Moonbah Performance Horses

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Quorrobolong, NSW
Moonbah Performance Horses

Boutique dressage stables in Quorrobolong NSW offering a variety of training and coaching services
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16/09/2024

❓ What areas should we add to our lesson runs ❓

We know travelling for lessons takes up an unrealistic amount of time for many people - especially those who live a very busy lifestyle. So, I have decided to increase my time on the road teaching, and hopefully benefit those who lack the ability to get to other training opportunities.

Based at Quorrobolong, I am currently travelling locally between home and towns including Mulbring, Ellalong, Cessnock, Kearsley, Elrington, Kurri and Singleton districts. I have previously travelled to Wollombi/Laguna areas, stalled back in the days of lockdown restrictions, and I am very happy to rekindle this route.

I have opportunities available to travel on weekdays on a weekly or fortnightly basis to areas within 1-1.5 hours of Quorrobolong. I want to know - what areas are in need of dressage instruction? Where would you like me to go?

I have in mind areas like Maitland, Clarence Town, Luskintyre/Lochinvar, Paterson, Cooranbong/Central Coast direction etc - all just ideas of mine based on previous interest - please comment below or send us a message to express your interest!

Please note, pending on the distance, we would require a minimum of 3-4 riders able to commit to this run to make it happen however we can help find those people once we know which areas have interest. Weekends are also a possibility, however likely on a less regular basis.

12/09/2024

A coach has so many roles in a rider’s life, and one of the biggest to me is to be a mentor. Our role is to mentor our riders to discover inspiration, hope, self-confidence, independence, open-mindedness, and the strength to fight for belief and goals, both in the saddle and in their day to day lives. Our job is to empower, develop and make stronger our community. To provide a sounding board to all matters on the mind.

I find it so disheartening to hear riders say they have experienced the opposite in their learning journeys. Evaluation is also a critical role of the coach, but I implore for this to be assessed considering all the progress and determination a rider has put into their work so far, and to consider the uniqueness of the rider’s body, mind and partnership with the horse, and not by looking to the final picture we all want (or the final picture that might come naturally to the coach, in their own shoes and circumstances- yes I’m talking to those of you who say “but my coach has no problems getting my horse to do it!” – that comment provides no useful insight without an assessment of what varies in the horse’s body between when you are on board and your coach is!).

Every coach has a unique approach, and every rider has a unique learning style. A more critical approach does work for many, but I hate to see riders feel they have to commit to an approach they are not comfortable in. The key to a successful, forward thinking coaching relationship is finding compatibility within this. We can be stronger and more confident together 💪🏼

10/09/2024

This time last year 🔙

Skyview Trilogy, owned by Simone Palfreyman, taking on the 2023 NSW Dressage Championships, 18 years young on one of his many “new career” ventures! It was just supposed to be some local outings before the keys went back but he qualified in one comp and well… I couldn’t help but steal the keys a bit longer for State, he is such a gem. Think he much prefers sticking to working equitation this year though 🤪

07/09/2024

Feed time bliss 🌅

06/09/2024

▪️ Upcoming training positions available ▪️

Hello Spring and longer days 🌸 with longer days comes increased capacity, and as such we are pleased to open some additional training positions from around late September. These positions can suit long or short-term requirements, whether your goals be competition, sales, simple education or problem solving some biomechanical/rehabilitation issues.

Moonbah Performance Horses is a boutique dressage training facility ran by Olivia Palfreyman in Quorrobolong (Hunter Valley) NSW. We place a huge emphasis on biomechanic correctness and the physical and mental well-being of your horse within training, ensuring our horses are well informed, confident and open minded about their journeys with their riders. Our goal is for our horses and riders to really understand not just how to do something, but why, when, what for, and how that influences the partnership, taught in an easy to understand format.

We have a special interest in working with the “unconventional” performance horse, and have spent many years developing strategies to rework such horses’ thought patterns and biomechanic function to enable long term successful performance, whilst increasing their self-awareness and confidence. It is all about working within their capabilities and not against their bodies. Of course - the same goes for all the "bred in the purple" WBs and alike that train with us.

