ABOUT US

Corumbene Stud is located in the beautiful Onkaparinga Hills, south of Adelaide. We produce ponies and galloways of type and quality. As a family we commenced showing more than 40 years ago and have won more than 10 Horse of the Year titles and won consistently at Royal shows. Our late mother, Catherine, plonked my then little (but older) sister, Elizabeth on a friend's Shetland pony. Elizabeth smiled and that was all the encouragement our mother needed.

Catherine Fricker (nee Cooper) had shown and ridden as a child and teenager. She always described herself as the original tryer and watched with envy those girls whose parents helped and provided floats! Some of those girls were Pat, Jane and Anne Bush.

Our father, Graham Fricker, has been a driver of Corumbene's and our showing success. He is without doubt our major sponsor, best supporter and most generous critic. Look on the side lines or in the stands at any major show around Australia and you will see him, usually on the phone reporting back to the rest of the team on how things are going, or doing business.

Betsey Chibnall, whom most people would know- truck driver, coach, rider and friend extraordinaire, is Pat Bush's daughter. We have all been friends for more than 40 years. We have competed against each other, cried and laughed together. Betsey retired first, and then Elizabeth a year or so after the girls, Caitlin and Victoria were born in 2001. I retired after Mt Gambier show 2006.

So now it is over to the girls. We are thoroughly enjoying starting over again with Caitlin and Victoria who have both commenced their show careers.

The next generation:

Photo: Julie Wilson