Oratunga - Angorichina Station  -  June 2007

Trail Boss Owen;  Riders Jenny Sue Jeanette;  Non riders Kerry and John

 Even though our group was small this year we still had a fabulous time.

The weather was very kind to us, it was cold and frosty at night which meant that our horses water buckets had a thick layer of ice on top, yet the days were crisp and exhilarating creating that sense of wonderment at riding once again in the Flinders and there is so much joy to be had by sharing your days with your horse and the people around you.

It was certainly dry this year with not many rock pools around but the changing colours of the landscape were spectacular.

On the Friday Ian Fargher told Owen about a short cut that we could take after riding through the Rock Wallaby Gorge; like most short cuts it didn’t turn out quite as planned, Owen kept us going in the right direction, the ride was challenging at times but we had great fun exploring a new area.

Kerry and John didn’t miss out on the WOW factors either; they did a lot of 4x4 driving.   Ian took Kerry up in his airplane- what an experience, it was a highlight of the holiday for him.

We saw lots of wildlife, eagles, donkeys, goats and quite a few Yellow Footed Rock Wallabies. I read that a unique trait of the Y.F.R.W. is that when old enough the young leave the pouch and stay close to their rocky homes whilst the mother forages for food and water.  The mothers are able to hold water in their mouths and carry it back to the young, who suckle the water from the mothers mouth.  I think that’s so beautiful.

Thank you Owen for organizing the ride.  If you haven’t been up to the Flinders put it on your calendar for next year as a must do.                                      Jeanette Bromilow.

BARMAH FOREST RIDE 2007

From Colin Ferguson

Due to drought conditions, the going this year was different than previously, not better or worse, just different.  We were not challenged as much by the waterways and crossings but were able to explore more of the terrain that is often difficult or impossible to reach.  This gave us a better appreciation of the vastness of this huge area – 66,000 hectares.

 The first few days, using our maps and past experiences, we journeyed out by ourselves and by doing so increased our navigational knowledge of the area – helped by slightly misplacing ourselves once or twice.

 Two locals joined us for the last 3 days and we greatly enjoyed the bright company of Sue and Jenny and appreciated their local knowledge.  They pointed out the various safer river and lake crossings and other land marks.  It all looks so different when the water levels are low or non-existent.

 We had not previously been able to ride on Barmah Island and this was a special treat, riding alongside the Murray.  The banks in this isolated area are near pristine – only the odd beer can. The river is quite shallow at this point and the flow is quite fast with fallen trees stretching well into the stream from each side causing large ripples and increasing the sound of the rushing water – not a lot of which reaches Adelaide.

 Seasonal conditions forced the cattlemen to greatly reduce cattle numbers in the forest.  The brumbies were also affected in that they were forced to come out into more open country in search of feed.  As a result we were able to get quite close to them whereas previously they would only be seen in the distance and mostly after they started to run.

 One night rain pelted down so heavily on the roof of the float as to wake me.  This was about 1am, and looking over our camp area where the floats were located there was water 8-10 inches deep.  At 6.30am I was amazed to see only small puddles remained, so fast does the area drain when the river is low.  Fortunately the horse yards are on higher ground and were not flooded.

 Again we had the use of the excellent camping facilities provided by the Cattlemen’s Association which included roomy yards, horse water, a large shed, long drops and ample wood for the campfire.  All of which makes the camping and transporting so much easier and for which we were very grateful.

 The cattlemen planned to muster the few cattle remaining in the forest on the Sunday we were leaving.  They camped with us on Saturday night so as to get an early start the next morning.  Whole families joined us at the campfire and we spent a pleasant hour or two with them, enjoying their tales of the forest and horsey exploits, all the while holding a refreshing drink of course.

It left me with a nice feeling to see these Mums and Dads organising chops on the fire, while their healthy and fairly uninhibited Australian kids were running around in the twilight, playing games and doing what kids to, or should do!

JULY 15        NOVELTIES DAY AT TILLING HILL                              

A fun day was had by all who attended Carol’s ‘arena spectacular’ novelties day at Tilling Hill, all we needed were the Australian flags, some akubras and a few more drizabones. With thirteen horses, fourteen riders, a few spectators/helpers, the instructor and a very eager Swiss Mountain dog (especially friendly at lunchtime), the day was full of action. To commence the day’s activities the riders and their horses partook in some formation riding. There were a few problems with spacing and timing, but in the end, and under high-quality instruction, the group was able to work together to make an overly successful wheel, along with some other formations (Nigel’s Coffin Bay ponies, of course, paired beautifully like twins!). After the formation riding there was opportunity to practice the obstacle course and barrel racing before the afternoon competition. As my poor spotted Leo was still in rehab from having a pinched nerve in his back, I was riding Nigel’s Coffin Bay mare, Annie, for the day. Annie and I took the opportunity to practice everything before lunchtime and before the afternoon competition, and boy, did she enjoy the barrel racing! We just about hooned around those barrels, Lea even commented on Annie’s flying changes between the barrels. After practicing the obstacle course and having fun practicing the barrel racing, we went to lunch.

 Lunchtime was spent in good spirits as club members shared jokes (Sue Moore brought a few good ones) and reminisced with humorous stories from club camping trips, such as poor Lea Barnett and her experience with her new port-a-loo at Jeanette’s Inman Valley, Adelaide Cup weekend earlier in the year. As mentioned earlier, there was a very large, friendly and hungry Swiss Mountain dog, who decided to join us for lunch, even after she helped herself to Jeanette’s cookies (which I must agree, were delicious!).

 After lunch, the riders were back in their saddles for games and novelties. Each section had a 1^st prize of a mars bar, and the overall winner won a pack of coasters. The instructor and judge in charge even kept a professional time sheet, recording names and times per activity. Starting off with the barrel race, (Annie and I came 2^nd), we then went onto a game of musical sacks, where we had to walk around a boundary in a circle, first at walk then as numbers declined at a trot, until the ‘Lee Kernighan’ music ceased and we had to rush into the centre and get our horses to put at least one hoof on a sack. In the end, it was down to two riders and their horses, and it was a battle ‘til the end, Lea Barnett and myself. I’ve never known Annie to back down from another horse before, but she did when it came to the last sack, so we came a … close second. Mum even said she thought Lea’s horse was going to dong poor Annie on the head! Then lastly there was the obstacle course comprising of a gate (hand-made by Carol) to open, walk through and close from one’s horse, a tarp to walk over, a drizabone to transport, a length to back you horse up, and a jump to go over. For a young little pony with a fair bit of pep and strength in her, Annie certainly did well, coming first in the obstacle course at 1 min 48 secs and winning me a mars bar!  

Even though not all horses and riders stayed with us until the end of the day, I reckon they’re the one’s who missed out, not just for the rest of the day’s great activities but also the chance of winning mars bars! A big thankyou must go to our instructor/judge/organiser/ride boss, Carol, for the extraordinary day of activities she arranged and made, it was a pity she couldn’t ride too! I thoroughly enjoyed myself, Annie did too I think, she was even up for a ride the next day...As was I of course! Thanks again Carol, if you organise a day like this again, count me in!

Jess