Chloe Love and Blue Jeans. Image by DKA Photography.
Blue Jeans first stepped onto the Pony Club circuit 18 years ago. In the years since, she’s partnered with riders of all ages and ability levels – and her latest might just be the most rewarding yet.
Once a police officer in Surfers Paradise, Terri Gladwin became familiar with horse and carriage tour owners Barry and Sue, and they quickly struck up a strong friendship. During Terri’s patrols, the conversations between the three horse enthusiasts would often centre around their shared passion, with one of these discussions changing Terri’s life forever.
“One evening whilst chatting, Barry asked me if I would be interested in purchasing a three-year-old Percheron x Thoroughbred mare from Warwick as she was the wrong size to pair with his carriage horse,” Terri explains. “As soon as Barry told me her name was Blue Jeans, I just knew I had to meet her, and of course, it was love at first sight!”
Bred by a saddlery owner in 2001 in Warwick, Queensland – about two hours southwest of Brisbane – by a Percheron stallion from a Thoroughbred mare, the now 23-year-old grey mare Blue Jeans set hearts alight from day one. “Upon arrival, Blue Jeans was an absolute favourite,” Terri says, “with children and adults alike, whether horse fanatics or not.”
Terri Gladwin and Blue Jeans.
“Blue Jeans has now competed
and been successful in the
disciplines of gymkhanas,
showjumping, dressage, and eventing.”
Not long after being purchased by Terri, the news came that unbeknownst to anyone, a neighbourhood Welsh stallion had visited Blue Jeans, and a foal would soon be joining the Gladwins. When Blue Jeans began her labours, eight pony club children and four adults all camped out overnight to witness the birth of Dachet Just Blue – a little black filly who would later turn grey and become the spitting image of her mother.
Blue Jeans enjoyed a well-deserved break, settling into motherhood without issue. When Dachet was finally weaned, Blue Jeans then began a new career in Pony Club with Terri at Mudgeeraba Pony and Hack Club, then later at Southport Pony and Hack Club. “Although I’d had horses for years, I had never competed,” Terri shares. “With the help of some wonderful Pony Club instructors and fabulous coaches and riders, Blue Jeans has now competed and been successful in the disciplines of gymkhanas, showjumping, dressage, and eventing.”
PONY CLUB PARTNERSHIPS
Blue Jeans’ kind, gentle, and willing nature made her the perfect Pony Club horse. Throughout her 18 years in the Pony Club circuit, Blue Jeans has partnered with many riders of all ages and ability levels. “Blue Jeans has helped riders build or regain confidence,” Terri says, “and helped out when riders needed a mount, sometimes due to injury of their own horse. This included being the mount for a rider whose horse could not travel at the last minute to the New South Wales Pony Club State Championships in Dubbo in 2013. Blue Jeans, having had only a handful of rides with her junior rider Elle Thexton, travelled to Dubbo – with the duo making the top 10 in the Elementary Class!”
Blue Jeans and her foal, Dachet Just Blue.
Her successes in Pony Club only continued to grow with each new partnership. She was chosen as a pool horse in the Tri-Nations Pony Club Competition, lining up riders from Canada, Hong Kong, and Australia to compete in dressage and show jumping. Being a pool horse meant that both horse and rider were given only minutes to get to know each other before they jumped straight into competing.
Blue Jeans was partnered with a 16-year-old girl from Hong Kong who had never ridden outdoors, on grass, or on any breed other than Thoroughbreds, and despite some initial nerves upon seeing Blue Jeans’ 16.1 hand size, the pair quickly fell into step and secured third place in the highly competitive event.
Ever ready to compete, she was also a member of the winning team at the Queensland State Teams Dressage Championship at Southport Pony and Hack Club in 2012, after subbing in last minute with a rider whose horse had been injured. The event was extra special as her daughter Dachet competed alongside her.
Dachet Just Blue, ridden by Emily McGowan.