Our property is a very easy drive from the likes of the Sydney, Mid North Coast, Upper Hunter regions, and we can easily assist with transport options for those further away, as we often do for our interstate/out of area clients.

We also have availability for lessons (on site, online or travel available).

Please contact us for more information 🦄

www.moonbah.com.au

04/09/2024

His Royal Highness, the King Hustler thought it was only apt he had a visit from his personal paparazzi La Bella Vita Photography - Shannon Smith to collate a new Royal Portrait collection in time for him to hit double digits today. And seriously look at him, how could you not support his passion for modeling???

Happy 10th birthday my favourite big ol delinquent, and don’t worry, we all know you don’t look or act a day over 4!! 🎉🎉

02/09/2024

POSTPONED - NEW DATE TO BE ANNOUNCED

📢 Calling all my riders of the “unconventional” dressage horse - let's do this again! 📢

We are super excited to be hosting another of our "Unconventional Dressage Horse" clinics at Somersby Paddock (Central Coast NSW) on Sunday 6th October, after a hugely successful first edition back in June.

My “love project” is undeniably my unconventional horses – my Quarter Horses, Heavies and Crosses, Friesians, Spanish breeds, cobs, ASHs and TBs… the ones that we see the world and more in, but who judges struggle to see the same in, the ones that might have conformation that makes lightness and balance as we want it more difficult, the ones who might lack the enthusiasm of the modern sport horse and become a lazy, exhausting rides, and the ones who might lack the naturally bigger and impressive movements and that “more forward” doesn’t solve the answer to (rather creating a rushing, out of rhythm horse). The ones in my stables that steal my heart every day and have won a million others as they track towards FEI, but realistically, can be a bit of a tough slog to keep up to the standards of the bred-in-the-purple horses in the training and competition arena!

Rest assured there is a method to making the path easier and more successful for our unconventional dance partners, and I find the answer is in an investigation into equine biomechanics and how our own biomechanics (not strength, not gadgets) can be used to influence this positively. Improving the horse and rider’s understanding of the biomechanic function that enables this heightened performance is, without a doubt, the key to improving the mental and physical well-being in our horses. Our dance partnerships must see both the horse and rider really understand not just what to do, but why they do it. Then we understand how to create change in our horses’ bodies, in our paces, in movements and in competition.
Does it sound complicated? It is not, because at the end of the day, it is simply breaking down how you can adjust your body to adjust your horse’s body and make their world a whole lot easier. It is simple work, simply explained, with a great big impact on your relationship and partnership with your horse.

Lesson spots in this clinic are very suitable to all, with all breeds and levels welcome, including those bred-in-the-purple, those who are already well on their way but want to invest further into this pathway of thinking and finessing, to those who are struggling, to those who are thriving, and to those who this is a completely new idea to! We work with a variety of dressage, show, working equitation, event and showjump riders who all find this philosophy so very valuable.

Limited positions available, with 50 minute private lessons at $125 including venue hire and tea/coffee facilities. Yards are available at an additional cost. Fence sitters welcome. Please PM us to book your spot.

*** UPDATE *** we realise this date clashed with Equimillions and some other "unconventional breed" events, so have decided to postpone to a later date. We are working on a new plan currently.

31/08/2024

September is birthday month around here, and it’s really only fitting that our Queen is the first to celebrate! Hard to believe we are up to 9 years old, it’s been quite a ride since Sarina arrived as a rather short and squat 2yo to my dancing war horse nearly 7 years on! 🎂🎉

30/08/2024

🦄 Davrol Doolittle 🦄 how beautiful is our resident bundle of joy?

