RAMBLERS PICK ANOTHER (IMP)

Sect 1 Stallion and also reg: A.S.H.
14.1hh
Sire: Peveril Pickwick - Dam: Hinchelsea Princess
Owned by James Family

The story of ‘Picka’………………
‘Picka’ joined the James family of Jarosite stud, Barwon Downs, Victoria in 1978, his beautiful nature and versatility ensured a lifelong partnership.

He was selected for the ‘Ironbarks’ partnership of James and Jackson by Alison Charlton whilst on a trip to England in the late 70s. He was successfully shown in the UK and throughout his showing career in Australia under the guiding hand of alison James. He achieved all anyone could wish for and much more. Competing in New Forest, open galloway and Stock Horse classes, he consistently proved his class and versatility.

‘Picka’ arrived in Australia in August 1978. He came out of quarantine three weeks before the Melbourne Royal to make his showring debut in Australia. When Alison Charlton saw him at Melbourne, she remarked on his colour – she was sure the pony she selected was a bay! He was of course, but since his arrival had grown his winter coat and looked very black. >br>
The James family became the sole owners of ‘Picka’ in 1985. He was shown and placed at every Melbourne Royal from 1978 to 1985 when he was retired as his son ‘Jarosite Pick Pocket’ had taken over the mantle after being awarded reserve champion of the breed as a two year old. ‘Picka’ made a return to showing , winning champion New Forest exhibit, at the Melbourne Century show in 1990, after ‘Pick Pocket’ was gelded. He also competed at the 1993 and ‘94 Melbourne Summer Royal, he was awarded the championship on both occasions, his daughter ‘Jarosite Antaries’, standing reserve to him in 1994.

He won or was placed in hand or under saddle, at every Royal he competed at. Some of the classes were well supported for New Forest with up to seven stallions or colts in a class. When shown under saddle, ‘Picka’ competed in the open stallion 14 – 14.2. Hands, he won once and was placed third out of the three occasions he competed. This was certainly no mean feat for a Mountain and Moorland pony.

A showing season for him usually included about six agricultural shows as well as the Royal, Stud Show and other breed shows. The agricultural show circuit in western and central Victoria did not always include specific breed classes in their programs. Hence, ‘Picka’ was obliged to compete in the open section for galloway stallions over 14 and not exceeding 15 hands. He never came home without collecting a champion or reserve sash, either led or saddle. He was rarely beaten under saddle and in fact at the Geelong agricultural show, the only occasion he was defeated in the saddle stallion over 14 hands, was by the Warmblood stallion, Granada. Later the show society introduced a saddle class for those of galloway height, from which ‘Picka’ retired, undefeated. This was quite an achievement, as he always had to compete against the elegant Riding Pony, and good bone was no longer fashionable.

‘Picka’ was a pioneer for the New Forest pony over the 14 hand mark in height, and in the earlier years of competing in the New Forest pony ring, the regular comment by judges was ‘ we love him [Picka], but prefer a pony type’. In the galloway ring, it was the reverse, ‘we love this ‘pony’ but prefer a small thoroughbred type’. He was retired from the showring at 18 years of age, after winning champion New Forest exhibit at the Melbourne Summer Royal and the APSB Victorian Stud Pony Show.

During his earlier years, ‘Picka’ also competed in unofficial ODEs when stallions were allowed to compete. He was only unplaced on one occasion when some mares were left to graze at the venue Koombahla Park, in Ocean Grove. After jumping the 3 foot stone wall, he spotted the mares, kicked up his heels with a whoopee and taking Alison totally by surprise, unceremoniously dumped her. Before nicking off, he looked down at her sitting on her backside, as if to say, ‘sorry but I’ll just inspect this lot, thank you’! Mother took off on foot, not towards daughter, but to rescue the stallion!. By this time, ‘Picka’ had herded up the mares, and, as he was used to hand serve only, when Wendy called to him, he waited for her to come and catch him. This small interlude caused many broad grins and appropriate remarks from onlookers!

Alison picked herself up and was absolutely furious at ‘Picka’s’ indiscretion. On mounting, she was advised to show caution but the indignity of having a fall had her blood up!. They completed the course safely and as they had made up enough time to score plenty time faults but NOT be eliminated, they were able to continue and jumped a clear round in the show jumping.

He had wins over heights of 2 feet, 2’6” and 3 feet, he usually finished on his dressage score and his wins were for both dressage and overall. He was very versatile, on one occasion he competed at Hetesbury show for a win in the ridden stallion over 14 hands and reserve champion led stallion over 14 hands. He then competed in the 2’9” ODE at Scotts Creek the next day, winning both the dressage and overall sashes. He was the only pony to compete in the event, not too many horses or ponies would be capable of achieving what ‘Picka’ did.

‘Picka’ was consistently placed first or second in his Dressage and Activity events at the Victorian Stud Pony Show and on one occasion with 98 points, won the trophy for the highest activity score. Unfortunately, during his years of competition at the Stud Show, the showjumping section had not been included on the program. He collected many awards in the ridden Mountain and Moorland classes at the Stud Shows, Royals and other shows. On one occasion, he was ridden by Gillian Elwes, a close friend of the family and the substitute rider when Alison wasn’t available. Unfortunately, at the precise time she was to work out, she suffered a massive nosebleed. As her hands were otherwise occupied with hanky’s etc., she rode using her seat and legs, ‘Picka’ responded perfectly. They duly won the class and Gill’s comment ‘isn’t he the perfect gentleman’ was very apt.

