SPECIAL MENTIONS

Some of our dearly loved furkids have departed us and they are missed terribly.  Always in our hearts.  Many pets come through our lives but only the special ones leave pawprints and hoofprints in our hearts. 

"Jst N Illusion"(Pastel)
Palomino Tobiano Mare

By Rainbow out of Sage Tenniel1994 - 2018

Pastel came away with many Champions and Supremes and never came home without a sash.  Her most memorable wins were two of the most prestigious awards a pinto could win in New Zealand.

2006 Pinto Horse of the Year
2007 NZPtHS National Champion

Pastel also went on to earn a place on the Champion, Merit & Honor Roll with the NZ Pinto Horse Society for the 2006/2007 Season.

Pastel was purchased in 2005 after Debs broke her collar bone in a riding accident.  Aged 6 Pastel as she was affectionately known at home was a forward but very safe ride.  Having not done alot at all, she was very green.  Though she proved to be a bit "spooky" with SJ fillers she proved to be a real cross country and hunting machine.  Bold and confident over the more natural obstacles.

Pastel proved her riding worth during the 2006 North Island Teams Event when we competed for Tuakau Adult Riding Club.  Having only really done a half season in competition jumping she boldly jumped 98% off the Training sized cross country jumps to help the team to a 2nd place.  She also jumped clear SJ and did well in the Quadrille and games.

Pastel's main success came competing in-hand, as she really stood out from the crowd in the ring.  She was unbeaten in her age class in her first two years and was only beaten once in this class during the last Horse of the Year show, though she was trotting a little short due to the recent navicular diagnoses. 

She was regretfully sold in 2009 and during this time had a palomino colt in 2009 and a palomino filly in 2011.  In September 2012 we had the amazing opportunity to buy Pastel back and as we had always regretted selling her we jumped at the chance.  PROGENY:2017 - Jacana Heza Ultimate Dream (Perlino Tobiano Colt)

"Blue Whistler"(Charlie)
Grey Clydesdale X Gelding
Owned 2004 - 2008
Deceased 2012

Charlie as he was known at home was one of the greatest and is very sadly missed.  He was the perfect replacement for Caesar and Dean built an amazing partnership with him.  Given to us by his breeders sister, he had only ever had changed hands once before.  An ex full wire hunter Charlie was a bold and courageous jumper and would jump absolutely anything in front of him.

He taught Dean alot in jumping and Dean was able to join in things he had never thought he would - like hunting.  This was a popular sport during the NZ winter and we joined over 50 other enthusiasts on wet and windy days to chase hares and socialise with fantastic people. 

As well as hunting Dean and Charlie competing in SJ and Eventing and was part of the very successful All Mens Team riding for Tuakau Adult Riding Club at the North Island Teams Event.  

Parting with Charlie really was one of the hardest things Dean has ever had to do and Charlie will never be far from his heart.

"Caesar"

Bay Clydesdale X Gelding
Owned 2002 - 2008Deceased 2009

Caesar really was one of the greatest and a One in a Million find.  Had had also been in the same home for many years and the 17yr old wasn't even for sale at the time.  We had put an ad in the local paper looking for a solid, confidence builder and his owners responded as they had decided after reading our ad that he was being wasted sitting in the paddock and could help someone build confidence.

Second thoughts did cross Debs mind when Dean and Caesar attended their first fun ribbon day.  Caesar was so excited he jogged and danced sideways and Debs words were "what the hell have we brought".  Famous last words.  Caesar went on to give Dean so much confidence and he really was just amazing.

Sadly when Caesar hit 21 he did start stiffening up and Dean decided his competition days were limited.  So we went in search of another - which is where Charlie fits in.

Not wanting Caesar to be left in the paddock we offered him to our good friend Patsy to ride and she went on to have many years of pleasure riding and low level eventing.  Even at the age of 24 Caesar was still jogging at the end of the events.

It seemed only fitting that when we decided to move to Australia in 2008 we gave Caesar to Patsy.  They continued their great partnership for another 3 years before Caesar sadly passed away in Jan 2011 at the dear old age of 26

"Statesman"

Black Shire Gelding
Owned 1999 - 2000Deceased 2000 (liver failure)

Statesman was offered to us as his owner was going on her OE to England.  Though at the time grossly obese, this boy was amazing.  He was 7 years old and standing at 19.2hh, he really was a gentle giant.  All of his tack was purposefully  made for him as were his shoes.  Broken to ride he also jumped 60cm no problems.   

He was taken to his first show, which was a local ribbon day, and he had to be alone in the double horse float as he took up all the room.  The day was successful and he had a huge fan club - though he made 80% of all the other horses scatter when he tripped as it really felt like the ground was going to cave in.

On the Millennium New Year he gave "Pony Rides" and all the adults queued to ride this boy as he was so unique.  Sadly our unique boy didn't last long and fell sick just a year later.  He stopped eating and after extensive vet tests he went down in his stable a week later and we had no alternative but to have him euthanised.  This was so upsetting as we still hadn't found out what made him sick - even the vet was sad and asked if he could do an autopsy on him free of charge as he wanted to know what had brought down our gentle giant.

