Vale Regal Power 1997-2008
bush poetry with Guy McLean
| A champion at his peak A Sire in his prime 'Regal Power' now has left us And well before his time Struck down by accident and circumstance By the cruel hand of fate Now no more will treasured stallion Be waiting faithfully by the gate Where he stood for feed and mateship For work or put on show Stunning black with stripe of white Like lightening strike, his face a glow... ... with knowledge, flare and fire Strength of body and of mind Balanced, poised, a natural Consistent, true and kind Bred in the purple as they say Related to 'Romeo' and 'Abbey' Bought as a 10 month old Royal Show winner Sure to make the new owners happy Nicknamed a Rebel by breeders A stable name that stuck To the 'Wakens' his fire and natural pride Brought happiness, good fortune and luck Old hands at the art of horsemanship But still new to the stockhorse breed 'Regal Power' fulfilled expectations Fulfilled promises, fulfilled wants and needs He became student and he became teacher A guinea pig for new found training A partner to 'Geoff' and his growing dreams Both were striving, learning and straining 'Geoff', now a force to be reckoned with Looks back to his years of thirst For success at Futurities and Campdrafts Where 'Regal' obtained many firsts First Futurity win in his very first comp First stallion they owned and campaigned First time on a cow found success His pure class poured on out like the rain His wins secured services to stallions Who sired 'Geoff's' children's champs Adam's 'Clem', a star in the cutout yard Kell's 'Model Rae' always leaving her stamp These horses, the gooseneck, the shed full of hay All thanks to 'Regal's' success As Performer, Competitor, Sire The Wallen's truly were blessed He was more than a horse or a mate Or a partner in business or strife He shaped and moulded their futures And his presence helped change all their lives | He carried Kelly and Adam to victory in drafts From Junior's to Ladies he shone And their greatest regret, because of their age That to ride him at 'Warwick' is gone He excelled in all that he tried To many victories to mention But when 'Geoff' and 'Regal' rode through the gate Fellow competitors felt the tension For his honesty and drive was prolific A pure pleasure to ride strength of his stops and haunch turns To the length and poise of his stride Prince of Wales' winner, a sire of champs A ribbon receiver at 'Warwick' His physical presence may be gone But his memory will prove historic For he lives in Geoff and Wendy's heart In the memories of their kin To remember him only for trophy's won Would truly be a sin For he gave Geoff back his future He gave with body, heart and mind And gave his bloodlines to 'Doongara's' name That will stand the test of time From his stylish daughters to his honest sons All with 'Power' in their names They too bear the stamp of Royalty And they'll earn their share of fame To replace him would be impossible Though more Champions will come They say each horseman gets one in a lifetime A Freak, of which 'Rebel' was one He's raised all expectations And he's set the bar sky high To ride him, dawn or dusk Was to feel like you could fly Though his fire has passed, the embers Burn on in all that knew him He had fans and true admirers Ana his presence drew them to him 'Doongara' is tribal name for lightening And each new strike of light from the sky Is 'Regal Power's' hoof beats rung out As down to his family he casts his eye For now he stands at stud in heaven Like the Legendry Sires before him And we thank him for his heart and soul And all the reasons we adored him. Copyright Guy McLean September 2008 |
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