This article is from the July 2020 Horse Deals magazine.
David and Emma Nash have been part of the Australian horse scene for a number of years now as successful Australian Stock Horse breeders, competitors and judges. David is the Director of Nutrition Technology with Kentucky Equine Research and Emma is the owner of Four Legs Therapy and Rehabilitation. Emma was to have judged the Australian Stock Horses at the Sydney Royal Easter Show this year before Covid-19 resulted in its cancellation. Over the years they have accrued a lot of knowledge and firsthand information regarding the keeping and maintenance of horses and this knowledge has been invested in their 60 beautiful acres at Labertouche in West Gippsland, Victoria.
“There was nothing here but 60 acres and a house that was built after the Black Saturday fires in 2009,” says David. “We loved the property and its location. It is close to the Princes Freeway and 95kms from Melbourne, yet it is a very private property. We put in all the infrastructure ourselves. We had someone ram the posts and we put in the fencing ourselves in a week. We have done so much, but there is always more to do and issues to attend to with a property like this. This is the third property we have established and the first one totally from scratch. We have the bonus of a lovely house, which was not our first consideration and we have all the infrastructure we want and we are here for life.”
Photo: Top Snap Berwick
An aerial view of the house, with its abundant orchards and terraced gardens. “We didn’t even look at the house first,” says David, “it was the property that interested us the most. The house is a bonus.”
Who’s there? says the colt, Hardal Un Chanceux from the external window of the stallion box. All six boxes have an external window that can be opened with or without bars.
Otis and Saphy Nash restrained for the photo shoot.
The stallion box is just over 4m x 4m. The stables were imported and are made of compressed bamboo. The panels include a swing out feeder. The internal walls are lined with marine ply. The stables were installed by Peninsula Equine Constructions.
A view down the barn breezeway showing the five 4m x 4m boxes on the left hand side with the stallion box on the right.
Lovely big, airy boxes with plenty of light and air flow and large cattle sized automatic water troughs.
There are plenty of small and stylish touches in
the barn.
The well appointed and tidy tackroom with plenty of stock saddles on display.
The hay and stable equipment is stored conveniently and neatly at one end of the barn.
Personalised Hardal Performance Horses dressage letters.
The hot/cold wash bay with good drainage and lined with waterproof marine ply. The laundry is discreetly located in a convenient corner of the barn.
These door handles in the barn were made by a Siberian blacksmith.
The stylish lounge and rec. room is well appointed with sofa, sink, fridge, (beer, wine and carrots) and the all important coffee maker. The windows open onto the indoor arena.
The chandelier in the barn adds a touch of luxury to the stables.
No cobwebs and mouse droppings here. The super clean feed room ensures that no feed is contaminated. The Millennium Feed Bins bin is on rollers and has gas strut opening arms.
The feed compartments can be altered to suit the type of feed.
Looking down from the top boundary to the indoor and beyond to the beautiful West Gippsland countryside.
The property receives about one metre of rainfall each year, so drainage is an important issue. This photograph shows some drainage and excavation works by Lockwood Excavations and the barn end of the massive build.
The beautiful 60m x 20m arena with its sand/fibre surface supplied by Boss Horse Arenas.
The indoor arena has energy efficient UFO LED lights.
The entrance to the indoor arena via the “wall of fame” is located in the middle of the short side.
This open space next to the indoor acts as a fire break and also as a fire safety zone for the locals. The Black Saturday fires did come through Labertouche.
The Kentucky style sliding doors open to rug and equipment storage,
all safely stowed in their own plastic bins.
The huge campdraft arena with sand footing, formed by Lockwood Excavations, is enclosed by metal station interlocking panels.
A view of the massive steel building built by Central Steel Sheds from Kyneton. The building is 80m x 21m and incorporates the 60m x 20m indoor arena, the six box barn and a truck/machinery storage at the far end. The photo also shows the two double fenced stallion/colt paddocks with paddock boxes built by A and R Horse Shelters. You can see the80m x 60m campdraft arena to the right.
A lovely view - Some of Hardal Performance Horses enjoying the luxury this property provides.
A closer view of the fencing.
A few of the paddocks that also accommodate cattle have poly coated electric wire below the horse fencing.
Depending on the horse, the 1,200m ride can start at the flat end, or if needed the steep end as shown here.
There is a 1,200m riding track all the way around the horse paddocks which makes a happy change from arena work.
The lined paddock boxes are either 4m x 4m for a single box, or 4m x 6m for a double.
The old and the new. The last remnant of original fencing contrasted with the new.
A very decorative fire pit!
There are a number of sculptures in the garden and this wire sculpture marks a final resting place.
The Nash Wombats.
Article: Anna Sharpley. Photos: Julie Wilson, David and Emma Nash & Top Snap Berwick.
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