20/08/2024

“To be a Hustler - to be relentless, resourceful, hardworking, a go-getter, determined to succeed”

Back to my favourite selection of “thank you” photos - and this might just be a favourite until the end of time. Through thick and thin my Hustler has given every ounce of determination and fight to overcome what he might feel unsure about to continue to dance and continue to succeed. We find more confidence, s***k and curiosity every day, and we grow stronger together because of it. Truly so blessed to experience connection like this, my heart horse without any question 💓

Now we need this sun to stay shining so Hustler can get back to his Bravery Tour duties! 💪🏼

18/08/2024

👋🏼 Meet the team 👋🏼 – Rio the Rockstar 🕺🏼

Name: Derreen Rock Royale (Rio)

Specs: 17.1hh 2013 gelding by Rockstar out of Derreen Carousel (Contango II) - warmblood

Favourite party trick: fancy footwork is his favourite way to show off!

Best thing to do in my spare time: eat, sleep, dance, repeat 🕺

Snack preference: another of our licorice allsorts fans 🍬

If I had another career: male model (taking applications)

📸 La Bella Vita Photography - Shannon Smith

16/08/2024

There is just so much to love in this bundle of joy! Doc is such a fun character and being that fantastic modern type of athlete, just thrives in his training. Super younger boy with a super future.

15/08/2024

Our wonderful truck Queen Elizabeth the Third (Lizzy DaZuzu for short) loved her TLC from Hunter Mobile Truck Wash last week, ready for her next adventures! Such a shame those adventures have been postponed with the rain this weekend but nonetheless, ready to go next time. Such a fantastic job on our truck and float, thanks Chris.

02/08/2024

Assistant trainer Minnie certainly has a tough gig supporting us in lessons 😻 who doesn’t love finding that perfect spot of winter sun away from the wind though? 🌞

29/07/2024

👋🏼 Meet the team 👋🏼 – His Excellency, Oscar

Name: Skyview Trilogy (Oscar)

Specs: 16.2hh gelding of an age he does not wish to disclose (2005 🤫) by Don Zavier out of Skyview Jess – WB x Clydesdale

Favourite party trick: wooing people with my good looks 💅🏼 and re-enacting the Man from Snowy River through the forest to greet the horse in the arena 🙄

Best thing to do in my spare time: snooze 😴

Snack preference: he’s a licorice allsorts kinda guy 🍭

Ideal career: sitting pretty, maybe cake testing 😂 does quite like his new career as a working equitation star, and the occasional dressage soirée 🕺 after a very successful show hunter career!

25/07/2024

Early childhood education is influenced heavily by the idea of "the absorbent brain" of a young child. Under this thinking, the child absorbs everything for the first 6 or so years of their life. Some say there are three years of "unconscious" absorbing where they (unknowingly) learn to do things like sit, stand, walk, and talk. Then come the "conscious" years, where a child begins to systematically build their basic skills to read, write, move, and solve problems. This stage often comes with a desire for growing independence and provides the child with the building blocks necessary to progress through education and the stages of life.

I see a young horse's journey from birth to under saddle as very similar. I would argue that when a horse is started under saddle, their learning is still "unconscious". With limited understanding of the scenario and expectation, the horse relies heavily on the trainer's direction to learn the “essentials” to being a saddle horse - how to carry a rider and respond to their aids of moving forward, moving away and towards aids, and stopping. Because these are the essentials, like talking, and basic reading and writing for a child, I do not expect the initial starting process to result in a very put-together ride, so contact, responsiveness, straightness, and the like might not be well established.

Until this point, the horse only knows the trainer's way of going. So, when the horse returns home and begins work with a different rider who asks questions differently or expects different answers, the situation can get more complex and confusing for the horse and may leave the horse feeling vulnerable and unsure about what is expected of them. Common consequences of this include shutting down, evasion or even outwards resistance. This leads me to my point of making the most of the horse's now "conscious" absorbent brain. If handled right, this is the most valuable opportunity to develop security in the horse/rider relationship and blend what the horse has learnt in its early days under saddle with what we desire from them before the horse enters their adolescent years.

