ANGEL PARK MERLIN
2002-2011
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Angel Park Merlin was sadly put to sleep on the morning of March 9, 2011 following a freak stable accident.

We were lucky enough to have the perfect show pony living in our backyard. As it now seems, Merlin was clearly put on this earth for a good time, not a long time. He enjoyed life and gave us the best ride for 7 years and memories that will never fade or be forgotten. The heartbreak was overwhelming as we said goodbye far too soon.

Yes, He was naughty and he was always the boss, he was always up to some form of mischief which would in the end, be his undoing, but we loved him thoroughly and if he had of been any different, he would not have been “Merlin”. We never imagined life without him and we never imagined he would not come home on March 9th and just assumed our Vet would weave his magic and put him back together again. Mum even quipped with the vet that we had 6 weeks to have him mended for Sydney Royal.

I think many people believe he lived permanently rugged and kept clean but this was not the case as he was a Welshie. He was a bugger with rugs, he simply refused to have them on his back and would go to any length to remove them as quickly as possible, most of the time, they ended up shredded and mashed into the dirt or we would find him galloping around his paddock with his shredded rug clenched firmly in his teeth. I recall one winter when he was given a new wool lined rip-stop canvas, it lasted one night and the next morning, it was an "unlined" canvas rug but he was still wearing it! Several times I recall bathing him for a show, rugging him up only to find him standing in his stable naked the next day but somehow, still clean. On another occasion I purchased a very nice leather halter with his name on it, he only wore it once as he removed it in the float as he so often did and decided to eat it. Many times we came come home from a show to find him standing in the float with no halter. Several times I recall bandaging him up for a show, only to come back 5mins later to find all 4 legs un-bandaged. We have a cupboard full of Kersey Wool Trophy rugs of which he rarely got to wear them for the simple reason that I did not want them wrecked. We would often sit at the kitchen table and just watch him amuse himself with his many toys and he just loved anything with a "squeaker" as it drew the most attention from people. If another pony was receiving more attention than him, he always found a way to extract you from the task at hand and direct your attention to him.

He was our mate. He was also my team mate who I forged a formidable team that was very hard to beat but the many Supreme Champions won were just a bonus as I just loved to show him. At the 2004 NSW All Breeds Young stock Show, Merlin was awarded Supreme Welsh Exhibit (John Riley) followed by Supreme All Breeds Exhibit beating 20 other breeds of horses and ponies. Whilst Merlin never did win Supreme at an All Welsh, that never bothered me as the Royals were our thing and were our forte. In 2004, Merlin was awarded Supreme Welsh Mountain Pony (Jannys McDonald); He was not shown in 2005. In 2006, we went one better and won the Nattai Perpetual Trophy for Supreme Welsh Exhibit (Robert Wansborough), it was the biggest thrill as the class was judged immediately before the Grand Parade so the crowds were packed in for the evening entertainment and it was just the best feeling. Merlin was in his element. I never thought our man would have been this lucky to take home such a grand and prestigious prize, or us for in fact! Little did we know that Merlin wasn’t finished, he won it again in 2007 (Helen Slee), he did not compete in 2008 but in 2009 again stood overall Supreme Welsh (Sally Bayles). By this time, it was a standing joke that we all be prepared for Merlin to demolish the line-up of people whom were to be in the presentation photo as he had done on the 2 previous occasions.  He was Supreme at the 2007 Canberra Royal (Robert Grant) and again at what would be his last Royal, the 2010 Canberra Royal (John While). I would like to acknowledge and thank the respected breeders whom Merlin was shown under and awarded top honours that I have not mentioned as I was afraid of leaving someone out but you will know who you are and have contributed to the fabulous memories I have of this wonderful pony.

People had this idea that Merlin was a hard pony to show, yes, he could be difficult but he had an “on” and “off” switch. Out of the ring, the switch was “off” but as soon as he stepped onto an arena, the switch was “on”. However, he didn’t need me to show him, I just had to hold on and keep up as he would show himself! To Merlin, his handler was simply a servant who was only needed to point him in the right direction and keep up with him. He never needed to be “stood up” as he did it himself and stood like a statue. He was the BEST.

Thank you my little man....you will never be forgotten.......


Note: Thankyou for the many condolence messages and emails of support that we have received. To everyone who has sent emails, we apologize that we have not responded but as we hope you understand, this has hit out "tiny" stud very hard. They are greatly appreciated. To receive messages and well wishes from people we don't even know is simply overwhelming and has left us in complete admiration of this little man that clearly touched so many.