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Home2017's Happy Happenings And Some 2018 Drama
Kerewong Year Review 2017
Time has gotten away from me again, nonetheless I still persevere in writing a year review as always. But first a little bit about very recent news, the start of 2018.
To start with the drama, it now is March 2018 and I am on a forced extended holiday at home. Six weeks ago while walking along the trail the ground gave away under my horse Valentino's hooves and together we fell into a large hidden hole, almost something like a sink hole. When the horse fell over on top of me my lower leg was broken in multiple pieces just above the ankle. The horse eventually got himself out of the hole without injuries. I on the other hand went to the hospital, where I had surgery and now am on a long road to recovery spending my days inside with my leg raised while others care for my animals and me. My tours are cancelled until June and I hope that by that time my leg will be strong again to resume normal life.
I had intended for nothing else exciting to happen for the first part of 2018, but it was not to be. The dogs did not cope with the change in routine and Bowie dog was attacked and injured by Jedda (something very hard to imagine). So now there are 2 patients in the house and we keep each other good company. Let's hope that this is all the bad news for 2018.
So now to 2017, it was a somewhat strange year. It started with a compulsory break from a foot injury (not horse-related) that was maybe the best preparation for my current situation. Learning to listen to the doctors and have patience. Then the usually quiet season was very busy and the usually busy season was quiet. I had guests from all over the world, from Alaska to Cambodia, had a few special return guests again, made many new friendships and had some of the best groups of solo travellers I ever had, people who meet at Kerewong for the first time and who are just a perfect match with each other and with their selected Kerewong horses. I could only fit in one Endurance Ride which I succesfully completed with Valentino.
We had record breaking heat waves, drought and bush fires in February, torrential rain and floods in March, then drought again and more scary, too close for comfort bush fires in September. We had a good view from the veranda of Comboyne Peak on fire and I was reminded that torrential rains are far better to deal with then bush fires.
I did not have many helpers and after some disappointments decided to stick with Max the Champion for a while. But luckily the year ended on a positive note in the backpacker - helpers department and I had Berit and Alicia from Germany stay with me and they became two of the best and nicest helpers I ever had. So exceptionally nice that they interrupted their travels around Australia and came back to help me when I broke my leg last month and they are still here to manage the animals while I am useless. I dare say that Jedda had something to do with their decision to come back though.
My 2017 highlights were my little holiday break in March and the unplanned arrival of Pepe the Cattle Dog in September. Yes, now there are 3 dogs residing at the Kerewong residence.
After 2 years without a holiday I managed to take a 10 day break to participate in "Rileys Ride", riding my own horse in the Australian Snowy Mountains, and visit the Man From Snowy River Bush Festival in Corryong. Mind you it took me 2 days driving to get there and 2 days back but the 4 days horse trekking and camping in the High Country followed by 2 days at the festival was fantastic. To do this with my own horse Jimmy made it very special to me.
Since I don't get to go out into the world very much anymore myself - just while I have the responsibility for Bowie dog - and can't share fanstasic travel adventures with you, my other highlights of the year are marked by 2 additions to the Kerewong Family, first one to my pasture and then one to my household. Two individuals who I sometimes still wonder if I should have found them a different home, but who both really needed a safe home. In May a mare entered the property, a horse who has had some good, well-meaning owners, but also has been through trauma, misunderstanding and unstability. Mindy was mentioned in the previous newsletter and since then she has gained in confidence and learned a lot, has been ridden on tour by Kathy many times and by guests a few times and she has a bright future ahead of her. Mindy has her profile information on the Horses page (link at bottom of this page).
In September Pepe the Red Cattle Dog came, saw and stayed by his own free will, even when his original home was only a few hundred metres away. I did not want another dog and never intended to have more then 2 dogs at the same time. But, when something good comes your way, you better hold on to it, no regrets.
Pets don't get to choose their owners, they rarely have any say at all in the decision who will be their owner or how their life will be. Sometimes people like to think their pet chose them, but in reality pets depend on a good person choosing them to bring them into a kind and suitable home where they receive good care, love and fair training to become the best dogs they can be. For many unfortunate pets being chosen by the wrong person means spending their sad life with unsuitable, neglectful or cruel owners, on a chain, suffering from starvation, pain, beatings and loneliness. The dog is left with no choice but to live the life it is given by the owner. And even when living in bad circumstances, most dogs will always stay loyal to their owner, good or bad. But not Pepe the Australian Cattle Dog. Pepe the red Cattle Dog is smart. Smart enough to leave the home he was given, leave the owner who chose him and find himself somewhere happy to live. And Pepe chose to live at Kerewong, he found and chose me. And Pepe is no trouble at all, except for rolling in horse shit. So even if Bowie is not fully agreeing: Pepe is staying. Pepe came, saw and conquered my heart. Long live Pepe!
Otherwise, before I had the accident, 2018 started with many promises for a great year. My groups in January were a delight. Tours were fully booked until May. But shit happens and so it did. So now, for May I hope to be able to bring the horses back again from their extended pasture rest so we can start the real job again in June. The horses by the way have not complained about boredom yet, as the caretakers tell me, except maybe Jimmy is due for some special attention.
Thank you to everybody who supported me this year. I plan to stick with what I'm good at and that is looking after my animals and making people happy with my horses, offering holiday experiences on horseback in the Australian bush and on the beach, where life still feels simple, peaceful and good.
The photo is of the 2 newcomers of 2017: Bay Arabian mare Mindy and Red Australian Cattle Dog Pepe.