23/05/2025
A great read from Radincon Vets Choice Award winner Kiana Nutting of her 2025 Tom Quilty ride:
Acaciavej Schumi ~ Qualified, completed another 80km, and then with over 950kms of training under his belt he went on to complete his first 160.🏆
Even better, his first 160 was our first Quilty buckle!
And this all occurred within 5 months🙈
I’ve never felt more privileged to love and partner a horse. Raelene, it certainly wouldn't be possible without you.💕
We had a great midnight start, but most of the day was far from smooth. After the chaos of the other 140 horses with headlights, and only wanting to chase down whatever horse was in front of us, Schumi wouldn’t drink on the first leg, which kicked off 3 legs of metabolic issues. On the third leg, I was told (by strapper extraordinaire) to stay in for an extra 10 - 20 minutes until he was done eating and drinking. Then came the challenge of getting him out the gate again🙄
But as the rest of the day went on, letting him stop whenever he wanted to eat or drink, or even have a walk break, his metabolics improved drastically, and we ended up finishing the last leg with more A's and 1's than what we started with.
Sunday morning - along with our buckle and completion prizes - we were honoured to be awarded the 'Radincon Vet's Choice' award(Thankyou Radincon - Specialist Medical Imaging) because of how well he had bounced back from the B's, and in the words of the head vet, he finished looking better than what he did at the start.
There are so many thankyous to be given;
•My dad, for being the best strapper one could ask for, and for everything you do for us leading into any ride(especially for being an awesome-sauce farrier)❤
•My mum for everything she does for Schumi, from food management to training planning, and even riding him when I can't fit it in. And I'm so glad you weren't there strapping for us, and instead having the ride of a lifetime and gaining your long awaited Quilty buckle❤
•Carolyn, I most certainly would not have achieved what I have without you and Mustang. I will forever be grateful for you💗
•Asha and Angela, for jumping in to help strap, and for the encouragement going out on the final leg. You are both deeply invaluable, and I'm very grateful for the help and advice you both gave us💗
•Georgie for being my rock all day, even if you weren't there at all times, I definitely could not get through my mental blocks without you.❤
And a massive Thankyou to Gaylene from Performance Saddlefits North Tasmania and Horse Hands Equine Massage Therapy. Your magic hands and buckets of knowledge have been amazing with keeping Schumi's body happy, and helping us sort his saddlefit. Thankyou will never feel like enough💗
Oh and Schumi, my favourite being in the entire universe, I thankyou for healing my broken little heart and for helping me achieve the biggest dream of them all. You buddy are one true champion💙
📸 Georgie
📸 Roger
📸 Angela
📸 Sarah Sullivan Photography
