Canadaman Adventures: Jillaroo Experience Continued

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.