EQUINE WELFARE
But Adam saw a fresh future for him. He saw a horse with attitude, presence, amazing movement with a balance of bravery, care and ability. He helped him develop quickly with his safe jumping technique that won him the 2018 thoroughbred event at Equitana, held at the Melbourne Showgrounds. As competition got tougher, Saddle Up Smudge got more relaxed and confident. Adam shares a common interest in equestrian riding with his wife Jervaise and sons Hamish, 16 and Darcy, 12. The family has an interesting nickname for the horse; they named him ‘Smudge’ because the star on his forehead is off centre. All the family shared the thrill of Smudge winning the OTT Jumping Horse of the Year award. Natalie McKay produced the OTT Show Horse of the Year, St Andrews (NZ), who finished his racing career under the care of Queensland trainer, Marcus Wilson, and had won more than $65,000 during his racing career. Queenslander Adam Oliver, a horseman with a respected eye for a show horse, told Fiona McIntyre he was a natural. Fiona, who also had a keen eye for a show horse prospect, agreed before St Andrews (NZ) had taken half a dozen strides. Ridden by his new owner Natalie McKay, he went on to become the Reserve Champion Hack at the Canberra Royal Show, won the OTT class at Equestrian Australia’s national horse and rider championships and won Reserve Champion Large Hack at Barastoc Horse of the Year at Werribee for the last two years. RV’s Post-racing Initiatives Officer Melissa Ware is passionate about the post-racing careers ahead for retired racehorses and is responsible for RV’s OTT program. “These awards give us a valuable opportunity to recognise the top achievers in each sport and celebrate the success of off-the-track thoroughbreds in all four disciplines. “The winners this year are all very accomplished in their chosen field and we are delighted to endorse their ongoing success,” Ware said.
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