Gypsy Cobs

This was the largest complete stud migration into Australia since 1964.

On the 27th October 2007 "Watermark Gypsy Cobs" and "Llancloudy Fell Pony Stud" relocated both studs from Hill Farm, Herefordshire, England to Camlea Station, Glencoe, NSW, Australia.

(John Parker Lorries arriving at Heathrow Airport with the precious cargo, one by one the ponies are walked into there stalls. Three per pallet unless with a foal at foot, mares and foals allocated one stall and a half)

IRT was contacted and plans to move this mammoth load was set in motion. After many meetings at Hill Farm with IRT and Nigel Misslebrook the veterinary from Chaseview Veterinary Practice - who would organize all the quarantine testing. The date was finally confirmed for the 25th October '07. IRT organized all transportation from Hill Farm to touch down at the quarantine station in Sydney.

(All  the ponies aboard the pallets waiting for boarding)

 Using four of John Parkers lorries to get them to Heathrow Airport and to be flown with Singapore Airlines on a Cargo flight. All the IRT staff arrived in the very early hours of Thursday morning, including the veterinary who would accompany the horses throughout the flight.

(Finally boarding taking place)

  The transporters had arrived the night before, it was just a matter of bringing the horses and ponies in for breakfast, a veterinary health inspection, final disinfections and the correct named and tagged head collars fitted. The total loading time took just under five hours and by 1pm on the 25th October, the convoy made there was out of Hill Farm for the very last time.

(I'm in the last pallet to be loaded - not a pleasant place to be at that time)

The owner, Gina Feakins accompanied all her horses which included a full shipment of Fell Ponies http://llancloudystud.com and German Warm bloods as well as her Traditional Gypsy Cobs on this epic journey. Only one Trakehner mare "Landmark Leila" was transported in utero at the time of flight.

(On board and in flight - the ponies being checked for hay and water)

 She had been sent to Stallion AI Services to be artificially inseminated by 'Demonstrator'. Early test showed that Demonstrators semen was unsuitable for freezing, so the decision was made to Artificially Inseminate the mare in early February '07 - to be inseminated mid May '07. This would give the fetus five months chance to hold before flight. The opportunity to breed to this stallion was seized.

Demonstrator is one of Great Britain’s leading sires of proven competition horses in all disciplines. He has won nationally and internationally at Grand Prix Level and was short-listed for the Olympic Dressage Team. Demonstrator is ranked No.1 Dressage Sire on the British Horse Foundation ranking for 2000, 2001 and 2002. He was the 1999 Horse & Hound leading Sire of Dressage Horses.

Demonstrator is one of the most influential sires of performance horses standing in Britain today.

 
(The cargo bay opening and disinfection taking place)

(The flight crew inside the cockpit)

 Throughout the flight, the horses and ponies would be checked every hour by one or more staff. Hay would be topped up, water buckets offered. IRT had commented that this was the easiest flight of horses they have transported. Not a single animal showed distress or discomfort throughout the journey. In fact, you would never have known they were aboard the flight at all, save the grey Fell Pony Stallion 'Llancloudy Dorian' who it seemed had worked out the noise of the engines and realised that either landing or take off was imminent and would call to the the crew.

(IRT staff at one of the stop overs, think this was Singapore)

 On Saturday 27th October '07, Australia was to see the very first fell ponies land. This was the largest complete stud migration into Australia since 1964. Once the Sydney quarantine was complete, the horses would then transport to the new home farm at Glencoe.

The horses and ponies have settled exceptionally well, the Trakehner mare has since filly foaled.

 
(Nearing the end of our epic journey and a welcomed sight)

The first sight of there new Country – Australia!
We would like to thank IRT and all the staff involved, for making this transition so smooth.