Sadly the autopsy results showed liver failure - his liver was so saturated in fat that it had failed.  Sadly a common thing in these super giants and though we had slowly restricted his food intake to help him loose weight initially, the damage had been done as a youngster.

"Rocky"(Muff)
Black Domestic Housecat
1994 - 2012

She had been with us since she was 6 weeks old and the most special cat we have every had the pleasure of owning.  She was a super loyal cat who really thought she was a dog, right up until a month before she passed she would follow us to the gate to get the mail or to the stables, just to be with us.  

She was a small cat and that maybe helped her in her old age, though she had been spoilt rotten all her life and really lived the good life.  

We got a few looks when we told people we were taking her to Australia with us as she was already 16 years and considered old for a cat, but there was no doubt for us.  

She started with us and we ensured she lived life to the fullest and lived our her days happily with us - where she belonged.

"Maverick"(Mav)
Black Border Collie
1995 - 2011

We got Mav as a 2 yr old stud dog and no words can describe this incredible guy, he was the most amazing dog and best mate we could ever ask for.  Maverick started our original Border Collie breeding lines and he was the very best ever!  No matter what time we got home, he heard the car from a long way off and he was always waiting at the gate.  

Our companion in the horse truck on many occassions and his temperament and nature are what helped our puppies sell so quickly and easily.  Sadly due to his age we had to make the heart breaking decision to find a loving home for him when we decided to move to Australia in 2008.  

We didn't think this would be an easy task finding that special someone to take on an already aged 12yr dog but we found Ken in Palmerston North and really couldn't have asked for a better home.  Ken gave Mav an exceptional and very spoilt three years and we made a trip to Palmy to see Maverick on a trip back to NZ in Jan 2011.  

Amazingly Mav recognised us and we took him for the day to the local park and had a great time.  This was a very treasured time for us as sadly Maverick died peacefully and in his sleep in May 2011.

"Meg"(Meggles)
Black Border Collie (Mavericks Daughter)
2002 - 2016

Meggles was our "chosen one" ~ chosen from the moment she was born to stay with us for a future breeding bitch, chosen to join us in Australia when we moved, chosen to come home to NZ when we moved back.  She was such a super special girl with the most sweetest disposition we have ever found in a dog.  Absolutely loved her cuddles and nothing more than sitting on our knee on her back and falling asleep.  She loved coming on the boat, in the truck or car, anywhere we were she wanted to be there.  She was out of our darling purebred bitch Jess and by our very handsome  purebred dog Maverick.  Jess and Maverick were both getting on in years and this was going to be Jess' last litter.  Both dogs were wonderful examples of the breed and Meg was chosen at one day old.   She was mostly chosen for her near perfect markings. 

She went on to become an amazing mother herself, littering four large litters ranging from 8 - 10 puppies each time.  She was bred with our new stud dog Buddi Boy of Tylerwild who was a golden pedigree border collie. Her litters were always a mixture of red/white and black/white.  With one puppy having a blue eye and going onto to be a TV star.  Meg's litters were very popular as people fell in love with her beautiful gentle nature.  One was sold to a very close family member and it brings us joy whenever we see him.  As Maverick and Jess were both old when we moved to Australia, we make the absolute heartbreaking decision to give them to loving homes to live out their retirement.  And Meg was our first choice to bring across with us.  She is our girl.

She was the sweetest most loyal girl.  Her loss left a huge void in our lives that could never be replaced.  Sadly she developed a tumor on her front leg as well as several in her tummy.  Diagnosed at the age of 11 we lived every day like it was the last and appreciated every extra minute we got.  When we moved back to NZ there was doubts from the vet she woundn't make the flight, but we made the decision to bring her home.  She was so happy to be home away from the heat and it was so obvious in her attitude.  We got an extra 15 months with her and loved it, loved seeing her happy but saying goodbye was the hardest thing we have ever had to do.  She will be in our hearts forever.

"Fasara Alfie Shanker"(Ozzie)
Pedigree Male Ragdoll

2012 - 2020

I don't know how long I have wantd a ragdoll but it has been for over 30 years but we didn't think it was fair on the old girl Rocky to get a kitten, so had put it on the backburner.  
Some time after Rocky passed away Ozzy came into our lives.  He is a show quality Ragdoll bred by Fasara Ragdolls in NSW.  
Affectionate, floppy, cuddly, loving and gentle with perfect markings and the most stunning blue eyes.  
He really has the ragdoll nature and we looked forward to many many years with him, just as we did our dear Rocky.

Sadly our wonderful boy was taken from us to early when he was 8 and suddenly dropped weight.  We rushed him to the vet to find he had a huge tumor in his belly and liver failure.  We made the heartbreaking decision to not allow him to suffer and said our goodbyes.  We miss him dearly.