Your Good Fortune NZ | You couldn’t have picked a name more apt!

Your Good Fortune NZ, or Cookie to his friends, is by Bettor’s Delight USA and out of Hi Lo Silver Lining NZ. After a successful start to his career in New Zealand including three wins and one second, Cookie travelled across to Western Australia to the Bond Stables. Throughout his remaining 36 career starts Cookie trained under Skye and Greg Bond for 11 wins, six seconds and four thirds. When he retired in early 2015 Cookie had earnt $182,478.

Skye remembers Cookie as a laid-back, lovely to deal with horse. Cookie was introduced to a saddle and began the backing process with Skye once she learned of the home he had waiting for him. He took to it well and with four or five rides under his belt, Skye wanted to see just how quiet Cookie was. She asked her beginner brother-in-law to get on for a walk and little trot. Once she saw how well he looked after him she knew he’d do excel in his new home.

“We are so thrilled he’s gone on to have such a great life and help so many people.’ Skye says.

Cookie then joined the Horsepower Swan Valley family through an Off the Track WA initiative. Cookie has come along in leaps and bounds since joining the Swan Valley family and is currently used in lessons and Hippotherapy sessions.

Hippotherapy is used by HorsePower to assist their clients in providing physical, occupational and speech therapy. Accredited Physiotherapist, Nicky Bushell with the help of Alwyne, use the characteristic movements of Cookie and other horses to provide carefully graded motor and sensory input.

Cookie’s speciality as a Hippotherapy horse started when he joined a three-day Hippotherapy workshop in 2015 hosted by Canadian Paediatric Physiotherapist, Pippa Hodge. Cookie joined the workshop for the exposure and experience when caught Pippa’s eye who thought he’d be an ideal Hippotherapy horse.

Not something to be rushed, Cookie joined the Hippotherapy sessions slowly. Hippotherapy horses must be acclimatised and comfortable with people all around them, while stationary or mobile. Clients begin sessions mounted on a sheepskin, which allows close contact with the horse. The horse is then led by a handler and the rider is supported as required by two side walkers, the team follow the instructions of Nicky.

A Hippotherapy horse’s rhythm is very important, and Cookie has that magic stride.

Cookie’s flatwork development has benefited from OTTWA clinics. One of which was with Rosemary Inglis in 2018. Alwyne Roach, accredited HorsePower Coach and HorsePower Hippotherapy Horse Handler and his rider on the day recalls that while Rosemary remarked on his good walk and trot, he was quite straight and not prone to bending around corners.

“She (Rosemary) regarded him a broomstick that needed to be snapped to go around the corners, as Cookie leads with his shoulder in and head facing out.” Alwyne said.

Cookie has improved his cornering skills, although he likes speed up once he’s made it around the corners down the long sides of the arena.

During his development towards becoming an accomplished therapy horse, Cookie has benefited from some expert instruction including Portland Jones and Dr Andrew McLean during a 2018 workshop.

One of Cookie’s riders and clients is Tyana Lawless, who rode at Grand Prix level dressage before a lifechanging car accident. Tyana was at first a little reluctant about riding a standardbred, remarking “Oh great! It won’t bend!”. But Tyana worked with Cookie and soon had him bending with the best of them. Roles are reversed when Tyana coaches Alwyne on Cookie too!

Cookie began to show signs of becoming unsettled during riding sessions and an injury to his eye and then his front legs, saw him sidelined. Thankfully, vet Dr Kathy Klein donated her time to save his eye and Cookie returned to Hippotherapy training.

Viv Waghorn joined HorsePower Swan Valley to benefit from Hippotherapy in November 2018 after she suffered a stroke in 2017. Viv had a strong history with horses, having previously worked in the horse racing industry. When Viv began Hippotherapy she required the full support of the two side walkers. It didn’t take long for Viv to blossom under the care of Cookie and she was soon able to ride almost independently at a walk.

Cookie and Viv formed an almost immediate partnership. Viv wasn’t at all put off by Cookie’s tendency to speed up on the long sides, instead telling him what a good boy he was. Hard work and persistence paid off, and Viv has recently progressed to riding Cookie with a saddle.

Cookie and Viv competed in the HorsePower Progressive Dressage competition in November 2020. It was both the horse and rider’s first ever competition. Cookie and Viv shone throughout their test, mastering bending around corners, square halts and a show-stopping trot. Chris Hope judged their pair’s unled walk/trot test which earnt them 72.857% and first place.

Viv continues with her Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy alongside the Hippotherapy which helps her with balance, coordination and symmetry.

“He is a horse with a generous heart and it has been wonderful to witness Viv’s journey to recovery with Cookie as an important part of her story.” Alwyne says.

Cookie’s unusual claim to fame is a children’s (and adults) story book, all about his days at Hippotherapy.

You can buy Cookie’s book here