“Dachet has also been through Pony Club, winning a number of Zone and State Pony Club Championships,” Terri says. Dachet has been the perfect partner for many Pony Club riders – and has recently given birth to a filly herself, who will no doubt follow in the footsteps of her mother and grandmother. “Blue Jeans is now a grandmother, and she has been a big part of looking after the baby. I’m sure [the filly] Saila will be a Pony Club star when her time comes!”
NEW PARTNER, SAME OLD BLUE JEANS
Easter time in 2024 saw Blue Jeans enter her latest partnership with 12-year-old Chloe Love at Oxenford Pony Club on the Gold Coast, which Chloe’s mum Tamarra admits was completely unexpected.
Blue Jeans and Chloe Love.
“It was our friends Camilla and Terri who came up with the idea. We had known Terri for a number of years, and also knew Blue Jeans, but we hadn’t thought of Chloe riding her until then,” Tamarra explains. “We were struggling to find a mount for Chloe with little funds and the pony she had was too much for her. Their idea has turned into an amazing connection for Chloe and Blue Jeans.”
Chloe has had a more difficult journey than most, being born with a rare genetic syndrome, learning difficulties, and half a heart requiring multiple surgeries, but her resilience and drive have propelled her forward to new heights in Pony Club – which the Love family attribute in part to Blue Jeans.
“The biggest, most rewarding part for my husband and I is just seeing Chloe’s confidence in herself grow, and her resilience and grit really shine,” Tamarra shares. “Chloe struggled to go out and compete on her ponies; two years at Pony Club and she hadn’t competed in any competition successfully. Blue Jeans gave her the confidence to try competing, and she felt safe to go out and try. The schoolmaster and ‘been there, done that’ attitude from Blue Jeans enabled Chloe to finally feel what it was like to compete on your horse.”
“I like grooming her –
I love her fluffy legs!”
Chloe and Blue Jeans competing.
The Love family are often approached at events by those who recognise Blue Jeans from all those years ago, which Tamarra says the whole family loves. “We often go to events and have been asked, ‘Is that Blue Jeans?’ – usually followed by comments like, ‘Oh my goodness, I used to compete against her 10 (or more) years ago!’”
In just their first year together, Chloe and Blue Jeans have already tasted success in dressage, combined training, and jumping equitation, taking home ribbons and rosettes at almost every competition – including placing first overall in jumping equitation in Nerang last year. “It was only our second competition,” Chloe recalls, but admits that placings are secondary for her. “My biggest win personally was being able to go and compete with her as I had never been able to do that before.”
TWILIGHT YEARS
The pair are readying to improve their performance over the next few years with Blue Jeans showing no signs of slowing down. But Chloe says she’s aiming to just enjoy her time with Blue Jeans until she retires – including taking her to the beach and on trail rides. “I like grooming her – I love her fluffy legs! – and feeding her and just being with her. Being able to go out a lot more and being part of her last competitions before she retires [is the most rewarding part for me].
“As long as we can keep her healthy and sound as she approaches 24 years old, Chloe will continue to ride her,” Tamarra shares, “whether that’s competing or just at home or on trails. I genuinely don’t think Chloe cares about competing – she just wants to ride and have fun. Every horse deserves to be loved by a little girl, especially Blue Jeans in her twilight years. I feel so blessed to see them together. Chloe is so lucky to have an opportunity to have Blue Jeans, and I count my blessings every time I see them working together.”
Blue Jeans is one in a million.
“She is truly one
in a million.”
For Terri, Chloe and Blue Jeans’ budding relationship speaks to Blue Jeans’ gentle, motherly nature, and their successful partnership is as special as the ones that came before. “The connection, bond, and love that Chloe and Blue Jeans share is remarkable and absolutely heartwarming. Blue Jeans is an extra special mare who has given so much joy to so many riders. I am so incredibly blessed to have had this amazing journey with such a majestic, kind, giving, safe, and beautiful animal. She is truly one in a million.” EQ
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