Gill was responsible for overseeing much of ‘Picka’s’ early education under saddle and after having been involved with thoroughbreds, Arabs and the Olympic Team, thought of ‘Picka’ with his kind and generous nature as her ‘fun pony’.

This same pony was equally at home droving sheep, moving cattle, competing in the showring or just bush riding. He was always attuned to the person riding him, be it Alison or the ‘aged mother’, as Wendy refers to herself! ‘Picka’ and Alison had a very special relationship. Following her accident and her time with ‘Goldtop’, the wonderful New Forest pony selected for her return to riding, it was very difficult to find a pony suitable for the next step. Many she tried, hurt her back [the wheelchair was still very present in her mind], Gillian and Wendy were sure ‘Picka’ would be the right one, but it took some time to convince Alison. The rest is history, as they proved to be a terrific combination and their relationship was something very special. He was ever the gentleman, striding out like the 16.2 hander he thought he was with Alison or Gillian, or pottering about with the grandchildren on top. With Wendy, he could be very sober, but with Alison, they could be clowns together, but, no matter what he was doing, he always looked after his rider.

Successful Progeny: ‘Picka’ produced a number of very successful progeny including ‘Jarosite Pick Pocket’ and ‘Liburnam Park Piccadilly’, progeny of the very good producing mare ‘Pahake Rouge’. These ponies have been prolific winners of broad sashes in the showring, the stallion ‘Liburnam Park Piccadilly’ has achieved great success including champion and supreme awards at the Victorian Branch Stud Show, Melbourne Summer royal and major agricultural shows on many occasions, as well as a number of wins in saddle classes.

‘Pahake Mr Pickwick’, ‘Forestway Another Era’, ‘Jarosite Picason’, ‘Forestway Another Edition’ and ‘Jarosite Pictoria’, progeny of another good producing mare, ‘Pahake Royal\ Premiere’, and ‘Jarosite Piccola’ are another very succussful group of ponies by ‘Picka’.

Progeny to excel in the show jumping field are headed by ‘Jarosite Tuart’ [Gumnut], beaten in the final of the Forestway jumping event at Melbourne royal by 1/100 of a second. ‘Ironbarks Berrigan’ grew over height to 14.3.hands, such was his jumping ability, he was exported to Korea. ‘Jarosite Sara Dane’, ‘Rafferty’, ‘Wickam’, ‘Willow’ and the previously mentioned ‘Pick Pocket’ and ‘Antaries’ were all good jumpers. Many of these ponies successfully compete in ODEs as well as show jumping. They also successfully compete at the APSB Victorian Stud Show in the dressage, activity and show jumping events.

‘Jarosite Tuart’ has won the Chandler Award for an APSB gelding gaining the highest points in competition at the Stud Show, the next year, he was beaten by a point by another New Forest gelding, ‘Pahake Banco Bay’, a full brother to the top producing mare, ‘Pahake Rouge’. At the recent Royal Melbourne Show, ‘Jarosite Rafferty’ and his young rider, Victoria Brown, won the Jumping Equitation for riders 12 and 14 years and then took part in the FEI Children’s International Jumping Competition, where they again showed excellent technique over some very large fences and acquitted themselves very well.

Forestway Another Pic – and the next generation. The 1997 foaling season produced another quality drop of foals and as is often in the mind of breeders, ‘will this be the best one yet’. No one would have guessed it was to be ‘Picka’s’ second last crop. As fate would have it, the ‘97 season did produce a good one, a bay colt out of a very good mare in ‘Pahake Royal Premier’. This mare had spent the last seven years to ‘97 with the James Family, on a foal for foal basis with her owners, Jan and Neil McBain of Forestway stud. As the ‘97 foal was to be a Forestway, Wendy and a friend Jenni Fabri quickly made the decision to buy this colt, named ‘Forestway Another Pic’. This little fellow has been described by all who have seen him, as the most like ‘Picka’ ever born at Jarosite. He has the super calm temperament and dignity as well as the looks of his sire. He has plenty of daylight under him and so is expected to make the 14.1 hand mark at maturity. So like his father is ‘Little Pic’ as he’s called, Wendy says, when looking out the window at him standing in the paddock, she could imagine it’s ‘Picka’ himself. He’ll be taken along quietly and who knows what he will achieve in the next twenty year’s or so.

‘Pahake Rouge’, another good mare, produced a full sister in ‘97 to the stallion ‘Laburnam Park Piccadilly’, who has been named ‘Jarosite Picarou’. Somewhat smaller than her brother, she should mature around the 13.2.hand mark, with the elegance of her mother and the stamp of her father. No matter what the mare – in a lineup you can always ‘pick a Picka’!

The death of this ‘Picka’ in June 1997 left the James family and his legion of fans in mourning at his tragic loss. What a legacy he has left, fortunately ‘Pahake Royal Premiere’ dropped one more foal before she returned to Forestway in 1999, giving the James family another ticket in the lottery of pony breeding.

Versatility is the key word in the breed description for a New Forest pony, and through his own endeavours and those of his progeny, ‘Picka’ promoted the breed to the highest standard. The passing of this well performed stallion and sire has left a tremendous void in the lives of his owners, the James family, and to the New Forest pony fraternity. He fulfilled the expectations of all who loved and respected him and in this area, he had many fans.

A special word to close this story on the life and achievements of RAMBLERS PICK ANOTHER comes from Wendy…… “the day ‘Picka’ was put down, and as we walked back across the paddock, ‘Little Pic’ met us at the gate, pushed his nose into my chest and nuzzled me, just as his father used to do. A new arboretum has been planted where ‘Picka’ is buried at the far end of his paddock. ‘Pick Another’ you were something very special, our friend and our mate”