Shaun the Shetland Making People Smile

This article is from the December 2019 Horse Deals magazine.

In this somewhat superficial world in which we live, it is refreshing to see something so beautiful, providing so much joy and happiness to all of those around him.

That something beautiful, is no other than 10.2hh Shaun the Shetland, aka Kimba Karrue in the show ring owned by Chris Andersen, Kellie Webster and their daughter Zara from Benalla in Victoria.

Shaun came into the Webster/Andersen fold thanks to the generosity of long-time friend and well-known breeder and competitor Corrine Collins, who kindly gifted Shaun to the family when daughter Zara was two years old.

Kellie takes up the story...
“We had just started looking for a pony for Zara when Corrine offered us Shaun. Shaun was bred by David Lamb and is the very last pony he bred under the well known Kimba prefix.

Initially, I thought a five-year-old Shetland that really had only been broken in and then turned out was not the ideal fit. In my mind, I was thinking more like a 25-year-old pony that had been there and done that. Corrine suggested we take him and see how it went, and when we met Shaun, we did not look back.

“Shaun could not have been a better fit for us. His temperament is amazing, he is so quiet and gentle with Zara, yet he picks up into show mode when his usual show rider Jessica Sharp or the Lee girls ride him. He just adjusts to the rider.

This year Shaun, at the age of eight, competed at his first Royal at Adelaide, winning his novice under 10.2hh, 2nd in his open, and took out Reserve Champion Shetland with Ada Natalia in the saddle. Not to be left out, five-year-old Zara rode Shaun in her rider under eight and came fourth, being the youngest rider in the line-up — and Shaun came out straight from the stable, a testament to his temperament.
Living and working for successful showing identity and renowned Thoroughbred breeder Sally Watkins, Shaun also plays an integral part in baby-sitting the Thoroughbred broodmares and being a companion to an injured horse.

But there is so much more to Shaun than the show ring. He is a very much loved visitor of the ESTIA Health Aged Care Facility in Benalla, Victoria. Kellie, an employee of the company, has been taking Shaun to visit the 60 residents, many who had come from properties and farms who have had to leave their animals behind when they moved into full-time care. ESTIA understands the difficulty that many residents face without companion animals, with birds and a resident cat to help alleviate their loss, and with this proactive attitude encouraged Kellie to bring Shaun to visit.

Shaun has been visiting the facility for two years, and the joy he brings to the residents is remarkable. Obliging as ever, Shaun is happy to be led into each resident’s room to visit, happy to be patted and fussed over.

Kellie continues; “taking a horse into each room isn’t as easy as a dog visiting, as we have to navigate beds, wheelchairs, walkers, etc. But Shaun walks into each resident’s room like he is walking into his stable. To exit, he has to back out as we do not have enough room to turn him around. He makes the residents’ day. One lady burst into tears as she thought she would never get the opportunity to pat a horse again, and many dementia residents cannot remember a lot, but many remember Shaun’s visits.

“Another resident who is blind just loves running his hands through Shaun’s mane, and he just stands there and takes it all in.”

The residents also follow Shaun’s showing progress, with many praying for success at his recent Royal Show stint. They enjoy hearing about Shaun’s recent performances and seeing photos of him in the show ring. For many residents Shaun is an interest and a welcome distraction, and the joy that he brings represents their life before full-time care.

Shaun’s success in the show ring is not a fluke; the time, effort and care put into Shaun are evident in his presentation, work and results in the show ring. But to Chris, Kellie and Zara, he is more than just a show pony; he is a treasured member of their family, and to quote Kellie “Shaun is the best in the world to us, and he will be with us forever.”

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