19/04/2026
Praise, admiration, and love to my hubby Gary. Day one breaking in Mo 3 year old Gypsy Cob Frisian.
He started breaking in horses when he was 13 and his now 70 next month.
Old school breaker Gary would arrive to break a horse in with his chaff bag containing ropes, cans, his hand-made rope halters, made to hit the pressure points for attention, and his bronc saddle, which is 80 years old.
Gary is a master at ground work. He can't stress enough how important getting the ground work correct is.
Horses broken in by Gary return home shod, teeth done, excellent ground manners, walk, trot, canter on both leads, commencement of lateral, having a stock whip cracked under saddle, opening gates, being ridden out in the open, ridden in water, night riding with a head light, facing and excepting every challenge he can find.
Gary has broken to saddle and harness 100s of horses for many disciplines in Australia, Norfolk Island, Dubai, and Bahrain.
He has been asked to go to Amercia and Ireland to break horses in.
I have safely ridden and competed many horses broken in by Gary.
Eighteen months ago, he suffered triple by pass surgery and a stroke he doesn't have the power he once had, and his not as quick as he used to be, but he certainly still has the knowledge.
This is the end of an era of breaking in for Gary.
He will still keep riding and driving our horses in harness, ones he previously broke in. It's his turn to just enjoy the horses. Gary is the man behind the scenes at Deb Ride Fit, but he is my absolute rock and inspiration.