Expo as he was known by everyone who knew him.
Expo was the first Palomino that was bred by Uhavta Stud. They owned his mother Honey, showed her at pony club and shows. They decided to breed her to Colin and Tara Cox’s riding pony stallion Glen Cree Profile, who was imported from New Zealand. There first result was a chestnut colt known as Sketch who was shown with great success, he was gelded and was sold as a child’s pony. The next year they did the same and Expo was born, Mildura show day, Maryjane headed off with two pony broodmares to show, Helen stayed home and went to work. Helen rang Maryjane to tell her that they had another chestnut colt, but as the day went on the pony foal was truly a beautiful palomino.
He was named Expo as Helen worked for the local newspaper of Ouyen “The North West Express”, hence the name Uhavta Northern Expression, alias Expo.
Expo was shown extensively as a yearling onwards. He amassed a multitude Supremes and champions. As a two year old he was shown under saddle. He won
Hi Point palomino-yearling
Hi point palomino 2+3 year old twice
Bronze, Silver, gold and Diamond award.
In his 2 and 3 year old age group he could have won hi point ridden stallion twice except the Hi point ridden palomino stallion was only given to a stallion not a colt, the next year he won the Hi point ridden stallion.
Hi point palomino stallion and ridden.
A winner of the prestigious “Opal” award before it became “The Life time achievement award”.
He even won pair of ridden palominos twice at the palomino state show, once with another stallion and once with a mare.
He won champions and reserves at the palomino state show led and ridden, Melbourne and Adelaide Royal’s.
Later we decided to geld Expo and this is where his true color’s shon.
He went to Mildura for a girl to get back his confidence after she had broken her leg off a young horse. Expo was then sold to NSW to another Child. Here he won numerous awards and gained the title of the champion child’s dressage pony.
It was then we had a phone call to say, can you tell us a little about Uhavta Northern Expression as we are interested in buying him and he is in the horse deal. We told them how good he was, as soon as we hung up the phone we rang Sharyn Mangan who had always wanted to buy him since he was a foal and she now needed a pony for her son. You guessed it she bought him site unseen, with the money that they were saving to buy a car. Her husband Nev agreed. Later she had to sell her two Welsh B mares to repay the money.
He was off the float and in two days time had a show, Champion led and Ridden palomino, Supreme led and reserve champion rider. Then he went on to tackle the palomino championships. He won the grand champion palomino gelding. The best thing to note at this show was that as Ashley went on to the ring to compete, Paddy McInerney, Al Mitton, Chris Gass and Dale Evans said they would all drink a can for every blue ribbon he won, and what a laugh by lunch time all of them had trouble getting off their chairs to leave the arena.
Expo and Ashley soon built up a combination that became very special. Sharyn had a new son, just asks Nev, he couldn’t catch him and he would run straight up to Sharyn. It was all those hours that she spent brushing him and talking to him as a mate. Shaz states that she would be in a box now if it wasn’t for him giving her the strength to fight her Luper’s disease. Ashley out-grew Expo, and Sharyn made the decision to sell him which none of thought she would, but times was tight with droughts and she said another child may benefit.
Expo and Ashley won a multitude of high point awards for the palomino society. They won junior combination in succession. They won the overall hi point palomino award three years in a row.
Sharyn advertised him, with no real intention of selling him; Bret rang us to see if what he was told was the truth. I told him that he was a true child’s pony and any one would have trouble trying to find a child’s pony to match him. Next Brett was on his way up with Emma to ride him. We had to go out to support Sharyn as it was breaking her heart. After Emma had ridden him and left Sharyn said if they took him it would make me happy to see a little girl riding him and enjoying. Plus I could still see him as they live at Werribee.
A week later Brett rang her and had decided to buy him, well we stayed away from the Mangan house hold that day as we know the tears flowed.
Expo did it again, Emma and Expo grew together and began showing. They won champion led palomino gelding at Melbourne summer Royal 2005. At there first palomino championships they missed out by a point to win the Hi point gelding of the show. They retired from a few classes as horse and rider got tired in the 40 degree plus days. This year we saw Expo and Emma compete in dressage at Weribee. We watched the place that day and the next weekend they received the champion dressage award at an interschool challenge.
This year in October Expo suffered from colic and was quickly taken to Werribee veterinary clinic where he died prior to getting on the surgery table. Expo has left behind may people and especially children who loved him. He now lays to rest (buried under a tree) at The Copley’s long time friends the Pengelley’s at Werribee.
Expo was a true child’s pony, he was more than just a horse he was truly an ambassador for the palomino society and was the best friend to a lot of people.
Left: Emma Copley (oz photography)
Right: Ashley Mangan
