 |
|
|||||||||||||||||
 |
||||||||||||||||||
 |
Click to view the map and see where v are Hi.... I am Juliet Clydesdale. Everybody who visits Morpeth says I am the most remarkable and memorable Image the town has to offer. When I pull my Carriage through Morpeth it’s a vision from the past and the clip clop of my massive feet is an echo from days gone by. All the tourists say how happy they are to see me. Many come for a Ride through town and learn about the History. Dieter my human partner is a fantastic entertainer who operated his own big 6 wheel drive 24 seater Bus in the Dunes of Port Stephens climbing onto the highest sand dunes in the southern hemisphere and gave over 100 000 tourists from all over the world the thrill of a lifetime.
Click on the underlined links below
websites of friendly people who support Juliet If you support Juliet and would like us to link to your site Send us an email info@morpethtradingpost.com.au
Weddings in Morpeth are $ 380.00 . The Carriage can be decorated by yourself or us.
Juliet the majestic Clydesdale mare pulling her Carriage is like a vision from the past and the clip clop of her massive feet an echo from days gone by. I’m sure you agree ..Morpeth is in a league of it’s own with Julie roaming the streets. Help to k e e p her in M o r p e t h Come for a ride through town to experience a unique Encounter with Juliet the Horse and a German Settler who likes to reflect on the history and human endeavour . signal driver or come to Home Base Morpeth Trading Post 7 Robert St (jingle bell tune) Clip e c l o p clip e c l o p J u liet swings her f e e t Young and old come running out When she trots down the s t r e e t She likes to pull her c a r t And looks so strong and s m a r t Hop on to keep her on the job keep M o r peth look a p a r t
email Contakt>> >> info@morpethtradingpost.com.au
klick>>>>>>>>> to see Juliet the Clydesdale mare small file http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=cKsqvBkX43w klick>>>>>>>>>>>> Michy canters Juliet klick picture to see and hear Juliet
Michelle likes to ride Juliet>>>>>>>>>klick image email>>>>>>>> info@morpethtradingpost.com.au
http://au.youtube.com/horsejuliet Klick>>>>>>>>>>>>> see video Juliet pull the Buggy email contakt >>>>>>>>>> info@morpethtradingpost.com.au
Juliet up hill .........>>>>>origijuly.jpg Read the email from a visitor below You could be walking down the street 100 years ago time has just stood still in this old world village. The shops where amazing old toy stores, lolly stores, wine store, antique store bakery etc... the history oozes from the old sandstone buildings even the gutters in the streets are dstone! Famous businesses also started out in Morpeth as it was a thriving trade centre in the early and mid 1800’s most notably Soul Patterson Chemists and Arnott’s biscuits. We went on a horse drawn cart ride through the main streets in town with a German settler named Dieter who stoped and told us of the rich history behind each significant building and landmark. As a tourist attraction i give this place 10 out of 10!! JUST GO!! I lay sprawled in the grass the tiny sugar ants tickled my skin as they trekked their way to their anthill. My coat shon a vibrant copper against the suns ray, the heat beated onto my closed eyelids as I lay comfortable under my mothers guard. When I lay like this I feel so weightless, my soon to be large heavy hooves propped up against the earth didn’t have to support my heavy weight. “Oh what was that” my mother a large heavy bred horse nudged at my side implying me to “get up...get up”. “Ohhh the light” the sudden awakening from my dreams made the light from reality a startling pain to my tired eyes. The blood rushed from my head as I began to prop myself up, I had to think this part through getting up on all four feet without getting tangled within my gangly legs was complicated, there is a reason to why horses can sleep standing up. Ok right front, back left underneath me…left front and back right and push up! Wow I made it not the most elegant sight but I’m still learning. Being a filly of only six months I have still a many a thing to learn my mum saids, I have only relished in the games of tag and chase games with the colts yet as mother and master often say “There will be work later on in life not always play”. I stretched out my knotted muscles from my midday nap. I didn’t look like the other normal horses on the farm. Even at my young age my hooves were a good deal larger then the other colts and fillies, I had white fur feathers encroaching the edges of my hooves. My legs are splashed with white as if I were picked up and submerged to my flanks in white paint a common attribute to my breed, what breed you may aske? the Clysdale of course. The breeze stroked the rivers surface grabbing my attention towards the otherside of the river. “What’s over there?...on the other side?” I asked mum, “We will never know” she replied. A unusual sense of sadness washed over me, was I to be forever contained within these wooden fences which when I scratched upon gave me splinters? Was I never to see what was beyond the River? I turned and looked away from across the river. The master was calling me “Julie!..Julie come on”, Julie? Was that my name? mother never called me this she always referred to me as filly. Mother looked at me and said “Come master is calling you”. We both trod our way to where master stood, a stick like figure leaning against the splintered fence a strange looking creature he was with no fur to keep him warm and two tooth pick like legs to support his vertical stance. He gripped some ropes in his hand and approached me slowly, “Easy Julie….Easy Girl” he murmured. I felt a little uneasy thinking he might