At the 2012 Australian International 3 Day Event, an Australian equine legend was retired from his competitive career – Kirby Park Irish Jester.
Jester had become one of the popular and well known horses in the sport with his talent, personality and distinctive scar on his handsome face. Bred at Megan Jones’ Kirby Park Stud in South Australia, Jester and Megan won some of Australia’s biggest events including the CCI3* at Melbourne and CCI 4* in Adelaide as well as team bronze at the 2006 World Equestrian Games in Aachen and team silver at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.
During transit to represent Australia at the 2010 Alltech World Equestrian Games, Jester became seriously ill and never came back to international competition after a long recuperation.
Photo: John Lechner ESJ Photo
There was not a dry eye in the house when Megan performed the symbolic unsaddling of Jester in Adelaide last year. However, although Jester may have disappeared from top level competition he has found a new rider to teach some new tricks to.
We recently spent some time at home with Jester and his new rider, Megan’s husband James Deacon, to find out more ….
Getting a superstar ready takes at least two people ............
..... and getting a horse who has seen everything and been everywhere to pay attention takes even more!
