Jillaroo Experience Continued - Days 4-6 RIDE EM COWGIRL!!!

Day 4

Today began like every other day with breakfast followed by finding out what they were going to do next. Since there is no real plan for the day they just wait to get told what they’re doing. They started with watching John break in the horse a little more so that he would be ready for a ride in the avo.

Then it was off to round up some horses with the utes and separate them so that the stallions were with the right mares. Laura, Tatianna, and Bridget then got to try their hands in helping to train a colt to obey and be touched. They had a lot of fun and were ready for lunch after that.

In the avo it was time to check on some sheep (Laura got to drive again) and give them a spray to help with the fly infestation. After the sheep it was the 4 o’clock ride where everyone got on their horses (Laura rode Daisy this time) and they headed up to the mountain. It was a good ride but Laura found that Rodriguez road better so she’ll use him for the rest of the week.

The day ended with a great dinner and some cards (Snap, Crazy 8s and Cribbage). Laura’s back is getting worse as the week goes on (her age is really showing now).

Day 5

The big ride day had finally arrived. The girls woke up and got ready to go for a ride that would take them all around the boundaries of the farm. As they got their horses ready (Laura was back on Rodriguez) they thought that it looked like rain but they were too excited to go for a morning ride that it didn’t faze them.

As they rode along they took in the beautiful scenery and enjoyed all the stories that John was tell each time they stopped. At around 11 it was time to enjoy a little picnic of sandwiches.  The enjoyment soon came to an end when the skies opened and the rain began to fall. After waiting a bit they decided that they were getting wet anyway so why not head back to the farm instead of staying there. Once the decision was made 10 minutes later it stopped raining (isn’t it always like that).

The afternoon had the girls and John heading out to get the sheep in so that they could be given some medicine. Tatianna got a go at driving and nearly killed Laura and Bridget as they were standing in the back of the ute. It was fun.

Trying to herd the sheep and give them the medicine proved to be a task in itself as they girls worked in the rain and mud to corner a few at a time and then get them into the other pen. It ended with Bridget falling in the mud and Laura riding a ram as it ran after the sheep.

That night another tour group was coming to stay the night and then go for a ride the next morning. The girls were all ready to meet these people as it had just been the three of them and John and Iris for so long that it was good to get some new people in. As they waited they played cards (Bug your neighbour, Chase the Ace, Cribbage, Count 4).

When the group arrived it was time to eat dinner (curried chicken) and have some fun getting to know one another. One of the guys (Cory Johnston) was from Canada and when Laura said that she was from Morrisburg he was like “I know where that is I grew up in Cornwall” (this is ½ an hour from where Laura grew up). What a crazy small world we live in. It was good to get to know everyone and find out how their vacations had been going.

Tomorrow is the last day of the Jillaroo Course. It feels weird to know that when Laura wakes up tomorrow she won’t be seeing horses outside her door but rather cars and people.

Day 6

The last day! What a week that was had. Today the girls went on an adventure with John, Iris, and the group of backpackers. It was a great ride with an opportunity to swim with the horses at the river. Laura and Tatianna decided to head into the water with their horse. Rodriguez got a little excited and was splashing Laura which made her laugh.

After the ride it was lunch and time to say goodbye to the backpackers. After lunch it was time to head out and muster some cattle. The girls got to have their hand at separating the cows as well as wrestling little calves to the ground. It was a riot for John to watch the girls attempt to take the calves down. They were not so smooth with it.

Once they had their hand at wrestling the calves Laura and Tatianna took an opportunity to ride one of the cows. What a fun experience. Laura slipped off the back end after a few jumps and Tatianna had John help her off after it took a bit for the cow to get moving.

The day ended with some more fly spraying of the sheep and then getting 2 horses that belong to John’s brother to take them into town. The girls said their goodbyes to the farm and then hopped into the vehicles to head to town for dinner at the RSL, playing some pokies and then to bed at the Imperial Inn again (they have to watch out for the cockroaches and bugs).

Overall it was a great experience and one that Laura would do again.

