Duke & Hanna
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Duke's Story
Duke is a 16hh, 6yrs grey gelding we rescued in 2006, he was on his way
to the doggers if we hadn't. He was in great condition, well cared for
and an easygoing boy. So after the usual worming, vaccination, teeth,
feet roster and some test rides in the paddock and in the local area he
was up for adoption.
 We received many enquiries due to him being such an impressive boy with
such potential, but as many of you know we wait for the absolute right
home for a horse, certainly not 'first come first served', so along came
Hanna and her family, looking for a young, athletic, good looker just
like Duke! They were experienced with horses, had a lot of love to give
and were altogether a great home for him, so arrangements were made to
view him, they liked him and arranged to buy him shortly afterwards.
Duke is now living in the lap of luxury in North Sydney, doted on and
loved, and wants for nothing!. His new owners have since found out
through tracing his brands that he was a race horse until just a few
weeks before being rescued (we didn't know that when DCH'ers Amanda, Louisa &
Colin rode him out along roads and in 10ha paddocks on a loose rein in
his test phase.. he was just so quiet, it actually took *much*
convincing to even get him to trot!)
"he won about $76, 000 in prize money! His father was an American import
named Azzaam - & out of all of Azzaam's offspring, Duke is always listed
first when they say "sire of 103 runners & 39 winners."
He raced 43 times and in fairly good ones at that - his father had
Secretariat bloodlines. He raced against a couple of Gai Waterhouse's
horses and won a fair few times, too"
Below is an email from his owner Hanna, who's kind enough to send us
updates on how he's going, we love to see these horses who once had such
an uncertain future doing so well!
 
Hey Amanda,
It's been a while since I wrote, so I thought I'd update you on Duke's
progress since my last email!
Dukey and I have been going trail-riding regularly now with my sister
and her horse -- he's absolutely fantastic with
cars/motorbikes/kids/trucks/scary horse-eating monsters. I'm able to
open and close gates off him, walk over bridges, ride on the main
road... The list is endless!
He's just such a reliable horse, even when I go riding on my own.
I'm still waiting for my first fall off him! He's now comfortably
jumping 50-60 cms and we're hoping to compete in a jumping show in June
-- it'll be his first show. I originally planned to take him to a hack
show on the 25th of April, but it felt a little too soon for him. I bet
my bottom dollar he takes the show scene like a pro, though.
He's still very, very spoilt and loved by the whole family...my
brother's new favourite thing! He's especially fond of pears and my
leftover toast (or whatever he can get his mouth around...).
His new favourite thing to do is get his whole body into the feed room
(no joke) while I'm not looking, and then I have to squish under him to
push him back out again -- still very much the cheeky man. :)
I just love him so much, I don't know what I'd do without his adorable
face hanging over the fence, waiting for me when I get home from school.
He's assured a forever home with me, you can rest easy! :) Have included
a few photos so you can see what we've been getting up to...
Thanks so much,
Hanna
Duke was adopted in May 2006 after 4 months in foster care.
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