DoSomething! Day: Buddy the therapy horse inspires good deeds

THE riding for the disabled centre that lost several horses after they were swept away by floods during Sydney’s superstorm received a helping hand for DoSomething! Day yesterday.

• Heroic rescue ends sadly for much-loved therapy racehorse Buddy
• Buddy the charity therapy horse rescued from floods as two stablemates perish
• DoSomethingDay in pictures: Here’s how Sydney showed its kindness

IT was the story of miraculous survival that captured the community’s imaginations — Buddy the therapy horse being rescued from an Orchard Hills creek bed after last week’s heavy storms.

The community prayed for his swift recovery after he was saved but tragically, Buddy died the next day.

Buddy was found by an RDA-Nepean Centre coach under an M4 overpass near a swollen South Creek on June 7, after he was swept over a fence with other horses in heavy rains. Picture: Matthew Sullivan

His former owner Greg Clifford donated the former harness race horse to the Riding for the Disabled Association Nepean Centre.

“I cannot speak highly enough of those volunteers at RDA — they absolutely doted on him,” Mr Clifford, of Mulgoa, told the Penrith Press.

“They gave him a fantastic life after racing. A lot (of ex race horses) end up at the knackery.”

Midnight Blaze — aka Buddy the therapy horse — won his first harness race at Newcastle on July 25, 2013, aged four. His eighteenth and final start was on March 7, 2014. Picture: Robynne Metcalf

Buddy was one of three beloved therapy horses found along the swollen South Creek riverbed.

Sadly, a white pony called Charlie and ‘Sumatran Tiger’ — a retired standard breed harness racer who had a harness race named after him at the Fairfield Paceway — were found dead.

Another horse, belonging to a young girl, was also found dead on the creekline after being swept up to 2km away.

The centre suffered severe damage and lost valuable equipment and food.

RDA (NSW) director Jan Pike said staff were still in shock and “deeply traumatised” by the tragic event.

“When our volunteers work side by side with our horse volunteers they develop a special bond and an indescribable rapport,” she said.

“They are very dedicated and strong women, who need support and empathy.

“The community support the centre has received has been overwhelming and has alleviated some of the pain we, as an organisation, are feeling. ‘Thank you’ is such a small word for such a huge effort, however we do express our sincere thanks.”

The community has rallied to help the centre clean up. Sarah Dautzenberg and Linda Lawson pitch in on DoSomething! Day.

Friends and strangers have rallied to lend a hand and a huge effort was made yesterday for DoSomething! Day.

Supporters turned out to help with the clean-up and to care for storm survivor Boogie, a miniature horse who escaped the rain by standing on the top bench of the centre’s grandstand.

Also, $5725 has been raised by 84 people in 7 days on a GoFundMe page set up to assist the centre.

RDA-Nepean Centre volunteers Linda Lawson and Sarah Dautzenberg cleaning up on DoSomething! Day.

The Penrith Press has received countless inquiries from the public since breaking the stories about how they can help.

Ms Pike told the Penrith Press the Orchard Hills centre has no storage facilities on site, “so donations of gear and tack, while invaluable in the future, are not needed at the moment”.

“Hay and feed donations could be used for their remaining horses, but due to their individual dietary requirements need to be discussed with the centre volunteers,” she added.

Flood survivor Boogie gets rugged up.

“Right now their biggest need is financial, as they have veterinary bills and rebuilding costs to deal with.

“A horse therapist has been working with the horses so that aspect of care has been handled at this stage, however in the future there may be a need for further treatment. These people should be registered equine therapists.”

Greg Clifford, who also searched for Buddy, said. He’s pictured with wife Claire and children Montana, 10, Connor, 12, Zane, 4, and Narelle O'Kell at the Nepean Centre.

Three of the centre’s horses were also injured in the storms, with one being seriously hurt.

“Wayne, a neighbour, swam out to cut Gizmo (a gelding) out of a fence he was entangled in,” assistant RDA coach and riding manager Helen Monday, of Werrington, said.

“He has just come to us from Richmond TAFE as a donation. He’s on trial. What an introduction!”

Ms Pike said: “Wayne and other neighbours did an outstanding job, rescuing and searching for our ‘boys’. (His) story, of risking his own safety to rescue Gizmo, is an heroic example of what people will do in a crisis.

Helen Monday with Gizmo who was rescued by a heroic neighbour. He is recovering from injuries sustained during the storm.

Gizmo and other horse survivors suffered lacerations to their legs.

“The Nepean horses are recovering well, a few bumps and scrapes with two horses still receiving veterinary treatment.

“All horses have been checked over and we are in contact with an equine physio regarding their ongoing treatment.”

The horses have been transported to an RDA centre at Box Hill, where they are receiving much-needed love and care, she said.

The Riding for the Disabled Association in Orchard Hills has been devastated by the recent flooding.

They are: Archie, Annie, Jasper, Queenie, Toby, Rowdy and Gizmo.

“The horses will remain in respite for as long as is required, not only for their well being but also for that of Nepean’s volunteers who are obviously traumatised as well,” Ms Pike said.

She said the centre’s 25 disabled riders have been offered classes at a sister centre.

“This will be down the track as a lot of healing needs to take place first,” Ms Pike said.

This clunky commercial refrigerator on the RDA property got carried about 20 metres by the rain waters.

Asked about his “glory days”, Mr Clifford said Buddy was called Midnight Blaze when he raced.

He had 18 starts with Harness Racing NSW — but only one win, on July 25, 2013, at Newcastle.

“When he finished racing with me he was bleeding from his nostrils,” Mr Clifford said.

“It’s just a shame, because he could run.

Helen Monday, a member of the coaching team at the Riding for the Disabled Association in Orchard Hills, with one of the horses that survived the recent flooding.

“We used to call him ‘Bubba’, like in Forrest Gump ... (because) after he would race his bottom lip would hang down.

“He had the kindest nature, didn’t muck up at all.”

Tiger had 67 starts as a harness race horse and one win, in 2014 at Penrith Paceway.

“I’ve got another two-year-old (harness race horse) at the moment,” Mr Clifford said, adding “If he doesn’t work out, he’ll be going straight over to the RDA-Nepean Centre”.