A new book about the life of equestrian great Johnny Fahey has been published by Rosenberg Publishing.
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It has long been known that Fahey’s achievements since he won his first event at the Wingham Show in 1946 would comfortably fill a book.
Long since retired, Fahey won his last blue ribbon at Wingham in 2005. The former Olympian is one of the Manning’s finest athletes and Australia’s most successful Olympic showjumper.
Known as The Master because of his outstanding riding successes and horsemanship, he is a dual Olympian who won top-level showjumping events on four continents and has broken two World Cup Showjumping world records. Fahey also excelled at campdrafting, winning four world champion campdraft titles, and in horseracing, where he won races and trained winners in metropolitan racing. He also won Champion Gentleman Rider at all of Australia’s biggest Royal shows.
Winning his first showriding ribbon at three, and starting stock work at age four, John’s determination, perseverance and ability to cope with adversity saw him take to the international showjumping stage at the age of 21, and continue having top-level success throughout his adventurous career.
John’s life is Australian Story on steroids.
John came from a pioneering family of expert horsemen. His father, Tom, a founding breeder of Australian Stock Horses, a horse trainer, and one of Australia’s top sporting event competitors, gave John a head start in horsemanship. John began competing when horses were a means of transport, then through the era of shipping horses to Olympic competitions and on to the jet age of regularly flying to competitions on the other side of the globe.
Many aspects of Australian country life unfold, from rural schooling, and country and city shows, to farming and establishing new equestrian properties. John’s ideas on competing and horsemanship weave into this story to educate the reader in riding, training and maintenance of performance horses.
Many colourful characters came into John’s life, and many became firm friends. However, the most charming characters have been his many wonderful horses. Their courage and cooperation, and their partnership in John’s thousands of wins, were due to the special bond that he had with each.
This is what makes John Fahey’s story unusual and very special.
The Master: The John Fahey Story has 352 pages and retails for $32.95. The book will soon be available in all good book shops or can be purchased directly from Rosenberg Publishing. Phone 9654 1502, email sales@rosenbergpub.com.au or go to www.rosenbergpub.com.au
