Ranfurly Park started quite by accident when I decided I wanted a Cleveland Bay. The fact that I ended up buying a stallion didnt enter my head as being much of a problem,  as an old ringer down the road said in his Aussie drawl, Ah well Jake if ya cant keep him in the arena you can always use him to muster scrub bulls, hes bloody big enough! And the fact that he weighed just under 700kgs and I weighed in at 55kgs didnt seem much of a problem either!

There were a few steep learning curves in the early days, but as only those who have worked closely with a stallion can testify, it is an amazing relationship that develops over time and they teach you an awful lot about yourself! There is now a huge part of me and our family, missing. I have lost my equine mate and partner of 24 years and though I always knew that the day would come  well, you still just think they will go on forever.

Robbie had a lovely last summer. He was still highly fertile and served a couple of mares. He had developed thyroid cancer a few years ago which caused no major problems till recently when the weight started to fall off him and so the decision was made. Ranfurly is buried on our farm beside Wetherby Darling Delight who was his favourite mare and constant companion. He was 27 and she was 29.

Rest in peace Robbie. Words arent adequate to describe how Im feeling but I will never forget the feel of riding you, how proud I was to own you and how humbled that you let me...

Iona Bertram