To achieve this, I find much logic in a two-stage starting process for the horse. The Part A period is dedicated simply to introducing the horse to under saddle work. It is followed by the Part B period, where we finesse and refine the initial education provided to support the horse's transition to their owner's needs/wants. While I do not believe that the Part A trainer needs to be experienced in the horse's potential career, given the more open focus of goals when starting, I do believe it is essential that the person who carries out Part B understands the Part A process. This enables the rider to provide the horse with the aids and expectations they understand from Part A and continue the learning process with a systematic, very consistent approach to building Part B results.

This post was originally written in 2022, and came to mind following working with "Hercules" (pictured), a 5yo Shire gelding standing at 17hh. Hercules had been under saddle for a couple of months at the time, with his initial starting period followed by some time under saddle back home with his owner/breeder, who worked collaboratively with me to build their relationship. To solidify this work and introduce some more 'dressage' building blocks for his future career, Hercules then spent the last 4 weeks training at MPH. Our focus was on creating a more connected, flowing, and responsive horse through an understanding of contact, proprioception and body softness and refining the aids he understands. Hercules was well enjoyed by his owner/breeder, before being sold to a wonderful performance home last year to commence his competition career.

www.moonbah.com.au

📸 La Bella Vita Photography - Shannon Smith

23/07/2024

👋🏼 Meet the team 👋🏼 – His Royal Highness, the Hustler 😎

Name: Hustler SP (Hustler)

Job title: my OG, the Golden Boy (however Golden Boys shouldn’t have to work, only play)

Specs: 17hh 2014 gelding by Tribulation (AQHA) out of Don't Rulerout (ASB) - dual registered AQHA & PHAA

Favourite party trick: will show you his piaffe work at any given opportunity. Current brag is nailing the passage work before his sister who actually needs to know it 🙄

Best thing to do in my spare time: cause my sister grief, sometimes get her in trouble for ripping her own rugs (IYKYK) 😈

Snack preference: will do anything for Hygain Smoochies 😇

If I was a human, I would be: a good looking surfer boy with luscious locks, a questionable lifestyle, an unknown number of girls in tow and probably relying on a trust fund to pay for it all 😅🥃

Achievements he will always remind you of: all the times he brought home the flowers 💐 the 2019 PHAA Ange Peters Memorial National Grand Champion Hack holds a special place in our hearts 💝

📸 his personal paparazzi, labellavitaphotographynsw

22/07/2024

Our unicorns never last very long 🦄 we are thrilled for Hughie to have found a perfect home, going to the first caller who was on the phone to me within less than an hour of his ad going live, beating the next dozen people (literally) who had all their questions answered and were ready to book viewings and jump on planes! Congratulations to all connections, we can't wait to follow this new partnership across the dressage and working equitation arenas.

❓ looking for assistance in selling your horse? We offer a professional sales service as a part of our training programs, delivering outcomes constantly above owner expectations to well vetted homes only. Please contact us if you would like to discuss this service.

20/07/2024

Who's who on the MPH competition team? Let me introduce you to our crew – first up none other than Her Majesty The Queen 👑

Name: Prima Donna SP (Sarina)

Job title: The Queen 👑 (the only appropriate way to address her)

Specs: 16.3hh 2015 mare by Tribulation (AQHA) out of Don't Rulerout (ASB) - dual registered AQHA & PHAA (our little quarter horse who surely can 💪🏼)

Favourite party trick: Changes. Everywhere. All the time. 💃🏼

Best thing to do in my spare time: eat 🤩

Snack preference: the entire Smorgasbox 😎

Most loved side hustle: working equitation under her pseudonym Lightening McQueen 🏎 (speed demon often overridden by her perfectionist approach to training), and she does love a good modeling gig 😉

📸 Ev Lagoon Photography

12/07/2024

SOLD to the first caller - who was on the phone to me within an hour of Hughie’s ad going live! Huge interest on Hughie, thank you everybody and congratulations to all connections 🍾👏🏼🥳

