W
e live on 20 acres in Tyabb
Victoria. My parents Jan and
Alan Jennison run an agistment farm
catering mainly for retired horses
and ponies, but they have the odd
thoroughbred that comes through for
spelling.
I’m married and have a one year
old son, Hugh. My husband Gareth
isn’t horsey, but understands that
horses are my passion. I currently
work in education as an Early Years
educator (children from 0 to 5 years).
I combine both my love of horses and
working with children into one over
the weekends, by teaching children
to ride. I have twin sisters who have
Down Syndrome.
I commenced riding when I was
about five years of age, but prior to
this we had a Shetland Pony called
Wiggens. He lived to the ripe old age
of 40 odd years. My first pony was
an Australian Pony named Macca
that I had lessons on and started at
the local Pony Club on my seventh
birthday. Following on from Macca
came the gorgeous 12hh grey pony
named “Silver Ash”, or Ash for short.
This pony gave me the confidence I
needed. We compete in jumping right
through to showing. I even competed
on him at the Royal Melbourne Show
in my rider class. He was best All
Round Pony.
I went onto mum’s 15hh Quarter
Horse mare, “Beau’s Lil Charmer”
Q-22325 or Amber, when I outgrew
Ash. Amber is still with us today at
the ripe old age of 28 and is now used
for teaching children to ride. Even my
one year old son has sat on her.
My favourite discipline is Showing/
Hacking. My favourite horses would
have to been Smokin Santa (Santa)
and Somerosa Hit the Spot (Roger),
as they are the two that started my
love of showing. If it weren’t for them
I probably wouldn’t have achieved
what I have. Since these two we’ve
had some very successful ponies
including, the Australian Riding
Pony Mare Winfield Gazelle, who
was Champion Riding Pony Mare at
the Royal Adelaide Show in 2006.
Then two Sheltand Ponies, Tara Park
Lilli and Tara Park Onyx. Lilli and
Onyx were purchased from Shetland
breeders, Alison and Jo Pengelly, as
weanlings.
Lilli was broken in by myself and has
been very successful with wins and
champions in hand, saddle, children’s
classes and Leading Rein Classes at
Royal and Horse of the Year Shows all
around Australia.
Onyx has also been extremely
successful under saddle and won at
Show Horse Council of Victoria Horse
of the Year in 2016 (three titles).
He has also won in hand, saddle,
children’s and Lead Rein Classes
at Royal and Horse of the Year all
around Australia. Onyx is currently
on lease to good friends of ours for
their five year old daughter Charlotte.
He will return to us as hopefully as a
future pony for our little boy Hugh.
We currently still have two horses,
two ponies and five Shetland Ponies.
Somerosa Hit the Spot Q-36006,
or Roger’s sire is Spot on Morn
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32 • • The
The Australian
Australian Quarter
Quarter Horse
Horse Magazine
Magazine • • March
March • • April
April • • 2018
2018
Q-15056 (by Morn Deck) and he was
out of a mare called Merdora Sugar
Winds R2-4636. Our mare Beau’s
Lil Charmer was also out of Sugar
Winds, so mum knew that Roger’s
bloodlines and temperament would
be great. Roger came to us as a rangy
three year old. He had been broken in
to Western Pleasure, but because he
had such an up front frame he wasn’t
going to make a Western Pleasure
horse.
My mum, Jan, knew whom he came
from and thought he would be an
ideal horse for me to go onto after
Santa. To be honest I hated him when
I saw him and thought, ‘what am I
going to do with him as he was quite
ugly.’ I’m glad mum pushed me into
riding him and continuing on with
him, as he achieved so much for me.
With the help of my riding instructor,
Per Wilen, we got him up and going
and he competed a year later at the
Barastoc Horse of the Year in the
Newcomer Hack.
With the introduction of the Show
Hunter Classes, we felt that this was
where he belonged. Although he was
very elegant he had too much bone
about him to compete as a Saddle
Hack. Roger was very successful in
his Show Hunter Classes. In 2003, I
was in year 12 so I didn’t have a lot
of time to be showing him all over
Victoria. We made the decision to just
enter me in my Lady Rider Class. I
had just turned 18 in the June, so this
was my first time out in the Senior
Rider Classes. I had the option of
taking either Roger or Santa. Santa
could be unreliable at times so Roger