Moora horseman to show top skills at a major muster event
Moora horseman John Quinsee is following in the footsteps of his father with his Clydesdales. He will be one of many horsemen taking part in an Easter muster.
Moora horseman John Quinsee and his Clydesdales are following in the footsteps of his father.
John, who is the president of Moora Working Draught Horses Incorporated, is helping host a major muster event for the society’s 20th anniversary on the Easter weekend.
John started riding horses when he was about three, and competed in the riding classes at Melbourne Royal Show until he was aged 18.
“Mum and Dad always had horses and bred horses, Dad worked at a winery up at Echuca and they used to do the horse and lorry and give rides around the Port of Echuca,” he said.
“Dad was the stud master of the Clydesdale stud. We bought a couple of horses and followed in their footprints.”
Now John competes at the Melbourne Royal with his main show horse named Dougie.
“I love being around the horses,” he said.
“There’s quite a bit involved in training a Clydesdale. I broke Dougie in with a harness, you start them young because they’re too big to fight with when they’re old.
“You slowly get them in a harness, give them a tire or a small log so they can feel the weight on their breast plates.”
The muster horses will be on display with a town parade on Saturday including a five-horse and four-horse team.
John said on Sunday, there would also be six classes, a sheep dog demonstration, a working mule muster and mule jump, a farrier demonstration and more. He expected about 2000 people through the gates for the Moora Working Draught Horse Muster.
“We just got a good committee together, we ran it last year and it went really well, it’s looking like it’ll be big this year,” he said.
‘Tremendous need’ for farmer support
A new free and confidential coaching program is available to support farmers dealing with drought across southern Australia.
CFA aims to reach historic milestone for Good Friday Appeal
For 74 years the Country Fire Authority have been raising money for the Good Friday Appeal. And this year, they’re closing in on a significant milestone.