Always a groom never a rider

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33773, 20 February 1975, Page 6

Always a groom never a rider

Horses, believes Mrs Norma Fear — whose husband, Mr Stan Fear, is the manager of the Australian equestrian team [ touring New Zealand — j are the “most wonderful creatures ever invented.” Cygnet Rambler, shown above with Mr and Mrs Fear, is living up to her expectations with wins in Gore, Mataura, Dunedin, and Waimate shows. Mrs Fear is an expert at brushing horses, plaiting their manes and tails and polishing the riding gear. But she has never become a rider. Someone in the Fear family, it seems, has had to do the practical work. “It’s not that I didn't want to, but there really hasn’t been time in our family for

me to ride,” said Mrs Fear -yesterday. Although she is seldom in the spotlight, she is happy with a world in which her family has found success.

Although her husband has not been riding competitively since his best horse was retired, he maintains close ties with the equestrian world. Their two daughters, Lynn, 17, and twelve-year-old Julie, started their show-riding careers as three-year-olds in the Melbourne Show’s tinytots class. “They didn’t have much option not to become involved, but they are both very keen.”

The family lives on a 500 acre beef farm 35 miles from Melbourne. They have 12 horses, including champion show jumpers, one of which is being ridden by a young, rising star on the Australian circuit. Lynn, who has just left high school, is staying home to look after the horses now.

“She’s also supposed to be doing the drhes, but we’re I not too sure about that,” laughed Mrs Fear. During the school holidays (the Fear family pack their bags, load the horses into a [van, and take off on interi state trips to compete in I shows.

Mrs Fear attends to the horses’ grooming, and keeps a high gloss on all the rid- | ing gear. She also keeps a I close eye on the girls’ grooming, and makes sure j they get into the ring on time.

During the Australian. team’s nine-week New Zea-; visit, on which they ; will compete in New Zealand Horse Society circuit i shows, Mrs Fear is “keeping i the books.” It is her job to i notify the Australian society j of results here, and to keep. ;a tally of the prize money. Although there are professional show-jumping riders; in Australia this team of; five is amateur. Mr Fear is not a paid manager. "Its a job of love for him, said Mrs Fear. i i Within their horse; world” the family has, said

Mrs Fear, made some won-[ derful friendships, in Austra-1 lia and in New Zealand. When the Australian team last toured here in 1966, Mr Fear was riding. Two years ago they decided to make a private, return trip. Showing the girls New Zealand was, they decided, “a must.” Then they renewed many; acquaintences. On this touri they are staying with old friends, a number of whom have visited them in Australia. "During our first two years in our present home,” said Mrs Fear, "we kept a visitors’ book. In that time we had 22 visits from New Zealanders. The last two New Zealand visiting teams have stayed with us. We love it — it’s part of the horse world.” Mrs Fear had also underj taken to do the team’s wash-

ing on the New Zealand tour. But their New Zealand hostesses have taken over that job. Their hostess in Christchurch is Mrs Mary Dailey, of Shortlands, Prebbleton. “She has the North Island team staying with her too, and the washing machine seems to be going all day. People have been really wonderful,” said Mrs Fear. i The six Australian horses also seem to find the country to their liking. They are, said Mrs Fear, travelling well, and competing with considerable success.