Some of the horses we mustered

Not enjoying getting soaked on the ride

The view

Laura and Rodreguez swimming

In the water having fun

Cory Johnston from Cornwall

Bridget

Iris

Laura after she took down the calf

Laura and Tat trying to wrestle the calf

Laura getting ready to ride the cow

The Imperial Inn (where we stayed the first and last night)

Tat, Laura, Bridget - 3 Amazing Jillaroos

Jillaroo Experience - Days 1-3 YEEHA

Day 1

Today was the start of Laura’s Jillaroo experience (I’ve had to head to Rozzy’s house for some repairs as my head has come off and that’s not a good thing). The adventure began with Laura heading to Central Station to catch the CountryLink train that would take her from Sydney all the way to Tamworth (the Country Musical Capital of Sydney). She went and got her ticket and then waited for the train to arrive. When she got on she met a girl named Tatianna (from Belgium) who she was travelling to the ranch as well.

The 6 hour train ride was not too eventful other than listening to a little boy count cows behind her as well as getting to meet Tatinna more. After the train it was a quick hop over to the bus for another 2 hour drive to Bingara. This ride was even less eventful but quick so that was good.

When the bus pulled up to Bingara Laura and Tatianna got off and looked at the other people who exited to see if any of them would be joining them on their adventure. They found another girl named Bridget who was from New Zealand and was heading to the Imperial Inn for the night just like them. The Imperial Inn turned out to be this quaint little place on main street that was also one of the 2 pubs in town. After finding their room and getting served a meal the girls found out that the town of Bingara (pop 300) was like Westport and shut down at 6pm. So it was an early night.

Day 2

This day started off with packing up the room and heading down for some breakfast (2 pieces of toast and a bowl of rice bubbles – not $10 worth in my mind) before 8:30 as they were told not to be late of the owner of the ranch (John Wade) would get angry.

At 8:45 they were wondering what was going on and if he would ever show up. Then Iris (from Germany) told them she was here to pick them up as she worked for the Wades. The girls put all their stuff into the SUV and drove over to the Wade’s house to get things sorted for the week.

John and Cathy met them, gave them the low down and then it was off to town to get any food or essentials for the week. While here they met a local who gave them the low down on the history of Bingara as well as all the locals. It was so cute.

Then it was time to ride! Laura got to ride Zeena (a quick chestnut horse). The ride was a chance for John and Iris to see how each of the girls were doing. Laura remembered everything that she had been taught back in riding lessons and did really well, not needing any help. The ride included a chance to go swimming with their horses which was really cool as none of the girls had done this before. SUPER COOL!

The day ended with everyone heading into town to enjoy the local Rodeo. It was neat to watch all the cowboys/cowgirls doing their events (Laura’s fav was the bareback broncos and bull riding). It was definitely a modern rodeo as the music that was playing included Dynamite and Poker Face.

To sleep it was off to the farm (30 min from town) to set up in their bunkroom.

Day 3

This was the first day on the farm. The girls began with breakfast and then it was off to work. They hopped into the ute (no doors and all) to go and see how all the horses and cattle and sheep were doing (the property is over 3000 acres). They helped spray the sheep as they were infected by flies due to the wet weather. Then it was back to the house to have morning tea and meet John.

John had them help to herd some horses back to the house and then began to teach them how to break a horse. It was so neat to see how he worked with the horses to help train them to be quiet riding horses.

Lunch was a great break before it was back to the breaking and then for a ride to muster some stallions back to the house. It was like they were on City Slickers. At one point Laura and Tatianna were sent to herd 7 horses back to the rest. They did well until there was a little creek that the horses went across. Tatinna’s horse went first and then almost stopped right after it got across. This was not good as Laura and her horse was travelling right behind so when it jumped she almost ran into Tatianna. Laura was trying to stop her horse as it was jumping but wasn’t able to so it was a less than graceful jump.

To end the work day Laura got to drive the ute to try and herd some mares and their colts. Her, Tatianna, and Bridget were called off the task by John (I guess herding horses with a ute is not Laura’s calling).

It was a great day working, laughing, riding, and sitting on the veranda enjoying the storm.

Bull Riding

Team Roping

Zeena and Laura

John our fearless leader

Where we stayed

Laura and Rodregeuz

Bridget and Bridget

Iris our trusty guide