on here has a gorrrgeous percheron.

 

[AussieHeavyHorse]

HI, thanks for the welcome.
Actually, back in 1993, I did work some horses belonging to Dr Carl Boyde in Surrey (Chertsey), driving them at Worthing, Sussex for a few weeks, in a horsebus.

Back to our horses- I've set up a small gallery on our website, but don't think I'm allowed to link to it...so here's a pic instead:
Our first pair, when they were younger:

Our team of four, about 10 years ago, pulling an omnibus I helped build:

One of the clydie stallions we bred- he's been twice Reserve Champion at Brisbane Royal Show:

 

[AussieHeavyHorse]

Here's another, of one of our clydesdale filly foals a few years ago:

 

[Enfys]

Hi, Welcome,

I am pretty sure that it is quite acceptable to put a link to your website on your profile

and we like photos.

There are all kinds of horse owners/enthusiasts on here not just purely riders.

Are you originally from Britain then? Just thought I'd ask as you mentioned Surrey. I used to live in Worthing a year or two before you were there incidentally, but I remember my brother telling me about the horsebus, presumably you! Small world.

You may find, with the time difference that you feel as if you are talking to thin air occasionally, but there are some night owls, some Australian members and a few of us in Canada and the US that are on later than others. It's gone 3am in the UK as I write and only 10.30 for me

Hope you enjoy HHO, jump right in, the more the merrier

 

[AussieHeavyHorse]

HI, thanks for the reply,
no I'm not originally from Britain- the job driving the omnibus at Worthing was just for the summer season, while I was backpacking my way around Europe. I'd worked horses over here for a couple of years, so had plenty of experience in that department, and the bloke who owned the omnibus was happy with what I could do. We used a pair of percherons, a clydesdale, and a shire who'd been born with no tail, and we rotated them on two days on, two days off work.

In a month or so, I plan to redo the website with our clydesdale stud on it. I might add a link to it in the profile then.

(I'm a signwriter by profession, and am used to the world time zone differences, via being on a signies' forum also - you get used to it!)

 

[Keltic]

Hello Ian and welcome.

What beautiful horses!! I do love clydies, ive got a part bred mare who has the most wonderful personality and can turn a hoof to most things.
Im sure you could pop a link to your gallery/website so we can have a nosey

 

[CharlotteBeth]

WOW! your horses are gorgeous!
I've never had a heavy horse, always wanted the fine, agile ones, but after doing some researching and seeing some of your gorgeous horses, I really want to get into showing again maybe with heavies!
Austrailia is also a wonderful place to live! I'm sooo jealous!
Lottie x

 

[zeuscleoharmony]

Hi Ian - welcome and may I just say your horses are lu-ush!

Will look out for your link and hopefully fine your book at some stage.

How's the weather out there? Its 8.50am and the sun is shining here (unusually) - think we are in for a heatwave for, oooh, the rest of the day!

xxx

 

[Storminateacup]

Hi Ian,
Your Clydies are magnificent, I love them. We have Clydies in Scotland and they are my favourite heavy horses. I think its the combination of the markings which are so distintive and the the beautiful noble head. They have lovely long legs too. The clydie cross Tb used to produce a very nice showjumper/hunter type do you have any of those and are they popular in your region.I haven't seen many recently here either. Anyway welcome to the forum.

 

[hellspells]

Hi and welcome!!!

Your horses are rather gorgeous. And I'm not jealous (much) about you living in Australia!

 

[gekko]

G'day from another downunder dweller!
I play with the odd feather foot myself on occasion!

 

[Fii]

I was going to reply to this at lunch time but had to go out, hi there and welcome from a heavy owner we own a shire gelding who until the end of last summer we used for wagon rides and weddings hes twenty two this year and we decided that he prob was'nt up to full time work so have semi retired him, also not doing the rides this year as cant find a suitable replacement, Do you read the Heavy horse world mag? its good for keeping up to date.

 

[yeeharider]

love this pic welcome