🦄 Schoolmaster Type Dressage Gelding 🦄

➡ 16.2hh Thoroughbred Gelding
➡ Chestnut with plenty of flashy white (two socks and a blaze)
➡ 10-year-old (November 2013)
➡ Training Novice/early Elementary dressage work, as well as lots of outings and other experience

Hughie is one of those super friendly, down to earth horses that loves his people and loves his job and just has so much to offer to his rider. A real stable favourite with a fabulous well rounded education background. He is established at Novice level and is a super simple and fun ride. He is happily working through the early Elementary work like the shoulder in and starting walk changes with plenty of aptitude to go further – he understands lateral work quickly and is very generous in working out what his rider is asking of him. Nicely shaped paces and outline with very little rider input, his uphill canter is a real highlight. He has been out and about plenty over the years, including dressage competitions, pony club outings, a bit of jumping, indoor and outdoor arenas and so on.

We have been involved in Hughie’s journey since his owner bought him from Victoria in early 2023, as the horse to get her back into the saddle after a prolonged break with a young family, work commitments and so on. From the very beginning of bringing Hughie back into work for his owner to take over, right through to him transitioning to his owner’s care, we have found Hughie to be a very patient and kind horse who strives to please and get the answer right. He settles into new places quickly and requires no work down or lunging (even after time off and having his first ride here in an underwater arena – video further down our page). He couldn’t care less about farm machinery/my rogue arena cats/my exuberant Dachshund launching at the fence barking/the subsequently erratic birds in the aviary next to the arena/the feed bag literally blowing into us from over the fence in major winds/splashing through puddles (you get the point – he is sensible and oh so reliable). He has done a marvellous job of getting his owner back in the saddle and has enabled her to prepare to move onto a higher-level WB, which has led to the difficult choice to sell Hughie as she does not have time for multiple horses.

We think Hughie would be a very reliable dressage mount for an AOR, or a wonderful interschools or pony club type horse for a keen young rider. Although we have focused on his dressage training, we think he would be very happy doing a little bit of everything as he has done a bit of jumping in his initial retraining program and with his previous owner plus very regularly out and about at PC grounds – we would have tested the jumping side of things as I know you all love that, but it is just too wet here right now. He is a no fuss type horse who is far from rocket science and will be fine with a less experienced or out of practice rider under the appropriate guidance. The “best” rider for him I believe would be someone who rides quietly (more in their energy than anything), but this is not a must, he is very patient working with his rider to find that sweet spot.

Please contact us by PM or one of the options below for further information etc.

💰 $12k
📸 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nel8tXtvDqc
📍 Quorrobolong NSW
📞 0438 137 231
📩 [email protected]

10/07/2024

The imaginary cow phenomenon 🐮👻 and why you shouldn’t continue to train on top of it

Huge kudos to the person creative enough to add a cow to this already rather hilarious photo of my big and (at the time) not so brave Hustler who was sure the flower pots were going to jump out and eat him alive 😱 but of course there was no cow, and of course the flower pots were entirely safe… they were simply the straw that broke the over stimulated and over pressurised horse’s composure and made him have to tell me how much he just wanted to get out of that arena.

And fair. Hustler was very rightly over stimulated, over pressurised, and had a very low tolerance for dealing with that. His spooks and shies and impressive turn on the haunches were all “flight responses” that had become so engrained in his body that he felt the need to reach for them every single day by partway through last year, because there were factors going on in his body and mind that made him feel that vulnerable in his life that he just wanted to run away from it all. I just couldn't seem to make progress on what they were despite a very intensive management program. These are the same reason horses develop flight habits of bucking or rearing in their work, or fight habits of not going forward, kicking at the rider, reefing the contact and so on: they want to get away from some mental or physical discomfort.

