Off-the-track Thoroughbred Harry Kewl, competing with Lou Abey’s 13-year-old daughter Penny. Image by Lisa Grund Photography.
Years ago, Harry Kewl was Lou Abey’s ticket back to show jumping. After some time away from the family helping others to gain confidence in the sport, the 24-year-old Thoroughbred is now back with the Abey family and showing 13-year-old Penny the ropes.
The black gelding – foaled in Australia in 2001 by successful sire Sky Chase (NZ) from Mum Mac (AUS) – began racing in 2005. He achieved one second and two thirds from 13 starts under trainer Danny Macdonald, before being retired the following year with a little over $2,000 in prizemoney.
At 24 years of age, Harry Kewl still loves his job! Image by Angie Rickard Photography.
“I completely switched
what I was doing
because of him…”
Acquiring Harry fresh off the track – him having raced the week prior – Racing Victoria Acknowledged Retainer Lou Abey was keen to find the horse’s next calling. “I was playing polocrosse at the time, so I took him,” she says, “and I was working with cattle, so I mustered with him and worked on a big property with my dogs moving cattle and campdrafting and playing polocrosse.”
According to Lou, Harry wasn’t a fan of this line of work, and it wasn’t until she jumped him while at home that she discovered Harry’s niche. “He wasn’t suited to [campdrafting and polocrosse]. Then I jumped him at home and just went, ‘Oh my gosh, that’s what he wants to do.’ I completely switched what I was doing because of him and just kept going.”
Despite having had a long break from jumping, Lou settled back into the swing of things with Harry’s help. “I hadn’t jumped for 15 years,” Lou shares. “I hadn’t jumped since Pony Club, and I got him, and he took me quite a long way… we’ve had a lot of success. I had so much fun with him; he absolutely loves the job. From the first round he jumped like he’d done it all his life. He just knew what to do. He’s really careful and rarely has a rail down. Twice he was the leading Thoroughbred at the Australian Jumping Championships in the Emerald series, taking me around 1.30m in the jump-off.
“Finely built at 15.2 he often looked like a pony compared to the other horses. He always tried his heart out for me.”
“He always tried his
heart out for me…”
STILL COMPETITIVE
Having spent some time with other families in recent years, Harry is now back with the Abey family. At 24, he is still competitive – and while Lou says he’s “matured” in his old age, he’s very much still full of energy to ride.
One of the most rewarding aspects of Lou and Harry’s almost 20 years together has been to watch the bond he’s now formed with Lou’s children due to his quiet and safe nature. “My 13-year-old daughter is doing show jumping with him,” she says. “My son, who’s ten, also rides him at Pony Club and home. There aren’t many Thoroughbreds I’d put a ten-year-old on.”
Lou’s daughter, Penny, has had great success with Harry this year. Their first Interschools show jumping competition was at Boneo Park for the Round 1 of the Victorian Equestrian Interschools Series (VEIS).
Harry and Penny in the show jumping arena. Image by One Eyed Frog Photography.
“They competed in the 95cm, jumping three clear rounds and finishing fourth overall, in a competitive field of 53,” says Lou.
The duo went on to finish third overall in the 95cm division of the VEIS for Year 7-9 students. As part of the VEIS series, Harry flew the OTT flag and appeared on Channel Seven’s The Morning Show with Penny to help promote the breed.
From there, they competed at the 2025 Victorian State Jumping Championships and won the OTT class as well as winning round one of the 90cm series. Next was the inaugural Off The Track Carnival at Boneo Park, where they were third in the 95cm; they finished ahead of Olympian Amanda Ross and Penny was named leading junior rider.
Harry was the best performed OTT in the 85-90cm class at the 2025 Victorian State Jumping Championships. Image by Click Capture.
EVENTING SCHOOLMASTER
“They have recently been eventing and Harry is showing Penny the ropes,” explains Lou. “They have competed at Leighdale Pony Club Horse Trials as well as recently at Ballarat Pony Club Horse Trials in the Grade 3, which is 80cm, both times finishing on their dressage score and in the placings.
“It’s daunting watching your children go out on cross country and I am happy that Penny gets to experience her first ‘big horse’ on a horse as exceptional as this legend,” adds Lou.
Penny and Harry still attend Pony Club regularly, and Penny still hopes to compete in eventing and jumping with him next year.
“He still very much loves his job; he waits at the gate and self-loads when heading to events!” says Lou.
Lou is a fan of older horses, and alongside Harry also has two 19-year-old Thoroughbreds who are both still competitive show jumpers and eventers, Sail On By and Carnegie Dan, a 26-year-old New Forest Pony and 30-year-old Shetland. She says the oldies – Thoroughbred or otherwise – can have so much to offer in their later years due to their life experiences. “They’re priceless, I could never replace them!”
Penny is no doubt also becoming a big fan of older Thoroughbreds. Part of her 2026 plans include picking up the reins of Sail On By, and for Lou there is no bigger thrill than watching her daughter partner with these special OTTs.
“Both are excellent examples of how amazing Thoroughbreds are, and how much they give.” EQ
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