Ginger (aka Koorana Glen Echo)

We bought Ginger when I was 11 years old. My mum spent months searching and searching for my "perfect pony", and finally she found him!

Ginger was 13.2hh, and 13yrs old when I got him in late 1995. He was fully educated and totally bombproof. I don't know his breeding as he was unregistered, but he was an Australian Pony bred at Koorana Stud.


Ginger was the perfect pony for me because I really had to learn how to ride! I remember very well that while out on trail rides, Ginger would decide that he'd had enough, and turn around and bolt for home....at the walk! If I tried to turn him back around, he would do a 'mini-rear' - just high enough to scare me (about 5cm!).


Luckily, there was a instructor just down the street from the horse paddocks, so I was able to go there for lessons to learn how to "be the boss"! Ginger would always try to scare me (not a difficult task) by barging into the arena gate while I was riding in my lesson! I still have a vivid memory of the time my instructor had to get on to stop Ginger from doing it! He looked huge on him!


Another funny Ginger story is that he was a fabulous jumper. He could jump from paddock to paddock....but only ever towards the feed room! It's amazing that I had so much trouble getting him to jump while I was riding - what a stubborn pony!

Our competition history

Over the year that I owned Ginger, we did a lot of competing, mainly in dressage and hacking (showing).


Some results (that I can remember!) are:

  • Orange Blossom Show (Castle Hill, 1996)- Champion Beginner Rider
  • Kellyville Riding Club Gymkhana (1996) - Champion Junior Rider
  • Kellyville Riding Club Gymkhana (1996) - Champion Ridden Pony
  • Kellyville Riding Club Gymkhana (1996)- Reserve Champion Led Pony
  • PLC Dressage Day (1996)- Reserve Champion Primary Rider
  • Arndell Interschool Gymkhana (1996)- Champion Beginner Rider
  • Kellyvile Riding Club (1996) - "Most Improved Horse and Junior Rider"

Where is he now?

When I outgrew Ginger, I sold him to a girl who rode him at Pony Club, and they had a lot of success together. When she outgrew Ginger, he moved on to another girl within the same pony club. I got to see Ginger over the years at several interschool and inter-ponyclub competitions. Sadly, Ginger passed away suddenly in 2004, in his early 20s.

Photos

Photos coming soon.