When I finally found out what those factors were and began dealing with them, his flight response slowly dissolved, his curious mind returned, fright was replaced by playful, and he learnt to stay with me when he became unsure. Sure, a lot of creativity and thinking outside the box mentally got him to this point, but only due to ticking away at identifying and solving these last teeny tiny niggling complexities that continued to bother him post-accident. No, it wasn’t easy, no, I couldn’t find the answer in the avenues I would normally find it in. Yes, I had many people telling me it was just bad behaviour, an entitled horse, or to just retire him because he obviously didn't want to do it anymore (although retirement was the next step if we fell short of an answer). Yes, we ended up working with 3 different body workers, 3 different vets, nutritionalists and an overhaul of the saddle situation all at once… but it took all those minds thinking together and chipping away within their own specific frameworks to find our holistic solution and create change for Hustler.

Here’s the lesson out of this: don’t ride on top of the over stimulated horse just because you can “stick out” whatever their flight or fight response is (shying, bucking, rearing, bolting, jacking up and so on - I grew up with this mentality of I can just sit it out, and that is not okay, nor safe for rider or horse). This is not the level your horse wants to be operating at. Don’t try to develop a horse on top of nervousness or high energy (that is also not their normal level). Don’t add so much pressure that they have to give you a negative reaction. Don’t just discipline them negatively for their naturally born instinct to flee when they are scared and unconfident and expect it to go away (they will only shut down more). Do help them trust you to let you show them the way. Do install coping skills from the ground to help them return to a normal energy level. Do give them opportunities to be a clown and rediscover the fun in life. Do investigate the cause. Don’t take “no reason” as an answer, keep looking, keep seeking different opinions, keep plugging in new options until you find the reason. Do encourage them to tell you they are concerned about something, and in doing so, do teach them that the right way to do that is slow down (or stop calmly) and stay with you, so that you can help them investigate what the problem is. Encourage their curiosities, teach them to explore the unknown and not flee from it.

I do not believe that horses instinctively want to act out against their humans, they do it out of desperation. I fully accept there are times when a horse is fresh and they make poor and exuberant decisions, and I also fully acknowledge that sometimes the rider carries the burden that causes the overstimulation/over pressurisation! It is a two-way street but please, if you are being handed chronic flight or fight responses from your horse, be the change for them and seek out a better way.

09/07/2024

❗ Working Student Position (August to December) ❗

Moonbah Performance Horses is a boutique dressage training stables in Quorrobolong (Hunter Valley NSW) that offers a variety of training, competition, sales, performance rehabilitation and coaching services to dressage and performance riders/studs. We practice a holistic biomechanical approach to our training, aiming always to develop happy, healthy and confident horses in our training. We generally have between 6 and 10 horses in work depending on our competition schedule, weather considerations and coaching/clinic schedules, and oversee a couple of others on the property.

Due to my current team’s circumstances having to adapt around increased study commitments and (non-work related) injury, we have decided to offer an aspiring, keen, dedicated and like-minded dressage or performance rider the chance to join our fun team as a working student/groom. For the right person, work for our team will be complimented with training and coaching opportunities, familiarisation with competition from a local level right through to National competition, and connections across the dressage, show and working equitation disciplines.

Here's what we have in mind:
➡ 3 days per week, 7am start through to 11-12:30pm pending horse numbers, with some flexibility to assist with feed up/property management/horse handling for appointments both on weekdays and weekends around competition/teaching commitments. Looking at Monday, Tuesday and Thursday but can discuss a little bit/look at a 2 day option.
➡ Employed on a paid casual basis, on an initial term from August through to December, with potential opportunity to extend beyond this depending on our current staff’s circumstances. Exact dates to be determined.
➡ You will be expected to fulfill a groom position, which will include preparing horses before and after being ridden, cleaning gear, other general stable chores, competition grooming, and some feed runs and stable/yard/paddock cleaning (feeding a mix of weekdays and weekends around competition/teaching commitments)
➡ A variety of training opportunities will be provided to you as a part of your employment package, with a major focus on horse management skills, developing training and rehabilitation plans, groundwork (basic through to more advanced dressage work in hand), lunging (basic through to double lines/long reining) and competition preparation skills. There is the potential for some riding for the perfect applicant in time.

