Shanjay Pony Stud

SKEETER

Skeeter was on his way to the doggers, I was looking for a new horse to get back into riding so it seemed like a match made in heaven. After a few bad owners and a lot of beatings Skeet wasn't keen on letting any body near him.  The constant torment and beatings he had had in the past had left him distrustful and terrified. I had never seen a horse shake like this guy when you tried to catch him or pat him. 

For the first two years Skeet  just stayed in the paddock, I would go down every day with a treat and if he took a few steps toward me I would toss the treat to him and walk away.  Occassionally I would catch him and lead him off an OLD TB gelding to take him home for a bit of a green pick and a bath back at our house.  It was a slow process but quiet perseverence won out and now he is my best mustering horse and my pride and joy. 

He still even six years on is wary with strangers but atleast now we can catch him and wash him, brush and of course ride him. My 8 yr old daughter even begs a ride on him occasionally although I have to lead him since he seems to be afraid of moving when there is a kid on his back..

Despite his hard start to life Skeet has never shown a nasty streak while always cautious he never tried to hurt anyone and even at his worst when we first got him he was probably the safest horse to have a toddler around since he always knew where everybody was.  He is my absolute pride and joy.

ACORN

We were looking for a new pony for the daughter and were told of 2 horses that had been abandoned by their owner.   Their owner for whatever reason had literally packed the kids in the car and left town for good.  A week later she rang the local council and told them there was 2 dogs and a cat at her house and the two horses and a cage full of ducks down at her paddock.  The ducks were already dead and the horses weren't much better. It was the middle of summer the paddock was completely bare not even leaf litter on the ground under the trees.  There was no dam in the paddock and no water anywhere for the horses.  

We went for a look and decided then and there that they were coming home with us.  I got her phone number from the council office rang her and transfered the $500 she wanted for them  into her bank account grabbed a bridle and halter and lead rein from home caught them and rode the mare leading the pony home.  Lucky She was quiet.  I forgot to ask if she was broken in.

Acorn had some major issues with feed and would kick your head in at feed time for the bucket, but otherwise was pretty well behaved.  She was very basically broken in.   I sold Acorn on to a lady who wanted her to breed to her buckskin stallion and wasn't concerned about her bad habits.  Something I couldn't risk with 2 young children running around.

DOCTOR DO LITTLE

Doc was a cheeky little bugger right from the word go.  He hated all dogs and killed any that went into the paddock.  He would chase the kids for a pat and Shania  was soon scared of him. 

A man asked us if we would sell him to him for his 10 yr old daughter and we agreed to.  Two years later the young girl had out grown him and he was on the market again we showed him to a friend of ours and they bought him and he is aggisted back out at our place again. 

Even though Doc is naughty he is never really nasty and is excellent for running with the mares and foals to protect them from the feral dogs that occasionally wander in looking for some fresh foals.

FABIO

Fabio was another horse we picked on his way to the doggers.  Drought was hitting people hard and this boy was on his way to the cannery.  A 12 month old Stockhorse colt very quiet we decided to take him on. He was gelded at 2 year old and broken in at 4.  Freakily quiet we could sit the kids on him at 18 months old and lead them around.

Fabio is a real smooch he follows you around the paddock and licks you.  A real pain when you are trying to fix a fence in his paddock. when he has his tongue up the back of your neck.

  A Bugger to worm but totally lovable.

My mum is forever trying to convince me to let her have him.

Fabio has gone down to Dalby to Nikki-Jay Stud to get a bit of work and to lose some of his rapidly growing belly.

CHICKO

When Hubby decided he wanted to start riding again we were on the search for somethin BIG and Quiet.  Skeet at 14.2HH was too small and at 130kgs hubby needed something that could carry him.  Chicko a 15.2hh QH Gelding was found.  Mostly a paddock ornament Chicko leads a life of horsey luxury since hubby after only riding him 3 times in 3 years decided he doesn't want to ride after all.  Still handy as a spare mustering horse for me and useful for visitors who want to go for a ride or teach bigger learners on he has stayed on as yet another oversized pet.

Chicko has also gone to Dalby for a while to get some work.