How does a young lady who just loved riding horses become one of Harness Racing’smost significant players (along with her husband Dean) 26 years later? In particular inthe breeding industry ?
Let’s take a look at how this amazing story has come together. Blanche Poole still has great memories of helping her mum (Marion Hamilton) as a foaling attendant at Alabar Farms even though there were many very late, cold and challenging nights.
Marion was able to teach her daughter some very important skills and the knowledge that would lead to Blanche having both a life time love of horses and being able to confidentially take up a position ( in her early 20’s) with the large stud as a yearling preparer and stud groom.
During her four-year stint at Alabar she first came into contact with Dean Poole, the man she would marry some years later in 2000. Dean is the son of Mac Poole, who bred a very nice trotter called Majestic Grace (mare) winner of $73,725
Blanche then took up the position of manager at Graham and Helen Head’s Grenada Park at Avenel, gaining her AI ticket during her 15 month stay.
Blanche later completed a Diploma of Equine Stud Management and a Certificate IV in Training and Assessment, which means she has been able to take on TAFE students for work placements and work experience. This is something the Poole’s wish to expand on in the future, to perhaps set their farm up as a training property for interested students.
“We enjoy having people come to learn about our industry and we need to pass on knowledge to encourage young people into our sport”
Having gained experience at various breeding outfits including Mick Lombardo’s Concorde Park and Karamea Farm, gave Blanche the opportunity to work with some top stallions of the day, like Windshield Wiper, Troublemaker and Armbro Aussie.
In 2006, after many years of crafting their skills with other organizations, the Poole’s purchased their own farm at Congupna and established Rhiannon Park. Watch this clip below of their daughter Kaitlyn on how the name Rhiannon Park came together – you won’t be disappointed.
Thanks to a large investment of capital the whole farm can now be irrigated in a very efficient manner and although everyone is always nervous of using these words, it has made Rhiannon Park close to drought proof.
When asked about what mare owners should expect, Blanche went on to say:
“We offer a whole range of services for mares right through from foaling them down
to getting them back into foal, using chilled and frozen semen shipped in from all stallions from all over Australasia/Europe right to our door.
We also scan the mares ourselves when needed, this can also mean, checking and working with mares at any time day or night in order to optimise the outcome of getting these mares in foal, which not only helps the owners but the industry at large.
We also can inseminate the mare as soon as the semen arrives at our door, tooptimise pregnancy rates.
Having a property situated very close to both the Goulburn Valley Equine Hospital, and Victorian Equine Group, means should any very serious problems arise, vets are never very far away.
Rhiannon Park has foaling alarms fitted to the mares at the appropriate times and they are kept in floodlit paddocks right next to the house.
There is four crushes in the AI shed and a yard system that runs off from the paddocks and laneways that come up into the yards. They can handle large groups of mares at a time, and once scanned, the mares can calmly head back into their paddocks with ease.
Weaning foals and preparing yearlings are a big part pf their services on offer and the Poole’s would consign close to the largest number in both APG sales.
Weaning of the foals starts from six to eight months of age, they handle all of them on their mothers from the beginning and every foal is taught to lead and tie-up and have their feet picked up.
All this is done while the foals are still on their mums initially and then it’s just an easier transition for them, once the weaning process begins, with the goal to reduce stress before the mothers are taken away. They are then divided into groups of colts and fillies.
Rhiannon Park provides all kinds of services for mares that can be on permanent or part time agistment. It really comes down to what the clients are looking for.
In the first year the Poole’s took over the farm they foaled down Crombie (Life Sign -Medea Me-Walton Haonover) a super gelding who was a winner of the WA Derby and a Inter Dominion heat, who retired with career earnings of $692,260.
The second year they followed up with Charlie Machsheen a Mach Three – Lady Of My Life-Live Or Die gelding who is a Vicbred 2YO champion and winner of $299,175 so far.
They have also bred and sold Jackatac as a yearling who won his first two starts including a heat of the Australian Pacing Gold and went 1:57
Having prepared 20 yearlings in each of the last few sales, and with numbers of yearlings to prepare for the sales increasing each year they had to find outside facilities. So though the kindness of such people/places as Mick Lombardo (Concorde Park) renting the Poole’s additional stables which have has provided the scope to keep growing their business and delivering the top care needed to help their clients get the best return possible on sales day.
With some quality mares in foal and with foals at foot, there seems to be a lot of excitement and confidence about the future and the sales ahead.
The Poole’s class themselves as managers of a boutique operation (I would say they are under stating things ) with a small band of valued clients, some of which have been with them right from the very start.
Blanche & Dean like the fact they are still small enough to remain hands on themselves. They believe it’s the best way they can deliver the best service and results to all their greatest asset, the clients.
Please check out below the large draft of yearlings for the upcoming APTS and APG Autumn,
APTS
Lot 7 Gladys Emanuel/Great Success Colt
Lot 9 Icantremember/Imperial Count Colt
Lot 20 Lindys Two Step/Angus Hall Colt
Lot 26 Miss Adelaide/Great Success Colt
Lot 35 Pocket Fantasy/Lawman Filly
Lot 36 Poignant/Imperial Count Filly
Lot 41 Solana/Great Success Filly
Lot 43 Star of Jordaine/Majestic Son Colt
Lot 47 Susuwe/Great Success Filly
Lot 56 Aleppo Midas/Majestic Son Colt
Lot 59 Boot Scootin Glory/Bacardi Lindy Colt
Lot 62 Brite and Lucky/Great Success Filly
APG Autumn
Lot 594 Jewel Bromac/Auckland Reactor Colt
Lot 599 Jewel Of Cobargo/Shadow Play Colt
Lot 604 Love the Red/Sportswriter Filly
Lot 610 Miss Cee Jay/ Mr Feelgood Filly
Lot 615 Rock Me Gently/Sportswriter Colt
Lot 630 Tiabamba/Mr Feelgood Colt
Lot 639 Yerazig/Artistic Fella Filly
Lot 646 Cobargo Magic/Grinfromeartoear Colt
Lot 650 Desiring Bella/Pet Rock Colt
Blanche and Dean along with the team at Rhiannon Park truly believe there is something for every budget and taste in this up and coming sale on Sunday.
Rhiannon Park has a wonderful team of people behind the scenes, and without their help its unlikely they could ever achieve the outstanding results they get.
In particular they would like to mention Lisa Poole who gave up so much of her free time to come and stay and help out with yearling preparation and all the other farm jobs.
Now this is a true family business so their two wonderful children Brodie and Kaitlyn, who also help with all the farm work and yearling preparation, are also very important team members.
Rhiannon Park has had numerous girls that have come and stayed from overseas to help out and gain valuable experience in handling and caring for horses.
Blanche’s best friend, Sue, has come all the way from NZ to stay and help out for this last lot of yearlings and will be staying on to help further during the year.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
Driving The Future Of Harness Racing