Our ideal person will be an experienced and mature horse person who is comfortable handling large (and often young) performance horses in a calm manner, with experience grooming/managing/training your own competition/performance horses. Very good attention to detail, communication and presentation is essential.

If this is of interest to you, please reach out to us by our page, email ([email protected]) or give me a call on 0438 137 231. A resume of your experience, including references (such as from previous employers, coaches or fellow riders), and so on will be required. We are a small team and the right person with the right attitude and approach to work is crucial.

Please note there is no accommodation available, however agistment and/or training packages for one horse can be discussed.

07/07/2024

Happy Monday! May our week be filled with sunshine, dry ground and our favourite unicorns to laugh and train with 🦄 …and if all else fails, add indoor arenas to that list ☔️

📸 La Bella Vita Photography - Shannon Smith

01/07/2024

How many horses can move properties, change riders, be brought out in a miserably cold, wet and windy morning after a little time off, and absolutely nail their first ride in a slightly underwater arena without so much as a lunge? Our dearest Hughie can 😎 if you missed out on Boris you might want to keep an eye out for Hughie hitting the market!

Address

Quorrobolong, NSW
2325

Telephone

0438137231

Website

http://www.moonbah.com.au/

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Videos

There is just so much to love in this bundle of joy!

There is just so much to love in this bundle of joy! Doc is such a fun character and being that fantastic modern type of athlete, just thrives in his training. Super younger boy with a super future.

Assistant trainer Minnie certainly has a tough gig supporting us in lessons 😻 who doesn’t love finding that perfect spot of winter sun away from the wind though? 🌞

A little hill work bliss to round out the week 🌞

Our beautiful gem “Boris” (aka Views Equus) headed off to Victoria with his totally besotted new best friend today 😇 Boris has been the most delightful horse to bring along, and he earned himself a very very special place in my heart with his own incredible heart! It has been bitter sweet preparing him to go, but this was one of those moments when a horse makes very clear they have found their very special human so we are so happy for him today. Finding special humans for special horses is one of the best things I can bring to any horse’s life 🥰 goodluck Boris and Ella and I cannot wait to follow your journey together! Congratulations to all connections on a quick sale, done and dusted interstate in less than a week!

Little break from the Sarina Show 😉 my BFG Rio straight in from the paddock

Little break from the Sarina Show 😉 my BFG Rio straight in from the paddock after a quiet few weeks of family weddings/competitions/life, and what a feeling! We have been experiencing a huge change in Rio’s performance and confidence since the arrival of his new Erreplus Connect WR this year - thank you Performance Saddlefits MNC & Hunter NSW 🙏🏼

One last dance for now with our beautiful Elias of Terarossa, who headed home to his absolutely besotted owner for the first time this afternoon. After selling Eli on behalf of my long time client, it was so rewarding to be able to spend a couple of months with Eli on behalf of his new owner to continue his education and build their partnership together. Finishing our time together on a high with 2 scores post 70% and a big smile on everybody’s faces! Thanks Eli 💛🖤 and thank you to Tamsin for accompanying us at the last minute!

How lucky am I to have been involved in the training of this wonderful horse from the start? Eli has been under my guidance since a rather green 4 year old who really struggled with the forward and light buttons with no canter concept (as is the case with many of his type while they learn to use their bodies correctly), and now to look at him, an uber strong, motivated and elastic 6yo with the power and control to do anything anywhere, is just so rewarding! Grateful for his owners for supporting his journey with us 🙏🏼 Special thank you to Performance Saddlefits MNC & Hunter NSW for working with us to create the perfect saddle for Eli - no surprises he chose the Erreplus Connect WR 😉 it’s been a real level up for his performance.

