Flip through the latest issue of Gulf Weekly.
This week I would like to introduce Troy, a horse with definitely more air-miles than most. Born and bred on the South Island of New Zealand Troy was spotted in a newspaper advert.
Helen and Fred Governo, who were living in New Zealand at the time, found the former 'horsesick' having sold off her horses when they moved from the UK.
It was in fact her husband Fred who bought Troy for Helen. With no real horse experience, he simply liked the look of Troy, so the purchase was made.
It was only some time later that Troy's true potential was realised as unbeknown to Helen when Troy was bought, he was being ridden and trained by one of New Zealand's top dressage riders.
Originally Troy was bred as a show jumper, but had shown far more potential for dressage.
Troy started his travels by moving from South Island to Wellington in the North Island on a ferry. In Wellington, Troy and Helen formed a bond, but finding herself pregnant she decided to send Troy off to his original trainer in Auckland; a short-term decision while Helen had her children.
Troy was trained and went on to compete at Novice, Elementary and Medium level dressage, winning local area championships.
Once back with Helen, Troy continued his training with another of New Zealand's top riders. However, and family had to move to Bahrain where, strangely enough, Helen had lived and worked and ridden many years previously.
There was never any question of leaving Troy behind because he was now firmly established as the eldest child! From New Zealand he flew to Australia where he waited in quarantine for a week for the next part of his journey.
For his trip from Australia to Bahrain, Troy was joined by 33 horses and ponies. An old hand at traveling now, Troy was not fazed at all by the long journey. As the horses landed in Bahrain, Helen, Fred, Olivia and Oscar went straight off their plane and round to cargo, to watch Troy being unloaded. He then went off to his new home in Bahrain at the Dilmun Riding Centre.
Troy could have been mistaken for thinking his traveling was over ... but, no ... now 18 months on and Troy is off again.
This time Troy travels to the UK. His journey will take him by road to Dubai, from where he will fly to London Heathrow, and then to his new home in Bath.
Check out his new home at Bath Equestrian Centre on their website Bathequestrian.co.uk
Could this be the end of Troy's travels? We shall see!
