SUNLAND AUSTRALIAN AMBASSADOR, Chestnut stallion, *1984 (Al-Meraine Riff Raff / Campbelltown Harfa)
Breeder: Joyce I. Griffin. Owner: Narelle Kinnear, Nevertire Stud.
Strain: Kehailan Dejani (Dajania, 1876).
The Arabian Horse Society opf Australia is proud to announce that the winner of their 2013 WAHO Trophy is the veteran stallion, Sunland Australian Ambassador. His owner was presented with his award at the 2014 AHSA Annual General Meeting.
Sunland Australian Ambassador [“Fatso” to his friends] has spent almost his whole life as the adored centrepiece of Narelle Kinnear’s small but very active Nevertire Studfarm. There he has sired 25 registered progeny, with a very high percentage becoming successful showhorses like himself. Ambassador in both name and deed, this mighty chestnut stallion has won friends wherever he went, with his mesmerizing appearances in show classes, his superb length of stride, and the fact that he is quite a character, with many quirky stories to his name. At 30 years of age he is very much a senior citizen these days, showing all the appropriate signs of a life very well-lived.
His is a rags to riches story. He was bought by his lifetime owner Narelle Kinnear at a doggers sale during a period of severe drought, with unsigned papers to his name, and very much in need of some ‘tender loving care’. He had rainscald and a shaggy coat but he struck gold that day in his new owner and he would never be thin again! With perseverance his papers were put in order, as Narelle could see the potential there even in its raw state. His pedigree is a rich blend of some of the greatest early Crabbet bloodlines of Australia. He is in fact almost pure Crabbet. His sire, the rangy bay Al-Meraine Riff Raff (Shafreyn/Mutilla), had a long and consistent career in a variety of saddle events including Western, English, Stockhorse, Costume and Hunter Hack classes. His dam, Campbelltown Harfa (Santarabia Navarro / Iraki Mikasa) came from some of Australia’s oldest Crabbet bloodlines preserved by some of Australia’s oldest Arabian studfarms. Put together, this pedigree and its resulting phenotype made for a classically handsome Crabbet stallion, all curves and a big, impressive front, well-proportioned, with substance, bone, a great set of legs with a natural ability to move well, and a high flagging tail to proudly proclaim his breed. He also passes on his superb temperament to his offspring.
He was an eye-catcher from his first appearance as he captured many halter awards on his way to his true calling. He won Australian Arabian Roll of Merit Championships in both Halter and Performance, and a Merit in the Working section, yet he was never over-shown. He had a great trainer in Roger Fitzhardinge, who also rode the talented chestnut in his big events and Finals, while Narelle rode him in regular competition and dressage. He was a multi Supreme “A” and “AA” Grade Champion under saddle, with very solid results too at the Australian Arabian Championships in the years he was entered, competing in Dressage and Stallion Under Saddle. At the Australian Championships he was Australian Champion Elementary Dressage [1993], Reserve Australian Champion Novice Dressage [1993] and Australian Champion Medium Dressage [1996]. He was also Reserve Australian Champion Bridle Path Hack [1993], and Top Ten Stallion Under Saddle [1996]. There were 23 stallions under saddle entered in 1996 and one of the other Top Tens was his son Nevertire Magnum. He was Champion in Medium and Advanced Dressage at the Arabian Saddle Horse Championships of 1997. He was also the Champion Arabian Under Saddle at the East Coast Championships of 1995.
Sunland Australian Ambassador, 2013 WAHO Trophy Winner, Australia
He was also Champion Ridden Stallion at the National Arabian Stud Horse Show of 1992, where he also won the Medium and Advanced Dressage. These were in the days of big fields of impressive ridden stallions. He crowned all this by twice winning the WJB Murphy Memorial Trophy for the Best Ridden Arabian Stallion or Colt at the Sydney Royal Easter Show, in 1993 and 1994. He was the only stallion to have won in consecutive years and he only competed twice. He retired from showing in 1997 but by then his progeny were starting out.
