Nothing says horse property like hedges. These box hedges are a barrier, but a soft barrier, as well as being attractive.
This article is from January 2019 Horse Deals magazine.
You cannot have set foot on a show ground in Australia and not have heard of Romsey Park. With great riding and good management, the combination of Greg Mickan and Terry Van Heythuysen has claimed countless Championships both for the home team and many happy clients. It is not just a matter of finding a beautiful horse, but it has to be well trained and happy to have a successful career in the show ring and the environment at Romsey Park provides just that.
The 20 acre property is 61 kilometres north of Melbourne and close enough to the Hume Freeway for an easy getaway to shows. This is not a Palazzo Versace, however, the property is functional, safe and very attractive with all that is needed to produce horses in an aesthetically pleasing setting.
“We have been here nearly ten years and when we arrived there was only a house and two sheds on the property,” says Terry. In that time, there has been plenty of activity in planting and planning over time to create a modern, horse friendly training establishment.
Welcome to Romsey Park. The electric front gates.
The bosses with their pets. Rosie with Terry and Rex with Greg.
The house is surrounded by roses, hedges and various plantings including this spectacular Weeping Cherry.
Just outside the entrance to Romsey Park. Who does not like hedges? A hedge of Castlewellan Gold Conifers runs the full road length of the property.
Beautiful climbing roses, including Gold Bunny add a wonderful aesthetic to the number one barn. The fountain adds to the relaxed and calming atmosphere of Romsey Park.
The number two barn has five boxes including a huge foaling box. All the gear needed on a daily basis is kept in plastic containers to keep it clean and dust free.
The 12'x12' boxes are lined with rubber. Notice the deep feeder which discourages feed from being flung around the stable as can happen. Not pictured in this photo, but the water buckets are filled on a regular basis. This is preferred as the water intake of each horse can be monitored.
The rubber lined hot/cold wash in the number one barn.
The feed and tack room in barn number one.
The "good gear" is kept clean and ready to go and is kept in an insulated and undercover site hut that is vermin and dust proof.
An aerial view of the rectangular 20 acres of Romsey Park. There are 16 paddocks and eight with paddock boxes. You get a good view of the economic layout, the arena, the round yard, as well as a view of the exercise track around the large front paddock.
Greg thinks that many horses, especially Thoroughbreds off the track are happier in a box and yard, rather than just in a box and seem very content in their Heathcote Constructions built accommodation. These horses have the run of both and can be contained in the box at night.
There is a crush if needed for breeding or veterinary examination etc.
The 16 paddocks at Romsey Park are very well fenced. They are 5' high with Horserail at the top and electric rope fill. "We have only had one horse run in to a fence and they bounced off, incurring no injury," says Terry. "All we had to do was tighten the fence up and it was as good as new."
The 16m diameter round yard came first and then the roof went on. It is a well used facility at Romsey Park.
The stallion box and yard. More beautiful roses and hedges. There are privot, photinia and box hedges around the property.
The wonderful Rat Barrow has revolutionised mucking out.The stable shavings are kept undercover.
The 60m x 40m arena has a Pro-Ride surface and is surrounded by Willows and Capital Ornamental Pear trees.
We noticed a number of jumps and cavalettis on the arena. Greg likes the gymnastic value of jumping as well as the variety in work it gives the horses.
Striding out. Christine aboard 'Ink' and Leanne riding 'EP Splashdance' take advantage of the 300 metre sand track at Romsey Park. Horses are not confined to the arena, they get the opportunity to work freely, forward around the track.
Christine and Leanne are pictured walking up the Robinia lined drive.
Story: Anna Sharpley. Photos: Julie Wilson.
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