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The Rise of a Star - Kate Halliday’s Kalimna Quick Hit
This article is from the January 2020 Horse Deals magazine.
With the recent retirement of two of the show ring’s most prolific winners, Mikimoto and Newington Tinkerbell, it is timely that a new rising star has put the showring on notice.
Kalimna Quick Hit and owner, rider and producer Kate Halliday from Roseworthy, SA created great interest at the 2019 Australasian Show Horse Championships and for a good reason. The imposing and beautiful 17hh four-year-old Warmblood, shown in a snaffle and ridden sympathetically for his age and experience by Kate, demanded attention from all ringside, with his outstanding movement and presence.
Horse Deals caught up with Kate to learn about their story...
“I was after a Warmblood as a riding competition horse, and a friend who has a great eye for a horse, Amanda Phillip from Queensland, rang me and said she had seen this foal and I had to buy it. The foal was on his mother, and around five months of age, Amanda arranged for some video, and as soon as I saw the video, I made the purchase. A big risk being a foal. He stayed on his mother, and once weaned, he went to Amanda’s for a few months so he could be handled and a little older before making the long trip to South Australia, as the trip is hard on babies.
“Kevin, as I named him, arrived in South Australia when he was around ten months old. He came off the truck in good condition, but he did remind me of a tall, gangly giraffe. Once he had settled in I gelded him, as I had no intention of keeping him as an entire.
“By the time Kevin was around 15 months, I had plans to show him led, but that did not eventuate as we were busy at home, so I started breaking him in as I wanted to do that before he got too big and strong. He was mouthed, driven and sat on, and then ridden five times only at the walk and trot with a lead pony, and he took it all in his stride. “Then he was turned out again. A month later, I would bring him in again for about two weeks of light work, then he would be turned out again. I would continue to do that, as I am a big believer in little preps, I find they always learn, and it is easier on the horse. Kevin did have about 12 months out as I had a knee reconstruction, and he was in the paddock with the Thoroughbreds just being a horse.
“I had plans to start him in January 2019, but he was just too gangly; instead, I brought him back in over winter for a little prep and then turned him out again. While he took everything well he is a big scaredy-cat, he has no dirt in him at all and is so gentle with the kids around here, and he tries his heart out for you every time.
“The SA Horse of the Year was coming up, and I had nothing of my own for the rider class, and my mum Kerry made the suggestion that I could take Kevin. He had been going well with his little preps and had only done lots of little bits, but is great to ride, so I entered him.
“The HOY was his very first show, and in his Newcomer on the first day, he overreacted to a dog running out but came second. Then I rode him to Reserve Rider qualifying for the Nationals. The next day he won the Open, and I was just blown away as I didn’t expect that at all, and it was such a thrill when you have owned him since he was a foal and still so young.
“After the HOY I took him bush to about five quiet agricultural shows, then on to the Champion of Champions where he won the Grand National qualifier.
“If I didn’t think Kevin would have coped at the Nationals, I would not have taken him, but he is the sort of horse that is such a trier, and if you tell him he will do it, he trusts you.
“He does suffer a bit from stranger danger. If there is a sudden movement or a judge walks towards him with ribbons flapping that does bother him, whereas at home we can ride him with a plastic bag and it doesn’t phase him. He is young and you can’t work nervousness out of them; they need exposure over time.
“At the Nationals, he had his indoor arena slots where he was ridden each night, and he had around a half an hours work before the rider class. He doesn’t lunge well, you literally have to run with him, so it is easier to ride him.
“As we trotted into the arena for my rider, he whinnied out, which made me laugh as he is such a baby. It took a lot to get him around the arena, but it was such a good experience for him, and he will grow up so much for it. To win the class was just amazing and from laughing as I was coming in, I howled when we won as he had done more than I ever expected.
“In the Open he worked awesome, he gave me everything. He got a little confused at times, but that is understandable for his age and lack of exposure, but I could not have been happier with him. Kevin has his whole career ahead of him, and I will continue to baby him for a while yet.
“The response from the Nationals has been really overwhelming. I am surprised at how well the show world has taken to him. I don’t look at him as a superstar. Yes he is a beautiful mover and he is lovely to ride, but he is just my horse. He is my pet and he means everything in the world to me, as he is just the most gentle horse and I wouldn’t, or couldn’t sell him, I would never get another like him, I could never replace him.”
The future for Kalimna Quick Hit, aka Kevin, will no doubt be a bright one. The Grand Nationals for Kate’s rider and we may see him in the dressage arena, then Adelaide Royal is on his calendar.
What is for certain, Kate appreciates what she has and has every intention of giving Kevin the best possible formative years, so together they can achieve their dreams.
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