Of course a stallion is twice-judged by history – once for his own prowess, and once more for the progeny he produces. Sunland Australian Ambassador did not disappoint. He reproduced his own considerable attributes in full, with a variety of well-bred Arabian, Thoroughbred and Pony mares.
His Purebred son, the chestnut Nevertire Magnum, was foaled in 1990, out of the mare O’Rhisleanne. Owned by Sue and Tony Warren, his list of wins in shows and dressage is huge. To highlight just a few – Champion Ridden Stallion of the National Arabian Stud Horse Show, Elementary Dressage Horse of the Year NSW 1996, Champion in the East Coast Cup 2001, Reserve Champion East Coast Cup 1997, Australian Champion Novice Dressage 1996, multi-Champion of the Arabian Saddle Horse Championships, who has also competed successfully in endurance.
Then there is Nevertire Baymann, a bay Purebred Gelding [1991 – 2007] out of Seona Bint Sorella. Once again his show career highlights are extensive, although cut short due to injury. He was Champion Bridle Path Hack at the Arabian Saddle Championships of 2001, as well as Champion Ridden Purebred Gelding that same year. He had been winner of the Silver Snaffle for Best Novice Purebred at that Show in 1997. He was Champion Ridden Purebred Gelding at the National Stud Horse Show of 2000. At the Australian Arabian Championships he had Top Tens in Novice and Elementary Dressage, and Ridden Purebred Gelding, as well as Australian Champion Elementary Dressage in 2002.
One of his purebred daughters is the chestnut Nevertire Intrigue, born in 1994 out of Kizmaha’s Alzena. She was Champion Ridden Mare 2002 and 2003 at the National Arabian Stud Horse Show, as well as Winner of the Lillaine Gedye Trophy for Ridden Purebred Mare at Sydney Royal in 2002, 2003 and 2004. In 2004 at the Australian Arabian Championships she was Champion in Novice and Elementary Dressage as well as Reserve Champion Mare Under Saddle. Her son Nevertire Just Dane, a 2006 Arabian Stockhorse by Waylon J Justice, is following along in her well-performed hoofprints. He was National Capitol Horse Show Supreme Champion Led Gelding of the Show in 2009, Triple Crown winner in 2013 in Led Arabian Stockhorse Gelding, as well as claiming Arabian Stockhorse Championships at the Australian Arabian Championships in 2010, 2012 and 2013. His saddle career has just begun, with Australian Arabian Stockhorse Championships in 2012 and 2013.
A busy little “person” who gives Narelle a great deal of pleasure is the chestnut sabino Arabian Pony Gelding Nevertire Mr Darcy out of Roseacre Black Lace. He is quite certain he is the most important pony in the entire universe, who started competition well with a Championship at the NSW Foal Show, a Top 5 at the Australian Championships, and a Reserve Championship at the East Coast Championships of 2006. After a few years’ break he once again resumed his career at the top both at halter and under saddle. He now has numerous wins and Championships in Novice and Preliminary Dressage to his credit including NSW Pony Dressage Preliminary Champion of 2009. He was Champion Led Arabian Pony Gelding in 2013 at the “Aussies”. Narelle, who is not tall, finds him a perfect size for riding, and a perfect mount for pony dressage which is very popular. He has also tried some jumping which he loves.
Other stars sired by Sunland Australian Ambassador include Nevertire Ishtar, a Partbred Arabian mare foaled in 1988, who notched up wins at the Arabian Saddle Horse Championships, Australian Arabian Championships and the Nationals, before going on to a successful eventing career with a junior rider. There is also a trio of Anglo Arabians – Nevertire Tiger Lilly 1998 – 2007, Nevertire Reminiscing 1999, and Nevertire Jack Flash 2002, all of whom have won and placed at the Australian Arabian Championships. Most of these horses also compete successfully in open competition.