Thanks 2023, and we are so ready to tackle 2024 head on! 🍾🥂 #livingthedream so many incredible memories from this year 🙏🏼

Is Bosie not the perfect fairytale pony 🧚‍♀️🥰 Bosie arrived to me from Queensland as a new purchase for a client for their teenage daughter, they fell in love with Bosie from first sight but it was decided some blending needed to happen between Bosie’s education/fitness and being ready to be managed solely by her teenager. I have loved working with Bosie to bridge this gap and get to know Bosie on their behalf, allowing her to head home to them for the first time with very few unknowns, and a very good understanding between Bosie and her rider. What a perfect way to start a partnership! Can’t wait to follow Bosie and her rider’s progress over the years 🤩😍

This paddock has a collective age of 80, but nobody told them that! I love my oldies 😎💓

Fancy Footwork Friday brought to you by Doc 😎😂

A little training snippet with lovely Iliana our resident ballerina 🦄 I just love riding this mare.

Oh Iliana, I could watch you all day 😍 Iliana is such a pleasure to have in training, and is arguably the best I have sat on as well as having one of the best sensible temperaments. Not only is she an exceptional quality horse in that way, she has proven herself to be just the same at competitions as at home and is super trainable (established in her novice work and taking to the early elementary work like a duck to water). She is one of those horses with a real “look at me” presence. If you didn’t get it, we love her.

Super proud of this gorgeous mare (Argentille Graciela owned by Argentille Equestrian) and how she has been progressing in her training recently 😎 she has really upgraded the oomph and taken to new concepts like a duck to water (like this being the 3rd time ever working on changes!) #enjoytheride

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Moonbah Performance Horses

Moonbah Performance Horses is a boutique performance stables located in the picturesque Hunter Valley. Moonbah has a vast and rich history in many avenues of the horse world, with Andalusians, Riding Ponies, Welsh Ponies, Quarter Horses and Paints gracing our property for over 2 decades. Since rebranding from “Moonbah Andalusians” to “Moonbah Performance Horses” in 2010, Simone and Olivia Palfreyman have worked tirelessly to train, and breed, the best our country has to offer. Our foundation mares have been hand-picked from Royal and national winners circle and bred to world class bloodlines. The result? Exquisitely bred horses that look the part, move the house down and love their people.

As competitors, Simone and Olivia have spent many years successfully competing at a National level. Some of Simone’s highlights include holding National Champion Titles at the Australian Andalusion National Championships, as well as her incredible years spent with Navaho Twilight Time, including being named the Overall High Point PHAA Hack, National Champion Open Hack at PHAA Nationals, as well as many other National and State Titles, and Sydney Royal places. Following in her mother’s footsteps, Olivia has found her way across AQHA and PHAA National competition fields since 2010. Since then, Olivia has been a regular face in the Non-traditional English (dressage and show riding) winners circle with horses including Navaho Twilight Time, Slide on By, HL That’s Gold, and most recently Hustler SP. In a short 12 months, Olivia has bought Hustler on to be named the 2018 AQHA Nationals Overall High Point Non-Traditional English Horse, the 2018 PHAA Nationals Overall High Point English Horse, the 2018 NSWPHA Overall High Point English Horse and the 2018 NSWPHA Overall High Point Junior Horse. These awards were a recognition of huge success in the dressage and show hunter events. Hustler was named the 2018 AQHA Dressage Horse of the Year, following winning every AQHA and PHAA dressage event entered into over the year.

With the welcoming of Hustler SP came the time for a new era. We cherished this “perfect” dressage purpose-bred quarter horse, and sought out the purchase of his full sister Prima Donna SP to expand our involvement with these lines. With ever growing commitments in University and Work, the decision has had to be made to focus on this bigger side of performance horses. In 2019, our pony stock will be offered for sale to the public. We are sad to end an era, but so very excited to open the avenue of continuing the breeding, training and showing of dressage-bred AQHA and PHAA horses in hopes of changing the face of the discipline within western breeds.

We welcome you to consider our stock and ask any questions you might have along the way. Thank you for reading about our journey.