do something strange then his hands holding the rope approached my face “Ahhhh!!!” I thought! “It’s ok Filly, he isn’t going to hurt you just stay still!” mum assured me. So I did as he awkwardly place some hard strappy material around my face and nose “Gosh this feels weird ohh its tickling my nose!!! MUM MUM GET IT OFF!!!” I threw my head up, jumped to the side kicking and jumping in every angle as I tried to destroy the creature on my face. I saw Master’s legs fly over the fence capturing my mother’s disturbed look, ears pinned back and nose crinkled “FILLY STAND STILL NOW!!!!” she shouted. But I didn’t I wanted to get this thing off my nose, this thing that tickled and strangled my nose as if a snake curled tight around my head. I squealed, squirmed, kicked and jumped but no matter how hard I threw my face around the thing wouldn’t get off my face. After several minutes I stopped…. Panting as sweat rolled down my shoulders mother was standing a distance away staring across the river. “Mum?” I whinnied “Come here Filly” she sternly called me “I can’t get it off mum…it is stuck” “Filly I told you to stand still It isn’t going to hurt you, master put the halter on you so as it is easier for you to obey and understand him and acting like that was incorrect, Clydesdales are not supposed to act like that we are obedient” mother abruptly explained. “But mum it tickled and strangled my nose” “Does it still tickle and strangle your nose?” “ummm…actually not any more” I was amazed at my astonishing realisation, at that point I felt ashamed. Ashamed for the way I acted and disappointing my mother and worst of all master. ‘I’m sorry mother, I was just scared” “It’s not me you have to worry about so much anymore filly its master. He is the one you must always please and obey maybe you have been playing with the colts for too long” “No mother I’m sorry I won’t misbehave like that again I swear! I be a good Clydesdale I promise” “Well the only way you can prove it to yourself is by obeying master if you ever want to go across the river he is your only chance of ever seeing or going there you understand?” “ Yes mother I understand I will obey him”. Mother and I stood there for several minutes looking across the water the cool breeze drying my sweat to a salty layer on my skin. From that day on master attempted to teach me new things everyday, some things were difficult to understand but he rewarded me well when I did it correctly. I liked these rewards so I continued to do what he wanted, but at the same time I was confused my heart and senses told me to flee, to kick and bite till I was running wild but I knew doing so would hurt master, but that is not what a clysdale does he obeys master at all times. Everyday master summoned me from the weathered fence a routine in which I was becoming aware of. At this point every morning my stomach would rumble as I anxiously tried to imagine the new and intimidating thing I must learn, anticipating the fear I would feel If I was to displease master. As he placed what once I believed was a strangling snake now a harmless halter around my head. I saw the colts jumping and biting one another as they played tagged. I exhaled a large breath of air as I imagined myself playing with them “Why do they get to play?” I thought, “Haha Julie can’t play with us!!! She is going to work haha!!!!! Boring Julie!!” The colts noticed my face filled with jalousie teasing me for the fact that I was no longer an immature foal but a working horse. Master walked me through to the barn in which he often taught me many a new thing such as standing still patiently for hours on end no matter how tired my legs were and to pick my feet up as he hammered heavy metallic shoes to my hooves. At this point in my life I was fearful and nervous never resting as these new things all came towards me like a cloud of dust making me confused and disorientated. Mother continued to tell me to just do as master said and I would be ok yet I still had to force down the butterflies which often made me blind to the information I had to take in. By this time master had taught me how to follow directions through a simple yet harsh piece of metal in my mouth which was cold and hard pulling at the edges of my sensitive skin (mouth). Yet soon enough my mouth grew stronger to the metal piece in my mouth or as master called it the bit. By this time I grew up quickly, I was nearly two years old and fully grown. I stood taller then mother my mane no longer a spiky bush of hairs protruding towards the sky, but now a mane that hung down gently to the tips of my shoulders. I felt stronger but still longed for the freedom in which I yearned. Every afternoon exhausted from day of training I went and stood by the edge of the river and watched the cows on the other side lazing in the little sun left. A little black and white Willy Wag Tail bird danced between my hooves chasing the crickets through the long grass. “Oh little Wag Tail do you think I will ever see across the river?” I asked the playful creature. A simple happy chirp was the Wag Tails response. “ Oh little bird how I wish I had your wings so as I could just flutter over those splintered fences which keep me bound….but I cannot and I must accept that I suppose” I tried to convince myself that I was what I was and no one could change it, I had to learn to accept myself. But I didn’t want too.. I wanted to be fast and beautiful like the other horses with slender legs and elegant arching necks. I looked to the side seeing the fillies flirt with the young colts nickering and laughing. “Hmmm… well maybe a big flood will come along and pick me up over the fences and take me to the other side!! Haha” I mused trying to be optimistic.
