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A Tribute To The "BEST" Stallion GRAWOOD DEFENDER
Born: 11-9-'85 32.5" Reg. MHAA, AMPS & NMR Sire: Sand Sha
Jamie
Defender
has been loved & cared for all his life in only two homes, he has
sired some beautiful foals over the years that have gone to every
state in Australia & New Zealand, most notably probably are G. Rio
Rita, whose versatility under saddle & in harness (thanks to Susan
Telepis) was only surpassed by the top quality foals she went on to
produce & G. Mystique, who was very hard to beat on the Qld Show
scene for quite a few years, before she found her way to her current
home at Shanrion Stud where she too is producing stunning babies.
I have two of his beautiful
daughters here that I had hoped not to part with, 'S. Magic Mia'
named at the time of her birth (meaning "mine") & never meant for
the sales list, & a young Dun filly 'S. Moon Lady' so named as she
was born on a full moon, that I had also intended keeping had I been
well.
Another one that deserves a
mention is G. Guardian, shown as a stallion now a gelding, is a wonderful example of the
absolutely unwavering temperament that Defender passed on to his
foals. (click to read his write-up)
I have noticed with all of
Defender's foals, that they all inherit his gorgeous soft,
gentle doe - like eyes, most horses (especially stallions) get a
more mature eye as they grow up, but he never did...nor do his
foals, they all have these beautiful baby like eyes, that are
instantly recognizable as "Defender's eyes".
He was a paternal half brother to
Bluff View Domingo (another stallion who is well known for the high
quality foals he produced) & he had a temperament to be envied, it
was no trouble to leave young children in the paddock with him, they
were completely safe!
We went to a couple of Shows in
the early years together, & he won Reserve Champion to Tappilly Park
Tutankhamon, who also won the Stallion class at Brisbane Royal for 2
yrs. Sadly, one afternoon in '94, while I was just completing the
finishing touches to his show preparation for the following day, (in
strange surroundings to him) he got a bad fright & pulled back
suddenly, the rope halter ripped his top eyelid off & also rope
burned his eyeball badly. So, in terrible pain he walked up into the
back of the enclosed Ute, & instead of driving home & anticipating
the next day, we were heading to the Vet 1/2hr away, who was waiting
for us & operated on him immediately.
For months after that, we
would go in the Ute for our weekly visit to the Vet, & she would
crawl up inside the Ute & treat his eye, she said had it been any
other horse "no way", but because of his impeccable temperament she
would say "leave him there, I'll hop up in there with him instead of
getting him out" & Defender would just stand there & let her do what
had to be done with no complaints, & he was in agonizing pain.
The Vet did such a wonderful job
on his eyelid, it was never noticeable to anybody else, but
unfortunately it left him at least partially blind. Needless to say,
I never showed him again, I just didn't want to put him through it
all, & he was more than happy to stay at home with his family.
This page started out being my
Stallion page for my Stud's website, but tragically before it was
finished, my little mate has been called away to a greener paddock.
On the morning of the 29th of September 2005, Defender was put to
sleep for the final time by the Vet, just a couple of weeks past his
20th Birthday.
His passing has left me
absolutely shattered, a void that not even time will fill..........
Born 11-9-1985 - Died 29-9-2005 RIP my little mate
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