The Lucky TRD 17

© Angel Tanner, July 2026. Image: Todd River Downs Walers in yards, December 2025, Fitzpatrick Contracting Services

There is so much to this that I am unsure even where to begin.

I then met many TRD horses removed over the years and they always held a very special place in my heart.

In early 2025 an opportunity to remove some more horses from TRD presented itself.

Months upon months of coordination, liaising with multiple people, hours of phone calls, 100’s of emails and finally it all came together.

17 gorgeous TRD Walers were trapped during the period 9-15 December 2025 and transported from Todd River Downs to Echuca, Victoria by Fitzpatrick Contracting Services.

Firstly, I cannot praise the contractors enough for their incredible work and care shown to each and every horse in the load.

Their contact throughout trapping, their honesty and reliability, their care handling the horses and transport are second to none.

Images: Fitzpatrick Contracting Services

All 17 horses arrived safely on 21 December and in phenomenal condition after 6 days in transport. A true credit to their professionalism.

6 homes had been organised months ahead of the removal even beginning to assist covering the cost.

Owners sent preferences and paid in advance, knowing that their preferences may not be met, and that if that were the case they could select from what was available.

The contractors had copies of preferences written by the owners and all bar one preference was met by the contractors during trapping.

That gent then took his pick from the mob when they first arrived in Echuca and is exceptionally happy with his choice. (He has actually expressed to me he is glad his preference wasn’t met as the horse he chose is far exceeding his expectations).

2 pre purchased horses were collected from Echuca and the other 15 made their way to NSW on 22 December, where they were collected by their owners.

Some months later now and all the horses in the load are happy and healthy in homes, all currently at varied levels of training but all deeply loved and respected. I was blessed to care for 2 of the mares for 6 months and get their basic handling done for their owners.

I am grateful to have been part of it and to have my very own TRD Waler colt. Kevin named for me – Atoota.

Tootie-pants as he is affectionately called is highly intelligent, willing, kind with a bit of foal cheekiness thrown in. He is halter trained, leads, ties up and can be touched, brushed all over. He was only 5 months old when trapped but is now 11 months old, weaned from his dam TRD Willow (who is carrying a TRD foal).

Atoota arrived curious, he wanted to see, smell and taste everything – He is also affectionately called The Terrorist because he simply has to be involved in everything, I can’t even pick up poo without him somehow finding a way to include himself.

Images: Atoota playing with the hose, Angel Tanner photos

He is bold, he tackles in hand obstacle courses with a playful curiosity, he believes flags are meant to be dragged around and used to chase other horses with. Yoga balls are also highly entertaining – even after he has popped them. His favourite now is pulling on the saddle cloth when he is being ponied off my riding mare and chewing on the ears of my stock saddle.

He has adapted beautifully to domestic life and in time will become a valuable asset to my riding horse team. Atoota will also go in harness – ride and drive is something I do with all my personal horses. I look forward to the years ahead that I will get to share with this stunning young horse.

Here are the details of the load received in December of 2025. Photos of all can be seen by looking at the horse record using the links in this post or the search function on the website. Details about Todd River Downs can be found on this page which also includes a list of all horses from TRD known to us.

The load was identified and categorised by code to make record keeping easier:

TRD25-M1 Grey mare, estimated at 4 yrs old, currently in foal. Named by her owner “The Lady Willow” paddock named by Kevin ‘Shakita’.

TRD25-OM1 Chestnut colt foal of the grey mare, thick lopsided blaze, 2 stockings. Named by Kevin “Atoota“.

TRD25-M2 Chestnut mare, estimated 6 yrs old, thin blaze, near side rear stocking. Named by her owner “Angie“.

TRD25-OM2 Flaxen chestnut colt foal of the chestnut mare, blaze and 3 socks, named by his owner “Fire Fly“.

TRD25-M3 Bay pinto mare, estimated 3.5 yrs old, named by Kevin ”Nyinga” affectionately known as ‘little birdie’.

TRD25-C4 Chestnut colt, estimated 4 yrs old, star on forehead. Named by his owner “Loki”.

TRD25-C5 Bay pinto colt, estimated 2.5 yrs, faint facial stripe. Named by his owner “Razor” affectionately one of the ‘brother boys’.

Images: the brother boys, Angela Tiede 2025

TRD25-C6 Bay pinto colt, estimated 6 months, star on forehead. Named “Shadow”, also affectionately one of the ‘brother boys’.

TRD25-C7 Bay colt, tiny offset star, race and nose strip, estimated 12 months. Named by his owner “Radar”.

TRD25-M8 Chestnut roan colt, thick blaze 2 rear stockings, 1 fore sock. Estimated 4 yrs old. Named by his owner “Bush Aura” affectionately known as ‘Sparkie’.

TRD25-C9 Bay colt, star with offset thin blaze, 2 rear socks, 1 near side front sock. Estimated 3 yrs old. Named by his owner “Cashman”.

TRD25-C10 Chestnut roan colt, thin blaze 2 rear stockings. Estimated 3 yrs old. Named by his owner “Harek”.

TRD25-C11 Grey colt, offside rear stocking, offside front sock, star. Estimated 3 yrs. Named by his owner “Svadifari“.

TRD25-C12 Bay colt, blaze extending between nostrils, 2 rear socks. Estimated 3 yrs. Named by his owner “Tanami“.

TRD25-C13 Bay colt, long star, near side rear coronet sock. Estimated 2.5yrs. Named by his owner “Artec“.

TRD25-C14 Chestnut colt, thin blaze, 2 rear socks, 1 near side front sock. Estimated 2 yrs. Named by owner “Abel-Jay“, affectionately ‘AJ’.

TRD25-M15 Chestnut pinto filly, thick blaze, estimated 12 months. Named by her owner “Lilly”.

• Section: Waler Tales