As the days continued on the farm the idea of freedom started to become unrealistic. I was certain of this on the day master introduced me to the thing I dreaded the most….the plough. It was a heavy chunk of metal with chains and a spur which cut into the earth. It looked scary and mean with rusted edges, it smelt of erosion and old soil adding an extra wave of insecurity through me. As master walked me towards it I snorted and stared at the lifeless object as it devilishly smiled back. Master spoke softly to me but I was afraid “Just like the little cart Julie that’s all it is”. Master had already put the cart behind me a couple of times which was light and nimble but this looked heavy and strong. He placed the harness and leathers on me as he hitched me to the scary creature. “Just do as I say Julie, ok?” master tried to assure me but no longer could I see him the blinkers surrounding the sides of my eyes forced me to look straight ahead. My heart was pounding faster, sweat was beginning to form on the edges of my face as fear was encroaching inside me. My legs began to tremble as I felt the tension of the reins on my mouth tighten “Oh noooo….oh no…” my mind was a ball of cotton wool unravelling into a mess. “You can do it Julie!” I heard my mother whinny from the edge of the paddock, the trampling of footsteps coming closer indicated to me that I had an audience, “ohh no not the colts too” I thought. “Ok Julie forward on!” master shouted. I hesitated for a few seconds trying to get my trembling knees to bend, I took the first step “Ughhh!!!” I moaned it was heavy ….heavier then the little cart yet master urged me forward so I did. My muscles quivered with every step, the chains slapped aginst my side creating a thick foam of sweat at my flanks. Each pull was rough and jerky as the large spur on the plough cut into the field with master guiding me it created a deep trench in which soon wheat would grow. The colts ran up and down the fence line watching me with great mazement bewildered that I Julie the young filly they teased now was a working horse. I felt a pang of satisfaction as I heard them snort in amazement “ How can Julie put that heavy thing its so scary!!... I could never pull that!!” The plough clonked and clanked as I went up and down the field, the sun began to beat harshly down onto my sweating back, I was tired and was gratefull when master called me to stop. Despite my fatigue I felt some sort of pride in my ability to pull such a heavy thing and realised that even though my legs weren’t as elegant or my neck slender as the other horses I was strong and wasn’t afraid of anything anymore….I was a clydesdale a working horse not a silly show pony.
He unhitched me from the bulky piece of metal, as I walked away I felt so weightless yet I held my head high as master released me back into the paddock the colts staring at me in amazement “How did you pull that thing it looked so heavy!!” They asked with astonishment and for once they didn’t try to bite or chase me away realising my strength and power. I said nothing in reply and simply walked past unafraid and proud of what I was. I did this kind of work nearly everyday and each time it got easier until pulling the plough seemed as if I pulled almost nothing. My muscles were larger and my legs stronger. I enjoyed this feeling of strength but as the work continued I got bored and the nagging feeling of discovering started to creep back into my life. I was five years old now, the colts and fillies that once teased me were auctioned and sold and new foals were born. My mother was pregnant once again and I rarely talked to her now. But little did I know that on this winters morning was my life about to change.
I as usual was standing by the river bank staring towards the other side, frost still clung to the tips of the grass leaves setting the green fields to a tinted grey. Little work was being done on the farm as no crops was growing due to the colder air so I was surprised as I heard master’s faint voice call my name “Julie, Julie!”. As I began to plod towards master I noticed he wasn’t alone, another man stood by his side. Rarely did we ever get visitors as master kept to himself relishing in the company of animals rather then those of his own kind. I examined the man, he was slightly taller then master with a thick bundle of hair curled atop his head a mixture of grey and gold obviously not a young man but less worn and weathered as master, his skin tanned and unblemished making me believe he was not a man from around this area. As he welcomed me I noticed his speech had a strange curl and sharpness to it , definitely not from around this land. The heavy crunch beneath each of his steps against the grass indicated to me he was not a light man and enjoyed his supper like me. His approach was cautious yet brave and I felt no fear to him and strangely had instant respect for him. He stroked my neck gently observing my unusual features obviously used to the slighter build of the normal horses. “ Oh no!” I thought “He thinks I am weird and ugly…like everyone else” yet I was surprised when he said in an excited tone “She is beautiful and amazing!!!”. My ears pricked to his happy tone towards me and felt some what relief that this stranger unlike the other animals on the farm liked my differences. Master led me to the cart in which he hitched me up, “Ok Julie lets show this stranger how well behaved you are” master explained. Oh I understand I was showing off what I could do to this stranger and due to my good feeling towards him I did the very best I could. Stop, Go, Pivot, Left, Right, Back Up…….this went on for an hour even the stranger attempted in driving the cart and myself. I could tell he was new to this but never the less was gentle and understandable. After a good hour of portraying my skills in pulling the cart master showed and explained how to un hitch me from the cart. I felt some sense of confidence as I turned and looked at the strangers face who was grinning from one ear to another a gesture I discovered could not be done by our fellow horse species.
|
 |
 |
||
Morpeth in the hunter valley 
| Site Map |