Tui's Theme Song MHAA 275 AMHA 00149852
(14/12/1998 [JMF Royal Secret (imp Canada) * JMF Beam Song (imp Canada)])
Our senior stallion, "TC" was imported from New Zealand late in the 2006 breeding season. He is big, black, bold and beautiful and a more magnificant Morgan stallion you'd travel far to find.
This photo was taken by Noni Martin of Fernleigh Creek Morgans at Blackbutt show in 2007 when TC went Supreme Champion Exhibit of Show, one of his many achievements. When I used to trot TC out for a judge, I would hear the intake of breath from the crowd. He drew everyone's attention.
Sadly, on the 25th of August, 2007 TC underwent life saving colic surgery. The trip to save his life is still etched in my memory as the worse 5 hours of my life. My husband and I travelled silently through the night to Oakey Veterinary Surgery, neither game to say a word; both straining to hear TC's movements in the float. The silence was interrupted occasionally by encouraging texts being sent from around Australia, wishing us well with our journey to save our beautiful boy.
The staff at Oakey were waiting for our arrival. A better team of professionals would be hard to find. At 11pm they burst out of the doorway as soon as our lights turned up the driveway. They were amazed to find him still standing in the float and commended his courage.
They rushed him straight into surgery, sending us on our way to leave them get on with their job unhindered. Jock and I waited in a 24 hour McDonald store in Toowoomba for the phone call. Not a word had past between us in over 6 hours, our eyes meeting said all we needed to say. Finally, the phone range. GOOD NEWS! He survived the surgery and, in the coming weeks, won the hearts of all at the hospital.
12 months later, we were back at Oakey having the hernia that resulted from the colic surgery operated on. They inserted a teflon sheet to protect his abodmen. Sadly, he will never show again. He has three large hernias descending from his underline. He has to wear a 'girdle' to protect him from injury when collecting for AI services. He handled the second surgery like the champion horse he is. Again, winning the admiration of everyone.
TC is truly a remarkable stallion. He was sweet natured during both his confinements. He handled all the prodding, needling and changing of dressings without a hint of annoyance. All the staff remarked on his good nature throughout both ordeals - ordeals that would challenge most horses.
We are truly blessed to have such a wonderful horse in our lives.
