Copper - Strong Loyal Friend

Copper is probably the most loyal and grateful member of our Kerewong herd. Copper came to Kerewong when Kathy realized she needed a more solid, stronger and calm horse to complement the trail horse group of light-framed and spirited arabian horses.

Copper was purchased from a lady horse trainer near Bellingen who rescued Copper from her neighbours property when his owners moved house and decided Copper was of no use to them and he was on his way to the slaughterhouse. Copper, riddled with lice and never given a supplemented feed in his life, stayed with the trainer for 3 months in which time she took care of him, did some training with him and realized his willingness to please and learn and his potential as a showjumping horse.

But by that time Copper was already promised to Kathy and so he arrived at Kerewong at Christmas 2003, around the same time as his new and only little friend for life Kamal, and just before the Horse Treks first guests arrived in early 2004.        

Copper worked for many years, usually carrying the heavier horse riding guests up the highest mountains, always happy and friendly and never complaining, except maybe about the fact that of all the places in the world why did he have to end up with a group of eager fast Arabians who always want to race up all the long steep hills.

Copper was born on a big cattle station and probably has done stock work with cattle in his early years. Hence his specialty job at Southern Cross Horse Treks was leading the group of trail riders through a herd of cattle, which were blocking the way when riding through farm properties.  

Copper retired in 2013, aged 20, as his feet - which have always been somewhat deformed due to neglect when he was young - eventually became too sensitive to the harder surface trails, and Nadal took over Copper's role as strong and even-tempered trail horse within the group of Arabians.