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Marena Amber Folly, pictured here with
Emma and Gabi Hollows and Lindy Walker, ridden by Keeley. |
Marena Amber Folly
In the early hours
of Monday morning 28tth June 2010, Marena Amber Folly passed away.
She came in for her
nightly feed on Sunday afternoon and began showing signs of distress, it
was apparent that she had colic. The Vet was called and the usual colic
treatment was given for pain relief, fluids etc. At 1:00 am Amber was
sitting up and looking bright and the feeling was, all would be well,
however, it was not to be.
Amber will be
remembered as that eye-catching dark chestnut 11.3 hand pony with a big
blaze and four white stockings. She became a much loved pony and
countless children all over Australia wanted a pony just like her.
Amber Folly was by
the imported Riding Pony, Mr Folly of Kirkwood, who was bred by
well-known New Zealand breeders, Jim & Barbie Herd,
and was out of Aust. Stud Book pony, Merrima Topaz. See Maureen's
recollection below.
Amber was born at
Marena Stud and spent her whole life here - she will be surely missed by
us all .
She was trained by
Lindy and with her delightful nature, she trained quickly and easily.
In 1992 at three years old,
she first began
showing and quickly won performances for Sydney Royal.
With Lindy and a
series of our pupils on her back - Anthea Wood, Glen Taylor, Vanessa
Partridge, Prue Wood and Emma Fitzgerald - there followed many years of
star-studded performances from this diminutive pony.
At
Melbourne Royal in 1992, ridden by Lindy, she won 2
Firsts and Reserve Champion Small Pony, thus qualifying her for the
first Grand National Pony of the Year,
in 1993, which she also won ridden
by Vanessa Partridge. Amber also won Grand National Small Pony of the
Year in 1994 & 1995.
Marena Amber Folly
will best be remembered as the winner of the Grand National Small Pony
of the Year for a record of three consecutive wins with English judges
presiding when Amber was ridden by Vanessa Partridge in 1993 and in 1994 and
1995 by Emma Fitzgerald.
“Thanks you
for the good times Amber, my little mate,” - Lindy |
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Marena Amber Folly was retired to stud in 1996 and mated to various stallions of ours and
so left a great legacy of 8 fillies to carry on her line, 3 have been
retained by Marena Stud.
She has been a great
producer, delivering 10 foals in 13 years including:-
Marena Amber Glow
– (by Weston Sun) - 2 Firsts and Reserve
Champion at Brisbane Royal, Qld Show Hunter of the Year. When owned by the
Higgins Family.
Marena Amber Flare – (by Weston
Sun) - Top five at Grand National in first
Season. Royal winner - first Canberra Royal 2009 and 2010.
Marena Amber Dawn – (by Weston
Sun) - currently owned by Willowcroft Stud.
Marena Amber Dream – (by Marena
Legende) - Champion Show Hunter Pony, Hobart
Royal.
Marena Trade Winds – (by Sun
Puff (imp)) - Won 8 Firsts and 4 Champions in his
first five shows. He has been a great child’s pony for the Coggan
Family of Queensland.
Marena Amber Image – (by Marena
Sky Chief) - Sold at our ‘End of an Era’ Auction
to the Forsythe Family.
Marena Amber Whispers – (by
Marena Sky Chief) - A fabulous looking foal –
retained as a broodmare – due to foal 2010 to Kolbeach Royal Print.
Marena Amber Wish – (by Cedar
Lodge Konrad) - A stylish 11.2 hh bay filly at
present in training and she will show in the spring.
Marena Amber Surprise – (by
Cedar Lodge Konrad) - Died from an injury.
Marena Amber Gift
– (by Cedar Lodge Konrad) - This is
Amber’s last “gift” to us, a dark brown absolute beauty, we will show her when
the time comes.
Maureen recalls:-
“Many years ago a friend told me of
the long established Merrima Australian Pony Stud that through unfortunate circumstances was closing down
and selling all their ponies. The message was that these ponies were all going
to the local sale on Friday. I knew what that meant so Bruce and I went to
rescue what we could of all this good old pony breeding. They had all been
running wild for years, most were unhandled so we took the cattle truck to load
them on and that meant we could rescue 10 ponies.
Mustered in the hills the
herd of ponies ran into the yard manes and tails flowing and eyes wide.
Gradually we chose the best ones for our ten. One flashy young mare kept
running past us, dark chestnut with silver mane and tail, big blaze and 4 white
stockings. Everywhere I turned there she was rushing past.
The old gentleman who owned
the ponies kept saying “Take her!” - “What about this one?”
“No, I do not want all that colour in my horses”, I replied.
But relentlessly she kept
running close to me as the count mounted and we searched for the next one to go
on the truck, but at last I said, “We’ll take her.”
It was probably one of the
best decisions I have ever made because as you no doubt have guessed she was to
become Amber’s mum.
Maureen
Photos
If anyone has good photos or footage of Amber winning any of her three Grand
National titles we would appreciate copies as we do not have any good photos or
footage of those events.
Many messages of condolence are being received,
the following seems to display how this wonderful little mare was respected.
Dear Aunty Mau, Uncle Bruce and Lindy,
How sorry I am to hear you lost the gorgeous Amber Folly. I feel blessed
that I was able to get to know such a wonderful mare, who's beauty flowed so
much deeper than her exquisite conformation and looks. Her truly loving heart
could be seen in her temperament and her beauty still evident in her older
years. There are only a handful of horses that you a can trust with your life,
she was one. Funny enough...if I think of this trust-worthy list, 99% are Marena
bred or trained!!
Lindy, you did a magnificent job breeding, breaking and training such a
grounded, trust-worthy horse with an amazing loving nature and the show world
will never see another like her. Well done to you, one of your finest
achievements.
She was a beautiful soul.
She was sweet.
She was funny!
and She was a great friend. xxx
Lots of love to you all
Kristie Morris
5th July 2010
N.B.- Kristie trained and
worked with us for eight years - her two lovely children, Ellie and
Anna, did many shows with us riding our ponies.
Home
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Marena
Amber Folly - having won her second Grand National in 1994. She
was ridden by our pupil, Emma Fitzgerald in both 1994 and 1995.
Marena
Amber Dream 
Marena
Trade Wind - Purchased by Amanda Marfleet and reluctantly sold to
the Coggan family before her return to England. He is
Marena
Amber Gift