‘Woomera’ or ‘Ammo’ as he is affectionately known became world renown as the First Australian Stock horse to gallop onto Stadium Australia to Open the Sydney Olympic games.

He was viewed by 4.5 billion people world wide and undisputedly helped to bring the stock horse to the attention of billions of admirers.

Since opening the Olympics, and over the past year, Steve and Ammo have attended functions to promote the stock horse throughout the Eastern States of Australia.

Not long after the Olympic Games, ‘Ammo’ was privileged to lead the ‘Parade for Volunteers’ through the Sydney streets. And defying protocol he was even allowed to walk at the head of the parade, infront of the Mounted Police horses, who according to parade protocol always lead the Sydney parades. That night Ammo and Steve appeared on Channel 9 news, being interviewed by Tara Brown.

He also made a special appearance at the Paralympic Torch relay when it arrived at Rat Park, Narrabeen. In front of a few thousand people, Steve and Ammo re-enacted their Opening Ceremony, Gallop, rear and crack of the whip. Then in true Stock horse style he stood like a statue whilst kids climbed around his legs, kissed him, cuddled him and unknowingly let the occasional helium filled balloon buffet his face an oops up between his back legs. This was a great promotion of the stock horse to people who would not readily be close to a horse, but were so impressed with his achievements they cued just to touch him.

Some said he was only good as a ‘rearing horse’, however this was discounted when he stepped out in the highest level of dressage, Novice, at the 2001 Australian Stock horse National Championships at Scone and won this event. He was also placed second in his hack class at this same event.

He has proven to be a willing dressage performer, with wins in most dressage events he has been entered in and scores of up to 71%, not bad for a rearing horse. In July, 2001, he won the Champion Preliminary dressage horse at the Warringah Dressage Championships and was awarded the Preliminary ‘Horse of the Year’ .

In November, 2001, Ammo traveled to Equitana to appear on the Verbac/Vetsearch Stand. He spent 5 days in a stable on the floor of the Exhibition center talking to all his passing admirers. There were 90,000 people who attended over the five days, and I think most of these kissed or left a message for Ammo on his own personal white board. Messages like ‘Ammo rules’, ‘what a studmuffin’ ‘ You’re the best’ were written by passersby.

Virbac had specially designed postcards featuring ‘Ammo’, Steve and ‘Jana’. These postcards were scooped up and at the end there was none of the 15,000 cards left.

Ammo’s picture appeared in a Melbourne Sun Herald article detailing the Equitana event, he was depicted rearing on the foreshores of the Yarra River. He also appeared in all Melbourne newspaper advertisements for Equitana in the lead up to the event.

During 2001, Ammo has been used as a school horse in our riding business, ‘Equestrian Excellence’. He has taught many adults as well as older children, some first time riders. He is so popular and is in great demand as lesson horse, riders are keen to take a photograph of themselves on this wonderful horse and have sent these pics to relatives all over the world. In his role he has promoted the Stock horse to city folk, most of them remembering their ride and once looking to purchase their own mount, will no doubt go for an ‘Aussie’ horse.

And Steve and Ammo rode again, at the Sydney Lord Mayors New Years Eve party. He was required to canter out on to the dance floor which was located on the forecourt of the Opera House. Performing the famous rear and whip crack to a delighted audience and for the Channel 9 cameras, who took it live to air. And prior to this, on New Years Eve afternoon, Ammo stood whilst hundreds of handicapped and underprivileged kids had their photos taken with him.

A starring role in ‘The Man From Snowy River Arena Spectacular’ brought him back to the hearts of many Australians. He then traveled to Brisbane to Equitana where he starred in the Mane event as the Hero’s mount.

His latest appearance was at Agfest in Launceston, Tasmania. Appearing in Steve’s training demonstration and bringing tears to the eyes of many spectators who remember him well for his Olympic role.