Riding on my first purebred Arabians, I was impressed with the stamina, surefootedness, energy and personality of these horses. It was so much fun to ride them on the trails! The Arabian horse got my full attention and I researched the breed further. I learned that Australia has a lot of Arabians and that they are not only show Arabians. In Europe my perception was that Arabians are more known as show horses, not so much horses for riding. I also found out that the Australian-bred Arabians have a very good reputation in the international competitive endurance world and I became interested in endurance riding. So I learned that Arabian horses are beautiful, have lots of energy and stamina and cope well with the Australian climate. I would not want to have it any other way. My horses are the best employees I could wish for, they show up for work every single time, they make people happy, they can fly and give people an amazing holiday experience. I like to believe that my Arabian horses are proud ambassadors for the breed. A few of the horses in particular move like you are on a cloud. I personally like that best about my horses: they give the rider the feeling that running up those hills is effortless and easy and fun. David Gillett: How do you select horses for your team? Kathy Holtrust: When I started to look around to buy Arabian horses in Australia I
My horses are the best employees I could wish for
had no idea where to go. I am reluctant to buy from advertisements and prefer to buy directly from breeders because I want to know the horse’s history. When a horse has had several different owners it can come with bad habits and experiences that are difficult to overcome and make it more complicated for my clients and business. I met Richard Sharman at a friend’s place and I asked him if he knew any suitable Arabian horses for sale (I remember always asking for a ‘quiet Arabian’). Richard wrote some names and phone numbers on a piece of paper and one of the names was Rosemary McCullough from Romac Arabians. Rosemary had a five-year-old chestnut Arabian gelding named Charlie. Charlie was the first Arabian I bought, together with the charismatic Manni who was also available. That was the start of a long-standing friendship. Now almost 15 years later, seven of my ten Arabian horses come from this same breeder. Rosemary breeds strong boned Arabian saddle horses with a mixture of English and Egyptian bloodlines. Almost all my horses are Ralvon Pilgrim descendants. I love my Arjai Summit son and daughter and grandson and granddaughter. Arjai Summit was known as the ‘Moving Machine’. My Arjai Summit descendants are good types, have amazing big movement and are fantastic riding horses.
The breeder of my Andalusian horse made a remark when I told her I have Arabians for my business: ‘How can you use Arabians for this business? They are way too intelligent. They will work out the people in no time and get all the bad habits.’ There are two non-Arabians (one retired and one working), which are bigger, more solid and strong horses, who can carry more weight. Heavy riders meant that something more solid was needed and I initially got a Quarter Horse cross who is now retired and was replaced by a 16.2 hand Andalusian/ Thoroughbred cross. However, although this horse is strong, he struggles with the heat, humidity and high paced longer sections of the rides. His recovery rate is always a lot slower than the Arabs who just bounce back after a long gallop. David Gillett: What kind of feedback do you get from your clients at the end of their time at Southern Cross Horse Treks? Kathy Holtrust: I used to worry what the clients would think of the horses but now I know that everybody is always amazed by the quality of the horses, how easy they are, how responsive, how fit, how much fun. Additionally, some of my horses are ridden in a bitless bridle, which most Europeans are unfamiliar with, so that always impresses them too. Of course Arabian lovers love the horses, but even the people who had no previous experience with the breed are pleasantly surprised. Many people still have the stereotypical belief that Arabians are flighty, nervous horses. Some just fall in love with the breed after their experiences here. My favourite piece of feedback is from a New Zealand newspaper article, written by a horse-riding guest/journalist: ‘The Arab horses of the Lorne Valley are forward going Lamborghinis of the equine species.’ Last year a very nice group of Americans came for a horse tour. One of them, a 71-year-old veterinarian, was thinking about getting a new horse because she needed to soon retire her Morgan horse and she was not sure what kind of horse to get. Only a few weeks after the horse tour she emailed me some pictures of her new black Arabian gelding!
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