October 24, 2024
Taromeo rider Kelly Thurley has taken out two major awards at the recent Queensland Pinto State Championships at Laidley.
Kelly has owned the seven-year-old gelding “Kilfeera The Lion Prince” (aka “Lion”) since he was a yearling but only began competing with him this year.
The pair took out Reserve Champion Led Pinto and Champion Under Saddle at a competition at Redcliffe earlier this year; and Led Champion Pinto and Reserve Champion Ridden Gelding at the All-Breeds Spectacular at Burpengary.
At the State Championships at Laidley, they won the Champion Pinto Under Saddle trophy as well as the Champion Hunter trophy.
Kelly said Lion was technically an “F1 Drum” heavy horse, ie. 50 per cent Gypsy and 50 per cent Clydesdale.
The “pinto” tag refers to his colouring, which is also 50/50.
I love Pintos, and have a few on my place … they are so unique. This horse is absolutely gorgeous, and great to see him competing with success and flying the flag for the coloured horses. Note… pinto patterns are not always 50/50, they can be a huge variety of patterns from almost all white to almost all coloured. Pinto is a colour pattern and not a breed, that’s why you can find them anywhere, from Miniature horses to Arabians to Heavy horses to Western horses, so there is one to suit everyone’s lifestyle.