Born 3 September 1974
Died 5 January 2007
I just do not know where to start... It leaves such a gap in my life my riding school... It is the end of an era. A little pony 124cm by Chawton Falcon... yes, I bought her before Falcon.
Fabiola as a foal
Just after Lydia had her first birthday (December 1977) Robert and I set sail in the old comer truck for the South Island to buy some ponies to help build our numbers for the Pony Stud. Also to look for ponies suitable for both children to ride.
Fabiola as a 2 year old
just before we bought her
This was a major trip for us. It was the first time we had left our children behind to travel. The truck did not have a fancy horse box but the stock crate with a tarp over the top. We slept in it each night and traveled all the way to Lumsden.
Faby was one of the five ponies who came home on that load. Chrissy traveled with her and was with her till the day she died. Chrissy (Reach Far Silver Queen) is a year older than Fabiola.
Peter on Reach Far Silver Queen and Lydia on Murfree Fabiola.
Two very special ponies with our two children when they both rode ponies.
Silver Queen (Chrissy) is still with us at 33 years old.
On arriving home Peter was given Chrissy and Lydia Faby. Both ponies were unbroken. Faby had a bit of a record of being a naughty pony. The two ladies who had bred her, Misses Fowkes and Duckworth from Ashburton, told us how they had to carry an umbrella into the paddock as she was a bit over powering at times. Just down the road lived her dad, Chawton Falcon, who we bought when we went back six month later.
Faby was broken in by Peter and I. It was a task to say the least. She needed to learn a lot of manners. Peter rode and schooled her for well over 12 months as Lydia was only 18 months but very keen to ride HER PONY. From time to time I would find all my carrots had gone from the veggie box. That was one of the first words Lydia learnt to say: Faby carrots.
Lydia and Faby Carrots
Peter schooling Fabiola in readiness for his sister
Faby was such a fun pony. The things she got up to: finding her way into the feed room inside the garage along the side of the car and eating the horse feed; running out backwards when you caught her; following Lydia around on led when Lydia was learning to walk; never being nasty. And the places those two would go: up on the verandah, in the garden, pulled along behind the trike. In a lot of ways they grew up together. By the time Lydia was 18 months old she could sit up on Faby and ride her with her dog collars for stirrup leathers and a very old pair of leather cowboy stirrups set on a pony pad.
Lydia being held by Peter to have her first ride on her new pony
(Lydia is just 16 months old)
She was a great walking pony and could keep up with my big 16.3 hunter no trouble. During that winter and spring Lydia and I would set off to do the lambing beat. Lydia and Faby on led, they both loved it. I would have to take them home part way through the morning as Lydia would fall asleep on her back. Many times I left them tied to a post while I lambed a ewe. She was the best baby sitter I could have. By the time the Welsh show came along in February there was no stopping her.
Lydia on Fabiola at the Inaugural N.I All Welsh Show in Hamilton.
Faby is 3 years old. Lydia is 2 years old.
At this time I had to stop competing my self as it was too much trying to keep a young boy (Peter) happy on his pony and Lydia demanding her pony come along as well. I still hunted and rode farm work as well as with the Riding School children. This meant that Lydia no longer rode the rocking horse on the back of the tractor on some rides as we did a lot of trekking with groups who stayed 3-5 days over holidays.
First outing off led rein 1979 Owhango Sports
Lydia and Faby had to be in with all the other riders during these courses. Sheryl Pichard helped Lydia a lot with Faby at these times. (She is now Married with grown up children of her own). Lydia would ride off down the drive with Faby’s foal in tow off to help ride/take lessons. She would ride round with the other for a while then dismount lay on the ground and suck her thumb holding Faby, who was happy to eat grass like all Welshies.
Te Kuiti Pony Club Ribbon Day 1980 or 81
Many a time Lydia would find some way of mounting up again on her own. One I can remember was her pulling the tyres out of a jump one at a time stacking them on top of one an other until she could climb up onto Faby's back, who would stand there eating while the building went on. There are many touching stories I can tell about this pony. She had learnt a lot of lessons and had become a very trustworthy pony.
Lydia (aged 5) with Fabiola on right
next to Kuriheka Petal
1981 Ohura Show
Ohura A&P Show Grand Parade
where Lydia rode both Fabiola and Kurihika Petal
In those early days they were one of a very few if not the only rider on a led rein in the beginner classes. We then started the led rein classes at the Welsh show in Hamilton. A trophy is till competed for which has Fabiola’s and Lydia’s names on it more then once.
Lydia went off the led rein at about 4 years old and rode in the beginner classes getting tipped off and jumping back on. When it was time to go home Faby could be rather naughty to load on the float and many times either Robert or I were on our own with the pony and Lydia. Lydia soon learnt to shake a big stick behind Faby to help load her - for the amusement of others to see such a little girl helping load her pony on the float.
Lydia on Faby when she was 5 years old
at the North Island all Welsh show 1981
with other riders and ponies from the stud.
Faby had four foals in her life but was not a good breeder as they all had blue eyes but one. Her first foal would be left at home while we went to a show. Lydia would climb under her at lunch time milk her out so her udder was not too tight. If we were going away for a 2-3 day show the foal was left in the box for led rein classes. The foal and Faby would do the Welsh mare class.
Fabiola with foal Taurimu Erica
As Lydia progressed on with her riding Faby became her jumping pony - a part of life I am sure Faby did not like but by this time Lydia had other ponies coming on. Faby was lent out to the Moore Family for grandchildren, was used for RDA as well as in the riding school. She taught many children to ride. She was lent out to the Wall family for their children to start on; also to Vaughan Couper who had family coming to stay from overseas who had never had any thing to do with ponies. I think Faby spent the whole time on the front lawn being feed bread and tit bits. By this time you could trust her 100% with very small children, handicapped riders and freighted folks. A lot of children Faby taught to ride have grown up and have children of there own now but till the day she died she was still loved by little riders and will be sadly missed by myself and my family and all who knew her.
God rest you darling wee Pony.
I have many more fun photos to find and add to this page as they surface. This makes me realize how long I have been breeding ponies. I have three more very much loved ponies in God’s Waiting Room (as Lydia called it last time she visited me) a big paddock with lots of grass and shade for the old darlings who still get ridden at times. Evermore Star Dust, Reach Far Silver Queen and Alberta all who are in their late 30’s from 33 – 39 years old.
This photo is of Cindy Sue (left) who both Lydia and Peter rode for many years.
She was Faby's best mate.
Right is Lydia and Faby winning the Welsh costume class
at the N.I. All Welsh show in possibly 1981.
