50th Birthday Champagne Ride A unique way to celebrate a milestone birthday! The event of Helen Junk’s 50th birthday was celebrated with a champagne horse ride through the Keysbrook Hills. Upon arrival at Ian and Helen’s picturesque property, Springdale Farm, riders quickly saddled then headed down to the barn for a champagne starter, complete with strawberries. It was a very multicultural ride, with a variety of horses ranging from Thoroughbreds, Clydesdales, Friesians, Arabians, Appaloosa’s, Quarter Horses and many different crosses departing up the steep driveway and out of the property. The trails were made up of mostly gravel with some rocky terrain, so many of the barefoot horses were sporting boots - shod horses were in the minority here! The day signalled the start of the warm weather, however the last of the wildflowers were still showing themselves amongst the spring bushland and riders enjoyed the scenery with views across the top of the scarp and out over the ocean at various points along the ride. The 10km ride took participants to a mystery lunch venue - which turned out to be the lovely Judaroo Pony Stud, where hosts Kathryn Buttfield, Judy, Jane and Scott Hambley made everyone feel welcome with yards and stables for the horses and a gourmet lunch - and more champagne - for the riders who relaxed on the deck enjoying further views across the Darling Escarpment. A bush poet and obligatory horseshoe shaped birthday cake completed the lunch, with riders then heading back to the stables to saddle up once again. Top: Richard Summerfield. Middle: Ken Ball, bush poet extraodinaire! Photos courtesy Kathryn Buttfield. Below: Springdale Farm looking over the ‘Scarp. Photo by Georgia Roberts. Far Page Bottom: Riders enjoyed lunch on the deck at Judaroo and Morwynt Pony Stud. Photos courtesy Kathryn Buttfield.