Shiraz

Some horses leave hoofprints on our hearts that last forever. Today we honour Shiraz (Silver Queen), a beautiful spirit who blessed Nicole and her family with 22 incredible years of companionship, lessons, and love.

Nicole has shared these heartfelt words about her beloved mare:

💙 Vale Shiraz (Silver Queen) 💙

Shiraz arrived in our family as a 9-year-old retired, emaciated racehorse in January 2003 and has been with us until Monday. From that very first day, she captured my heart completely.

She travelled with us from Townsville to Brisbane when we relocated in 2008, proving that home isn't a place – it's wherever your horses are. While I rode ponies as a kid, I hadn't had anything to do with horses for years before Shiraz came into my life. She taught me so many things – the good, the bad, and the ugly of horse riding and ownership. But that didn't matter, because she was mine.

Shiraz was not the easiest horse to ride, but we enjoyed so many different adventures together. The beach trail rides, the different horse riding events – each one a memory I'll treasure forever. She had her own way of doing things, and I loved her all the more for it.

She was always the paddock boss wherever she lived, and that didn't change in old age. Right up until the end, she continued to boss Jessica around and literally push her weight around. That was just Shiraz – confident, strong-willed, and completely herself.

While I knew deep down that the time would come when she left this earth, I really hoped she would pass on her own terms. Even though she was all but blind (though her hearing remained perfect!), and her hind legs were wobbly, she continued to love her retired life with such spirit and determination.

The firsts without her have been the hardest – the first night feed, the first morning feed, the first time taking Jess out. The paddock feels emptier. The routine feels incomplete. She is missed by us all.

Thank you, Shiraz, for 22 years of teaching me, challenging me, and loving me in your own special way. You were truly one of a kind.

Run free, beautiful girl. The paddock is yours now, and always will be. 🐾

Nicole, it has been such a privilege to know you and to be there for you and Shiraz during this difficult goodbye.

Twenty-two years is an extraordinary journey to share with a horse, and it's clear that every single one of those years was filled with love, dedication, and an unbreakable bond.

Shiraz was so lucky to have found her way to you – from that emaciated racehorse to the confident paddock boss who lived out her days surrounded by love and care. What a testament to the life you gave her, and what a gift she gave you in return.

Thank you for trusting us to care for Shiraz in her final moments, and for allowing us to be part of her story. We know how deeply these firsts hurt, and we're thinking of you, Jessica, and your whole family as you navigate life without your beautiful girl.

With deepest sympathy and understanding,

Alby and Rachael 💙