Earaheedy Sophie ~ Update
Just a quick note to let all of Sophie’s fans know how this amazing young mare is doing. Rescued as a young foal with her half sister Lilly in 2005, these two orphans nearly died but were saved by Sheila and Ross Quartermaine. Four years on, both mares have knee problems from being physically compromised (drought and starvation) so early in life, but these days both are doing just fine.
Sophie, the smaller and more emotionally traumatised of the two (although she’s thought to be the oldest!), had two years of “therapy” and treatment to bring her out of herself, but today she is a healthy, happy and very opinionated young mare who this month bought her owner, Elizabeth, much joy when she was – after much essential ground work – finally put under saddle and ridden for the first time.
Sophie accepted everything in her calm and sensible stride, almost smiling herself and providing many smiles for Elizabeth and trainer Kevin. Weary Dunlop, another rescued horse being trained outside the round yard at the time, got more of a fright from seeing Elizabeth sit on top of Sophie than Sophie did! In fact Sophie didn’t care a bit, she just responded quite contentedly to her cues, much to Weary’s amazement. (Your turn will come Weary!)
It’s a real testament to Sophie’s gentle, intelligent nature that she has come through in the way she has, after such a difficult start to life.
She will only ever be ridden “softly” as a hack, due to her knock knees, but she will be ridden, as she loves something to do and loves her walks in the bush.
She will also, later this year, have a chance to see if she wants to become a broodmare. Elizabeth thinks she’ll probably take quite happily to that too!