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A special show
horse in many ways... Flirting from the first time a few years ago I
saw him he had all the essence of a star, this year in at Adelaide
Royal from the moment he stepped out in the preliminary rounds I
thought "this is it... looking a treat and working the best I had
every seen him, this is his season" and so it was. Catching up with
his devoted owners we get the insight into this very special show
horse... |
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Max is not just a
show horse, he is part of our family and when we nearly lost him to
illness in 2005 it brought home just what he meant to us and
everyone around him. It was a long drawn out period that saw him
lose a season of showing, but with a lot of support and
determination from people like Kath Mitchell our vet and Equine
Herbalist Victoria Ferguson, Max slowly got better and ten months
after he got sick was back in the show ring.
We were first told about Max after Michael Christie his regular
rider and trainer showed him on the 'May Run' in 2003. He rang me
and said "this is the horse you have been looking for" so placing
our faith and trust in Michael we bought him and he was so right. It
was a big ask for the horse when only after 3 months of education he
went to his first Royal Show - Brisbane. He looked a baby against
the more seasoned and educated horses but was such a beautiful mover
and really caught your eye - he took our breath away! Max came home
with a 2nd in the Novice and a 4th in the Open, we couldn't have
been happier. After that came a couple of seasons where Max won many
major awards including:-
Debutante Hack Champion - Hygain Masters 2003
VASA Newcomer H.O.Y. - Runner Up 2004
1st Novice Hack and 3rd Open Hack - Canberra Royal 2004
Reserve Champion Hack - Brisbane Royal 2004
Champion Small Hack - Hygain Masters 2004
Max was really starting to hit his peak when his illness threatened
to end his career and life so the 2005 show season was a non-event.
All we were hoping for was that Max would get better and then we
would re-evaluate where we were going.
 In
late November '05 we were given the green light for Max to begin
light work and his showing career recommenced in January '06 with an
equal first at the EFA H.O.Y. show. Unfortunately he was not to be
declared either Champion or Reserve which meant he would miss out on
representing Victoria at the Nationals in December. But Max was back
bigger and better than ever and followed up his remarkable comeback
with Reserve Champion Saddle Horse at Barastoc H.O.Y. and 1st
placing's in the Gents Hack and Open 15.2-16hds classes at Canberra
Royal.
The rest of the 2nd half of the season saw Max qualifying at
agricultural shows where he came home from every show with a
Championship and then it was back out into the paddock for a
well-earned rest.
Michael recommenced work with Max in June and we could see then that
the horse was looking the best he had ever looked. Michael had
dressage lessons off Carol Ross and between them they really got
everything together.
The next stop for Max was Adelaide Royal in early September.
Dreams can come true and when Max finally pulled off the "big one"
and was declared Champion Hack for 2006 at Adelaide
 Royal
I can't tell you how proud and emotional the team was.
He is one very special horse who has given us so much fun and
enjoyment. It is not just about the showing. It is also about owning
a beautiful horse that has a fantastic personality and always wants
to please. He never has a bad hair day. Of course, being as talented
and as beautiful as he is Max would not have achieved the successes
he has had without the education and support from Michael. He is a
true professional and also a very close friend who has been there
through all the ups and downs and stuck with us and knows Max as
well as anyone of us.
In any professional sport you need a lot of luck, dedication and
support but most importantly true friends and through owning Max we
are lucky to have all of these. We all enjoy one another's company
and showing isn't just about the blue ribbon, it's also about the
social aspect and enjoying a glass of "bubbles" afterwards. Special
thanks must also go to Caroline, Lizzie, Cameron, Marcia, Leanne and
all the other people that have supported us over the last 3 seasons.
Max hasn't finished yet. He's only 8 years old and we still believe
the best is yet to come.
He still has unfinished business!
 STOP
PRESS
Since writing this article Max has had a few more amazing results.
In November he was Hygain Masters Small Hack of the year and then at
VASA was Reserve Champion Small Hack of the Year, but as I said
before the best was yet to come.
On the Australia Day long weekend, the EFA Victorian Branch hosted
the EFA State Horse Titles. The winners of their respective section
given the chance to represent Victoria at the National Titles in
December. Up there with royal show champions there is no better
title to win and yes you guessed it Flirting won.
So I can just about say that Max has won everything we have ever
dreamt of. December is a long way away but I know when that first
Saturday at Werribee Park comes around that Flirting will be primed
and ready for the show of his life. |
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