Looking after thoroughbreds beyond their working lives and into the twilight years requires a high level of commitment, but when it’s a thoroughbred who changed your life, the exercise becomes a labour of love.
Ian Smith and his Edinburgh Park brand have become a well-known fixture at elite Australian yearling sales with a proud record for producing quality stakes horses and expensive yearlings, but all of it started with one mare and that’s Jade Tiara.
She turned 29 this year and while her breeding career is a long way behind her, Jade Tiara remains a much-loved member of the Edinburgh Park family.
“I purchased her in the late 90’s from Neil Godbolt for $8,000 and she was the best I could afford at the time,” recalled Ian Smith.
“She was a lovely roomy mare and had a ton of ability, but no Black Type as such.”
Her first foal was Silent Witness, who turned out to be the world champion sprinter of his time and was twice crowned Hong Kong Horse of the Year. His achievements put Edinburgh Park on the map and Jade Tiara’s subsequent foals laid the foundations for a highly successful commercial breeding operation to evolve.
“She changed my life and it’s nice to stop and say hello to her sometimes and give her that little bit of love she deserves. Life can get pretty busy and you can forget how special a horse like Jade Tiara is. She will always hold a special place in my life… horses can have that effect on you,” Smith confessed.
Since retiring from active stud duty, Jade Tiara has taken on the role of nanny for the farm’s weanling fillies and Smith believes that is what keeps her young in the mind and physically active despite her advancing years, “Every year there will always be one filly that gravitates to her and Jade always makes sure the other dominant fillies don’t pick on her. She enjoys her life and all of our loyal staff know how important she is, so we take special care of her.”
Jade Tiara is rugged during winter, has regular farrier attention for her front feet which are kept shod and is on arthritis treatment, while in the summer months she always wears a fly veil as she lost an eye a few years ago, so all efforts are made to keep her comfortable.
The deeds of Cox Plate winner Anamoe this spring in taking his record to seven G1 wins up until his spring 4YO season have put him in elite company with the only other horses achieving the feat in the past 40 years being Octagonal, Bonecrusher and Weekend Hussler. (read more here)
While Octagonal and Bonecrusher are no longer with us, Weekend Hussler is very much enjoying his retirement years as an 18 year-old nanny at Edinburgh Park.
“Weekend Hussler came to live at Edinburgh Park when I first met the late Ross McDonald at the Inglis Easter sales,” Smith explained.
“Weekend Hussler had just been retired and Ross and his wife Margaret came up to the farm and fell in love with the place and our unique caring love for all of our horses.
“I have never charged for his care, it has been an honour to have him come and live on the farm and a pleasure to know his owners were content in the knowledge ‘the Huss’ had a home for life.
“Still to this day we keep in contact with Margaret and her son Clinton sharing pics and it’s fair to say we have formed an ongoing bond through the care and love of ‘the Huss’.”
Arthritis treatment and good farrier care are key to keeping Weekend Hussler in top shape and he shares nannying duties for the colts on the farm with 23 year-old Magic Marvo, a two time stakes-winner that was also bred and sold by Edinburgh Park before returning home in retirement.
“The Huss and Magic Marvo have formed a great partnership looking after the lively lads in the paddock. They have their quirks and bad habits, but all is forgiven when you remember how much they have done for people, it’s not just about financial reward, it’s about love of the animal.
“Talking about these horses brings back the desire and the passion for why we first started and why this will always be in my blood. What really matters is the care and the love of the horse.”
